M20 Rattling

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  • Muleforceone
    Noobie
    • Oct 2016
    • 7

    #1

    M20 Rattling

    Alright lads. I was cruising down the interstate, flexing on hoes in my 325es. I was at about 3k in fourth gear, getting ready to shift. All of a sudden, I heard a horrible rattling noise. Seconds after I noticed it, my engine shut off and all the lights on my dash came on. I pulled over and restarted my car, and it immediately died again. If I hold my foot on the throttle, it will stay running, but the rattling noise persists and it worries me. The rattling gets louder/more intense the higher I rev my engine. It sounds somewhat like a jar full of marbles, possibly around the left side of my engine bay? I have no idea what's wrong and I need to get my car back on the road ASAP. Can someone please help me diagnose my car?
  • ttrousdell
    E30 Mastermind
    • Nov 2009
    • 1770

    #2
    Sounds like a giant vacuum leak keeping the engine from staying running. Maybe extreme but did you throw a rod through the block?

    Look around the engine carefully, do a compression test, look for intake leaks, take the valve cover of and look at the valve train. pull the spark plugs and look for damage.

    The Build:
    http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=191125

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    • SkiFree
      R3VLimited
      • Jun 2011
      • 2766

      #3
      Uhm.... spun bearings or broken valve.

      Whatever you do, don't start it and drive!! Jeez. If this car is essential transportation for you, then start shopping around for a replacement engine. Repairing what you have will take a month and a couple trips to your machinist at a minimum.
      ADAMS Autosport

      Comment

      • e30davie
        E30 Mastermind
        • Apr 2016
        • 1788

        #4
        It sounds rather catastrophic. Park it up, buy a push bike and start the automotive archaeology.

        Comment

        • Muleforceone
          Noobie
          • Oct 2016
          • 7

          #5
          Originally posted by SkiFree
          Uhm.... spun bearings or broken valve.

          Whatever you do, don't start it and drive!! Jeez. If this car is essential transportation for you, then start shopping around for a replacement engine. Repairing what you have will take a month and a couple trips to your machinist at a minimum.
          Okay don't crucify me for lack of knowledge...but the valves are in the cylinder head right? There's a guy on craigslist parting out his E and only wants $30 for the complete cylinder head. Hypothetically, could I just pop that on and be good to go?

          Comment

          • superj
            Grease Monkey
            • Feb 2006
            • 397

            #6
            You could but that might not be the trouble. It would be good to have a spare head though.

            Take off your valve cover and see it looks like there, first

            Comment

            • ttrousdell
              E30 Mastermind
              • Nov 2009
              • 1770

              #7
              ^doesnt make sense to start buying parts until you know the extent of the problem. The bottom end could be f**ked and then you were better off getting a whole engine. Do as much troubleshooting as you can.

              Given your lack of knowledge you it might be best to take it to a mechanic to diagnose it.

              The Build:
              http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=191125

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