Sound from engine bay
 

My X is making a rattling bag of marbles type sound when idling. It drives fine but when I have the engine on there is a rattling type sound like a bag of marbles being juggled around. The sound is coming from the engine bay. What could it be?

Anyone ?

Could be the vanos. Is the sound coming from the front of the valve cover?

its definitely coming from the front of the engine somewhere, I can't pinpoint it though...Its loud when idling and sounds like a bunch of marbles are being juggled around...

Primetime! it need valve adjustment and it costly $$$ some where about $1200. job.

How can you be sure?

i had the same noise and have ask my dealer about this and have it done to my E46 330ix before.

The sound is coming from the fan/radiator area. The front of the engine bay for sure...But the fan blows fine, my heat/ac works fine....Normal driving works fine, gas mileage is the same, and my rpm's gauge don't jump around when i'm sitting at a stop light either...

Just a guess but check your engine supports. This can be a factor in eliminating or reducing the rattling sound of your engine when idele

Could be a bad fan/fan mount or bely pulley or
belt pulley idlers or...
Hard to diagnose from reading. Imo, a "valve adjustment"
is way down on the list of things to worry about.
GL,mD