6MT Transmission noise in neutral?

VisualEcho · 12-06-2020, 12:45 PM

I've been meaning to make a post about this forever, and always forget.

I bought my car used (9400 miles), and since day 1 it has made a light sound when in neutral. The sound is very light, and is sort of a rattle. The moment I depress the clutch it goes away, and the car is super quiet.

The car drives perfectly fine, no grinding, no chirping, nothing bad at all, it's just that noise in neutral. Current mileage is 16,000.

Does yours do this?

-Eidos · 12-06-2020, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

I've been meaning to make a post about this forever, and always forget.

I bought my car used (9400 miles), and since day 1 it has made a light sound when in neutral. The sound is very light, and is sort of a rattle. The moment I depress the clutch it goes away, and the car is super quiet.

The car drives perfectly fine, no grinding, no chirping, nothing bad at all, it's just that noise in neutral. Current mileage is 16,000.

Does yours do this?

These dual-mass flywheels should not have excessive chatter at idle. Because the sound is slight it could just be gearbox/transmission NVH, but it's probably worth bringing it in to the dealer if you're still under warranty.

M Fifty · 12-06-2020, 01:05 PM

Clutch Release Bearing at a guess. That it disappears when you depress the clutch says yes. Nothing to worry about.

m3username · 12-06-2020, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

I've been meaning to make a post about this forever, and always forget.

I bought my car used (9400 miles), and since day 1 it has made a light sound when in neutral. The sound is very light, and is sort of a rattle. The moment I depress the clutch it goes away, and the car is super quiet.

The car drives perfectly fine, no grinding, no chirping, nothing bad at all, it's just that noise in neutral. Current mileage is 16,000.

Does yours do this?

My E92 M3 did this and my N55 F87 M2 does this also, I usually keep my foot on the clutch at all times in neutral but I really notice it on those occasions I take my foot off. The E92's transmission was bulletproof for me and I'll be surprised if the F87 is worse.

Keep an ear on it to see if it gets louder but if it's just a faint mechanical noise I wouldn't worry about it (or at least I haven't).

VisualEcho · 12-06-2020, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3username

My E92 M3 did this and my N55 F87 M2 does this also, I usually keep my foot on the clutch at all times in neutral but I really notice it on those occasions I take my foot off. The E92's transmission was bulletproof for me and I'll be surprised if the F87 is worse.

Keep an ear on it to see if it gets louder but if it's just a faint mechanical noise I wouldn't worry about it (or at least I haven't).

I contacted my SA, just to see if there was an official explanation for it, but started this thread because I trust owners more than SA's.

Thanks for the info!

DarthFader · 12-07-2020, 08:42 AM

My M2 chatters a bit in neutral with foot off clutch.

My e82 and e90 did this as well. Never had issues with drivability.

nioh_lbbm2 · 12-07-2020, 10:17 AM

are you sure it's the transmission rattling? On my car it's a slight heatshield rattle. Very slight. Almost Barely noticeable unless you're listening for it.

I found that a bolt had somehow got lost but I've just been lazy to put in the replacement.

AmuroRay · 12-07-2020, 11:12 AM

Mine chatters - but I figured it was the flywheel.

VisualEcho · 12-07-2020, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nioh_lbbm2

are you sure it's the transmission rattling? On my car it's a slight heatshield rattle. Very slight. Almost Barely noticeable unless you're listening for it.

I found that a bolt had somehow got lost but I've just been lazy to put in the replacement.

Not sure at all, just sounds like mechanical chatter, like it's perfect, almost in time I guess. But I'll listen much closer at the next drive. Thanks for the input.

AmuroRay · 12-07-2020, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

Not sure at all, just sounds like mechanical chatter, like it's perfect, almost in time I guess. But I'll listen much closer at the next drive. Thanks for the input.

Nope -I hear it too, and it's pretty noticeable in 1st/2nd gear up to about 3000RPM.

MTWO · 12-07-2020, 09:40 PM

Release bearing probably. I don’t think its your flywheel unless you swapped it to a single mass flywheel or the OEM had some issue

AmuroRay · 12-07-2020, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTWO

Release bearing probably. I don’t think its your flywheel unless you swapped it to a single mass flywheel or the OEM had some issue

Oh yeah? How much of an issue is that going to be?

VisualEcho · 12-08-2020, 10:58 AM

Got an email from my SA this morning, he's been out because of COVID.

This is what he wrote.

"I happened to have another 6 speed M2 in the shop this morning. Listening to it at idle in neutral with the clutch pedal released you can hear some light clatter. Press on the clutch pedal and the noise goes away. Sounds like you might be hearing a little inherent throw out bearing noise."

AmuroRay · 01-22-2021, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

Got an email from my SA this morning, he's been out because of COVID.

This is what he wrote.

"I happened to have another 6 speed M2 in the shop this morning. Listening to it at idle in neutral with the clutch pedal released you can hear some light clatter. Press on the clutch pedal and the noise goes away. Sounds like you might be hearing a little inherent throw out bearing noise."

And this means...? Because I have it too - and the chatter is kind of obnoxious.

VisualEcho · 01-22-2021, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmuroRay

And this means...? Because I have it too - and the chatter is kind of obnoxious.

He said it was normal, and nothing to worry about. Mine comes and goes. It's always there, but sometimes it's louder for whatever reason.

icloudfiles · 03-27-2021, 06:50 PM

I have this same problem. I actually just bought 2017 m2 with 70k on it. Hear some very light clatter in neutral. When I push the clutch pedal the noise goes away. I bought the car keeping in mind that I will have to do a clutch job sooner or later. Drives like a dream otherwise.

David.m · 03-28-2021, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icloudfiles

I have this same problem. I actually just bought 2017 m2 with 70k on it. Hear some very light clatter in neutral. When I push the clutch pedal the noise goes away. I bought the car keeping in mind that I will have to do a clutch job sooner or later. Drives like a dream otherwise.

If you're not having any issues driving I wouldn't worry about it. My flywheel was replaced under warranty @ 40K km, I was getting shudder with normal 1st gear take offs, apparently the dual mass springs were failing.

Certainly wouldn't recommend keeping the clutch depressed un-necessarily (eg stopped at lights or in heavy traffic etc) just to stop any noise like someone mentioned earlier, last thing anyone would want is having to pull the transmission to replace a worn thrust bearing. Ideally you replace that bearing when you replace a worn clutch

gsrbri · 03-30-2021, 06:12 PM

I'd chalk it up as a normal operating condition unless you have had previous clutch work that wasn't performed properly or a premature throw-out bearing issue.

All 3 of my Mcars (E90, F82, F87) have all had 6MT and all of them talk a little at idle w/the car in neutral. The E90 used to rattle a bit on clutch engagement, too. All normal.

If it's a problem - it will get worse and figure itself out.

My $.02

12-06-2020, 12:45 PM	#1
VisualEcho Banned 6638 Rep 4,145 Posts Drives: '18 M2 6MT Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Missouri iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [10.00]	6MT Transmission noise in neutral? I've been meaning to make a post about this forever, and always forget. I bought my car used (9400 miles), and since day 1 it has made a light sound when in neutral. The sound is very light, and is sort of a rattle. The moment I depress the clutch it goes away, and the car is super quiet. The car drives perfectly fine, no grinding, no chirping, nothing bad at all, it's just that noise in neutral. Current mileage is 16,000. Does yours do this?
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12-06-2020, 01:05 PM	#3
M Fifty Banned 846 Rep 1,962 Posts Drives: M2 & 330CI Join Date: May 2018 Location: The Interweb iTrader: (0)	Clutch Release Bearing at a guess. That it disappears when you depress the clutch says yes. Nothing to worry about.
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12-07-2020, 08:42 AM	#6
DarthFader Private First Class 134 Rep 177 Posts Drives: M2, 135i, F23 M240i Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	My M2 chatters a bit in neutral with foot off clutch. My e82 and e90 did this as well. Never had issues with drivability.
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12-07-2020, 10:17 AM	#7
nioh_lbbm2 Lieutenant Colonel 1717 Rep 1,899 Posts Drives: M2 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: California iTrader: (0)	are you sure it's the transmission rattling? On my car it's a slight heatshield rattle. Very slight. Almost Barely noticeable unless you're listening for it. I found that a bolt had somehow got lost but I've just been lazy to put in the replacement.
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12-07-2020, 11:12 AM	#8
AmuroRay Brigadier General 2302 Rep 4,162 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Mine chatters - but I figured it was the flywheel. __________________ Mods: Yes.
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12-07-2020, 09:40 PM	#11
MTWO Captain 473 Rep 932 Posts Drives: M2 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Innisfil iTrader: (0)	Release bearing probably. I don’t think its your flywheel unless you swapped it to a single mass flywheel or the OEM had some issue
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12-08-2020, 10:58 AM	#13
VisualEcho Banned 6638 Rep 4,145 Posts Drives: '18 M2 6MT Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Missouri iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [10.00]	Got an email from my SA this morning, he's been out because of COVID. This is what he wrote. "I happened to have another 6 speed M2 in the shop this morning. Listening to it at idle in neutral with the clutch pedal released you can hear some light clatter. Press on the clutch pedal and the noise goes away. Sounds like you might be hearing a little inherent throw out bearing noise."
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03-27-2021, 06:50 PM	#16
icloudfiles Private 45 Rep 51 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	I have this same problem. I actually just bought 2017 m2 with 70k on it. Hear some very light clatter in neutral. When I push the clutch pedal the noise goes away. I bought the car keeping in mind that I will have to do a clutch job sooner or later. Drives like a dream otherwise.
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03-30-2021, 06:12 PM	#18
gsrbri Lieutenant 560 Rep 570 Posts Drives: F87 6MT Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	I'd chalk it up as a normal operating condition unless you have had previous clutch work that wasn't performed properly or a premature throw-out bearing issue. All 3 of my Mcars (E90, F82, F87) have all had 6MT and all of them talk a little at idle w/the car in neutral. The E90 used to rattle a bit on clutch engagement, too. All normal. If it's a problem - it will get worse and figure itself out. My $.02
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