Clicking from Gearbox

[stolen 0]

Hey i got my 320 about a month ago... now sometimes there is a clicking noise coming from where the gear knob is. it sounds like its coming from under the leather bit... the clicking rate goes up as the rpm increases and then stops at around 4.5 to 5 k rpm. It only makes the noise sometimes. And if it starts clicking in 5th gear on the motorway i just drop it to 4th and go past 4.5k rpm and it stops and just put it back to 5th gear and all sweet.

Wondering whether anyone has had this issue?

Thanks,

stolen.

[stolen 0]

it acutually sounds like its coming from behind the golve box? not sure

[Carl 3]

Are you sure it's not coming from the engine bay?

[stolen 0]

Not sure but it sounds veyr clear when im driving... it seems to be coming from around about where the front passengers legs would be when im driving... i.e. around about where the glove box is.... it just goes tock tock tock tock which gets faster with RPM. only sometimes though, not all the time.

[Guest Andrew]

Tappets perhaps - check for exhaust leak, they can sound quite weerd

[stolen 0]

really? To be more descriptive the noise sounds like when you tap on a table with your index finger finger nail. and you can hear it abut once a second around 2-3k rpm and then it ticks faster with increasing rpm up till about 4-5 k rpm and then it stops. If it makes the noise in 5th gear i change down gears till i get about 3-4k rpms going and it goes off and i can go back to 5th gear and the noise would be gone. The whole problem occurs only every now and then as well. Was wondering whether it might be a serious issue?

[Carl 3]

It's a very common thing with E30's to make ticking noises that are especially louder under acceleration - just turn your stereo up

[37 South 6]

I had a clicking noise like that.Turned out to be a cracked manifold.

[CaM 0]

really? To be more descriptive the noise sounds like when you tap on a table with your index finger finger nail. and you can hear it abut once a second around 2-3k rpm and then it ticks faster with increasing rpm up till about 4-5 k rpm and then it stops. If it makes the noise in 5th gear i change down gears till i get about 3-4k rpms going and it goes off and i can go back to 5th gear and the noise would be gone. The whole problem occurs only every now and then as well. Was wondering whether it might be a serious issue?

probably at that slower repetition it might be a fuel pump or something sillly like that.... I wouldnt worry about it, carl seems to have the perfect solution right thur

just turn your stereo up

werd that!

[Grant 4]

I beg to differ with Carl and Cam

I'd actually get it checked out. My recent major drama's sounded a little like what you were talking about, before the big end bearing in the no. 6 cylinder finally gave out.

The noise (right before it got really bad) sounded as though it was coming from under the gearbox...kind of where the cat is.

Just before it got really bad, the noise in mine increased with acceleration, and then disappeared at around 4500rpm's.

You (with any luck) may just have a minor problem, but if I were you, and for peace of mind, get it checked out. A specialist should be able to trace the noise pretty quickly.

Cheers

Grant

[Carl 3]

Wisdom Grant

I think if you want a quick check you could get someone with a little more E30 experience to jump in with you and have a listen, they could then distinguish if it's tappets, injectors, or something more sinister.

[threeta 0]

my wife's e36 had a stuffed guibo joint. this is reallt serious as it is the rubber doofer that joins the drive shaft together just behind the gear box. hers failed a wof. wof man said if it busts the drive shaft might drop out and up end the car - bummer.

check it out -