2010 BMW 520d - how noisy is normal?

busterjones

Hi. Recently purchased a 2010 520d. Had it checked by mechanic and overall am very happy with it.

Came from petrol cars so just wondering how loud the engine should be?

When start up and driving its louder than previous petrols (obviously) but if in a lot of traffic (say 20 mins) it gets louder. Nothing major but definitely noticable. Wouldn't bother me once I know it's normal.

No change in revs and still drives very smoothly.

Is that just the engine fan and is it normal?

Thanks

colm_mcm

It could be trying to do a DPF regen? Does the fan stay on when you turn the car off?

bazz26

They are noisy/rattly at idle like most similar type diesels but they are fairly well insulated on the inside. However it's going to be hard for anyone here to know whether there is something not right with the car or whether it's just your sensitivity to diesel noise coming from driving petrols up to this point. What type of driving are you doing with it? Do you know anyone else with a similar car that you can compare against?

busterjones

No fan goes off when car's stopped.

Accept point re. difficulty in saying anything definitive... but all else being equal, generally speaking, would you expect the fan after15/ 20 mins driving bumper to bumper?

kirving

Depends on lots of things. Were you on the motorway for an hour before the traffic, A/C or heater on & internal cabin temperature, humidity, outside temperature.

Two cars that rolled off the production line together, and now at traffic lights with all of the above the same, one could have the fan on and the others might be off and both are fine. Unless its on constantly I wouldn't worry about it.

I have noticed that the 520d seems pretty noisy (very diesel like, like) at idle compared to say E220 Merc so probably normal. They seem pretty agricultural really. As long as the noise it not metallic you're ok I'd say.

Stallingrad

I never got used to the diesel N47 racket at idle or with the window open. Lasted 8 months before it was sold. I also came from a petrol car, and am now happily back in one again.

Steamed Clams

Not sure why it hasn't been mentioned yet, but as it's an N47, has the timing chain been checked by a specialist? At 9 years old it's very possible that it has stretched, if it hasn't been replaced by now. This video shows the difference between a stretched chain and a fixed one. You can hear the difference in idle noise, and see how much vibration (which equates to noise inside the cabin) is caused.

busterjones

I went for good long drive at the weekend and when I stopped, I could hear a strange ticking (sounded like rain falling on a tin lid) from the exhaust area for a while after the car had stopped.

On quick Google may suggest it sign of a DPF regen.

Since then its running very smoothly and engine seems much quieter.

Anyone every had this?

wonski

Could be that, but I have it in petrol car sometimes, something to do with temperature of exhaust dropping rapidly after switching the engine off I think.

Seth Brundle

busterjones wrote: »

I went for good long drive at the weekend and when I stopped, I could hear a strange ticking (sounded like rain falling on a tin lid) from the exhaust area for a while after the car had stopped.

On quick Google may suggest it sign of a DPF regen.

Since then its running very smoothly and engine seems much quieter.

Anyone every had this?

That ticking just sounds like it was cooling down.