Big ends or Thrust bearing ?

[325_driver 422]

Brother bought a new car

manual e30 323i, with 278000km on the clock

there is a rattle under load, the seller mentioned that the throw out bearing needed replacing,

but me being the paranoid one suspects big ends.

are there any tests to tell between the 2 problems ? apart from replacing the throw out bearing ?

Its not a knocking noise at all, just a rattle under heavy load

[c.robertson00 11]

Mine only rattles when its idleing and my foots off the clutch. Once im moving or my foots on the clutch it goes away. I would be abit concerned if it was ratling when the engines under load...

[325_driver 422]

Mine only rattles when its idleing and my foots off the clutch. Once im moving or my foots on the clutch it goes away. I would be abit concerned if it was ratling when the engines under load...

hmm, thats what i thought, im still not convinced, as i personally have had big end problems on other cars and it is a different more abrasive noise. Any other opinions ? should i just get the thrust bearing fixed and then see if it carries on ?

[325_driver 422]

actually, what i was thinking, is i know that the thrust bearing definately needs replacing, if the thrust bearing is bad, wouldnt the engine under load expose that more, and the noise get louder ? assume that the thrust bearing is absolutely shot here

[c.robertson00 11]

The rattleing under load could be detonation in the engine? Have you checked the timing?

[325_driver 422]

that is possible, but he bought it off some one in bm autoban, i wouldn't imagine some one that worked in there would muck that up.

do you think its pre detonation ?

[ducatiss 1]

that is possible, but he bought it off some one in bm autoban, i wouldn't imagine some one that worked in there would muck that up.

do you think its pre detonation ?

Dont assume anything - check it first - Check the timing - even retard it a little and see if the noise remains.