I've been driving a new '05 S40 2.4i for the last week or so and noticed that the engine sounds very raspy when idling after a cold start-up.

After a minute it goes away, and the engine is very quiet when warm, but I'm wondering if this a common characteristic of the Volvo I5 engine?

:57:

My '05 2.4i will idle at about 1200 for a minute or two from cold start, but the idle drops back to normal after that. That does not really cause any more noise per se. The dealership told me the car would do that and that the idle would stay higher for a few extra minutes if I put the car in gear and drove off before the idle dropped to under 1000.

Hi, I also drive new 05 s40, have already 8000 km...it will make some noice when you start goes up to 1800 rpm but it drops down to about 1000 after a 1 min...i would alwas suggest to wait a bit before driving away especially in cold weather, this will allow oil to move through the engine...