A3 3.2 engine noise
 

I picked up a 2007 A3 3.2 several months ago and love it. There is one issue that I'm not sure is "normal." Within the first 5-10 minutes of driving, the engine makes a bit of a metallic/raspy noise if I get on it and let the tach climb above 4,000 or so. This happens even when the temp gauge says the engine is fully warm. It's a little hard to tell if the noise is from the engine or exhaust. Just trying to determine if this is a normal characteristic of the 3.2. Thanks in advance...

I had that once happen to me on my way to the dealer. I thought I might be dragging a branch since there was recently a storm and there were lots of little branches on the ground. I mentioned it to the dealer and they told me a flap (throttle?) was loose and they put it back. Maybe it is the flap that opens the extra length in the intake for higher RPM range.

Could be. I'll have to mention it to the dealer when I have it in for the 35,000 mile service in a few months.

Today, I had my wife rev the car a bit while I stood outside and listened. The noise is definitely coming from the exhaust. Perhaps it's normal. Either that or there could be a small leak in the system. Sounds pretty cool from outside, actually. I'll post my findings after the dealer looks at it...

my car has had that sound from day 1. I think it's normal, and you're right, sounds much better from outside than inside the car.

Yeah, that metallic raspy clank is from the exhaust. I usually hear it when I start the car and go to the rear and do something with the trunk. I don't know how it sounds at higher RPM since I am usually the one driving the car. If the wife is driving the car, it is pretty much always in the 1000-2000 RPM range so I wouldn't notice anything strange.