Hey guys, I just recently got a 3i if you saw my other thread about the color issue... anyways when I first got it, I was just impressed with how quiet the engine was at idle. Well its been about 2 weeks now and now I hear alittle rattle at idle, nothing big, but enough to annoy me since it used to be silent before. Has anyone experienced the same thing? I try to drive as mildly as possible, always shifting under 3k rpm, mostly sub 2.4k. I do admit sometimes I overrevved here and there during downshifting.

That and I also see excessive brake dust in the back vs. the front.

 

the noise i had never experienced so take it to the dealer see what they tell you,
and the dus of the brake is because the break pads of the back part are cheap, so just clean them and when its time change tham for a premiun low dust set of pads.

hope its helpfull.

 

I've been driving my M3 for a bit over a year now ... the engine is as smooth and quiet at idle as the day I brought it home ... with 28,000KM it is still pretty much silent. I drive pretty hard and push the shifts to around 4500-5500 (sometimes higher ... hehe) ... actually that's what my Mazda Service manager recommended ... he urged me to break it in by pushing the shifts, he said it causes increased pressure and makes the piston-rings fit tighter; especially during the first few thousand KM's ... and after reading a couple posts about break-in of an engine he was very right ... my engine runs so great, has lots of punch, growls a wee bit (with my borla exhaust), and the mileage is great too! Great car lots of fun.

word.

04 winning blue M3 5 door
2.3L
16" wheels
35 PSI
Borla Exhaust
Bazooka Sub
no-wing

 

ah i see, but you have the 2.3, that engine is soooo smooth. I ended up getting the 2.0, haha, I do have some after thoughts, but if I get good gas mileage it'll go away. Yeah, the day I got it, I already realized how rugged the engine felt when revved past 2.5k and above, starts to sound like a roar more or less(nothing to be proud of though).

And yeah, I was so happy with how quiet and smooth the idle was at engine start up, now I feel vibration and I can hear a little "clank" sound, very faint, but enough to annoy me like I said before.... arg I guess when I get the chance I'll take the car in, btw, I had a few high rev's when my car only had 6 miles on it, lol. From 6-356miles I had some high rev's in there, not really on purpose, just that it was the first car I learned to drive stick on, and by myself in the hilly DC metropolitan area during peak traffic time! Arg... stress...

PS by high rev's I mean anywhere from 4-6k rpm, no more than 6 though, I watched it and weeped each time it happened, lol... other than that I normally shifted between 2.1-3.3k rpm

 

I have heard the same noise in my engine also. I also have this noise when I turn my A/C on it sounds like a bunch of leaves are in the A/C hose or something. Nothing is flying out, but it is annoying. I was just listening yesterday to my engine. My car has a high pitch squeel to it. Then after a few minutes it goes away. I have not had any other problems with this car, but I just noticed this not long ago. Have you taken yours in to the dealer yet? Let me know too.

LeighAnn

 

The squeal is a belt, which needs to be replaced since you guys' belt doesn't have a tensioner.

As far as the 2.0 engine noise goes. Every one of those that come in are clacky sounding, I doubt they are going to find much wrong with them. You could ask them to check and adjust the lash, but that might be a pretty penny. Oh yeah and you 2.3 owners needs to have them check and adjust the valve lash every 100,000 miles . One thing to note is the fact that the catalytic convertors are not broken in when you first get your car. After the first few thousand miles or so, it will gradually get a louder exhaust note as the cat breaks in.

 

I have a 2.3L and I get the same sound. I drove the puppy like an angel for the first 1200 miles and then started pressing on it a bit. Before the break-in was done and over with, I did hear the ticking noise.

I only hear it after the car has warmed up, but it's so much of an annoyance I might bring it up to the dealership.

I drive the car now... I almost never redline it, but I usually shift at about 3500 to 4000 rpms when I'm joyriding...

Anyway, that's my input!

 

yeah I just came back tonight, it felt so good driving, haha. Anyways, I still hear it, its not that loud, but noticeable to me, and yes only when the engine is warmed up. Even at start up though, it sounds a little louder and rougher than it first did, also it does groan a little more too as if the piping on the exhaust is rusted or something. Again, its just small, nothing big really, but it is brand spanking new so it does get to me. I haven't taken it yet, so far I don't notice any performance problems or gas mileage problems that I know, I'm at 223miles at a half tank, which I figure is ok.

escortlrv, just curious, do you work at a mazda service center?