Engine Death Rattle

[noncom23]

I don't know. What he descibed above sounds like a reason
to have the engine checked out completely.

Originally Posted by H8Rain

It has nothing to do with actually washing the car, it's the fact that you start the car, move it a couple of feet and then turn it off. That 10-20 seconds of run time makes the start up the next day rough. I'm not saying it happens to all cars, but it happens to all of mine everytime I do this and it happens to alot of other people over on the E39 board that I also visit. I had a 4-Runner before the X5 and didn't have a problem with that.

[BimmerDude]

Knocking sound is not good!!! It is normal to have a little Knocking sound upon start up but it only last for about 5 secs. before it goes away. If the sound lasted for a while, then you might have a main bearing problem... Good luck, I agree with noncom, get it checked asap...

[Blue Mountain Raider]

Originally Posted by H8Rain

It has nothing to do with actually washing the car, it's the fact that you start the car, move it a couple of feet and then turn it off. That 10-20 seconds of run time makes the start up the next day rough. I'm not saying it happens to all cars, but it happens to all of mine everytime I do this and it happens to alot of other people over on the E39 board that I also visit. I had a 4-Runner before the X5 and didn't have a problem with that.

Yeah, that is what I believe to have been causing the engine knock and white smoke. Still don't know what's it causing it.

Is it because the engine isn't warm enough to be shut down so some engine oil got into the combustion chamber? So the next time you start up the engine it burns the engine oil causing the white smoke plus the knocks until the engine oil has been consumed?

[Tomaz]

Originally Posted by Blue Mountain Raider

white smoke

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, white smoke suggests water in the intake. If the water finds it's way into a single cylinder, knocking will be a symptom until it steams out. If your noticing this after a car wash or a short engine run causing condensation it may be worth looking into the air box and intake for signs of moisture. Good luck

[v10rick]

Originally Posted by BimmerDude

Knocking sound is not good!!! It is normal to have a little Knocking sound upon start up but it only last for about 5 secs. before it goes away. If the sound lasted for a while, then you might have a main bearing problem... Good luck, I agree with noncom, get it checked asap...

The knock and fumes went on for about 5 seconds and probably would not have been as pronounced outside of the garage.

I did not wash the X5 although it may have been raining that day.

Excess moisture in the intake or combustion chambers sounds like a good explanation. No problems since that event.