Audi A3 2010 (1.9TDIe 8P BLS), rattling noise going downhill/uphill (video available)

[bromsky]

Hi everyone, and many thanks in advance!

I got my car (59 plate Audi A3 Sportback 1.9 TDIe) at the end of July from a dealer, everything seemed nice, although I did later realise they've done the MOT with different tyres, and gave me older ones after the MOT, but hey, tricks of the trade. Anyway, since then the car drove, and still drives, nicely. However! I've noticed a noise which concerns me a bit.

It's a rattling kinda noise when in 1st/2nd gear and no throttle. It may be there all the time, but this is when I can hear it. To me it sounds as if there's a lot of soda cans tied up to the front end of the car and they rattle along the street as the car drives. What's peculiar, it's most obvious when driving on a downward slope, because it ALWAYS happens on a particular stretch of road where the road slopes down slightly. If I press the clutch, or just coast in neutral, the noise seems to be gone, or just quieter. Also, if I'm depressing the clutch when I know the noise is happening, the rattling/grinding will start just as I'm about to let go off the clutch.

I've tried to record the video of it, but had to tie the phone to my hand, so it's a bit all over the place, but the noise is anyway the important part, not the video. I'm in second gear, no throttle and the car just drives by itself around 10mph or so. The noise happens a few times during the video, but the best sound is between 1:35 and 1:40. This is the downward slope of the road where the noise will almost always manifest itself.

IMG_1641.MOV - Google Drive

If anyone's got any ideas what that might be, what to expect, how serious it could be, it would be very appreciated!

Many thanks!

[Gazwould]

Dmf ?