318i - LOUD engine starting noise

[Vam]

Hi,

I'm just bought a 2002 model 318i(N42B20 engine), and I was suprised to find that when I start the engine without allowing the engine to crank for more than 1.5secs, my engine starts to produce a very very loud cluttering sound, with the whole car shaking and vibrating. (sounds like the engine about to fall off).

It feels like the engine didn't properly start, but it's also not switching off. So I took the car to the agents, and they suspected the starter motor pinion not getting released properly after starting (which I also thought made sense). And natually I ended up replacing the whole starter motor. (which ended up being a big job).

Now to my horror, I came back home and tried cranking the engine again (

 

[Terry]

Re: 318i - LOUD engine starting noise

sounds like ignition coil is gone.... go replace them

 

[Vam]

Re: 318i - LOUD engine starting noise

Thanks Terry,

Sorry for my ignorant questions below.

have you had a similar experience or know somebody who suffered from this problem? same issues, sound etc? and did the coil fix it ?

When you stop cranking, shouldn't the ignition coil switch off ? In my case the noise remain indefinitely on, until I switch the engine off.

Thanks
Vam

 

[Vam]

Re: 318i - LOUD engine starting noise

Hi,

Ok today, I just replaced the 4 ignition coils for the spark plugs, the CAM sensor, the the crank sensor... and guess what , the problem is still there.

I also replaces a value that regulates the gas pressure built up in the CAM or CRANK (not sure exacty which one it was, I'm sure you must be knowing what I'm talking about). Still no improvement.

I had the car lifted and started the vehicle, and the loud noise seems to be coming from the flywheel/Damper/crank end somewhere there. Between the engine and the gear box (manual gears). Still the engine hunts and shakes when I half crank to start.

Any help please ?


Thanks
Vam

 

[TobyNik]

Re: 318i - LOUD engine starting noise

Hi,

Ok today, I just replaced the 4 ignition coils for the spark plugs, the CAM sensor, the the crank sensor... and guess what , the problem is still there.

I also replaces a value that regulates the gas pressure built up in the CAM or CRANK (not sure exacty which one it was, I'm sure you must be knowing what I'm talking about). Still no improvement.

I had the car lifted and started the vehicle, and the loud noise seems to be coming from the flywheel/Damper/crank end somewhere there. Between the engine and the gear box (manual gears). Still the engine hunts and shakes when I half crank to start.

Any help please ?

Go PML and get it diagnosed. No warranty just pay less than S$100 to at least find out what it is before you decide if you wanna let them service your car.

If the guys outside PML are still not able to find out what it is, then IMO there's no harm trying PML since yu already spent quite a lot of $$$ changing stuff but still not solving your problem, ya?

cheers!