Engine Noise?!

[phil-e30]

Hi guys,

Wondered if I might be able to ask some opinions. My 3.0i X3 has developed an extremely irritating noise coming from the engine (M54). The noise is most significant when the car is in 'Drive' but stationary, once I shift it to 'Park' the noise reduces but remains on a more sporadic basis. Once I accelerate/drive the noise disappears and only reoccurs when I stop at lights etc.

I thought this might be something familiar to guys on here with the same engine. I'm working on an assumption that it's something tensioner/pulley related, but this is just a hunch.



https://i.imgur.com/7OheXur.mp4

Any input is welcome.

Thanks

[marti]

Open the bonnet and have a listen....get someone to rev it up ....engage drive and listen...its an elimination project.

[phil-e30]

Thanks Marti. I've actually posted a link to a video of the noise itself. I realise it's all a process of elimination, but I had hoped someone more expert than I might be able to help suggest what it might be.

[marti]

Thats sounds to me like the cam chain guides have given up.....that noise is the chain rattling against the alloy casing....?

#6 and #8  https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=11_3657

[phil-e30]

Thanks Marti. That's a useful suggestion. My thoughts (and another member of a different forum) were all based around idlers or tensioners. So this is a useful, and fairly inexpensive, consideration. I'll post on here once I've fixed it and confirm what was done.

[slparry]

Alternator bearing or water pump

[phil-e30]

[quote="slparry"]
Alternator bearing or water pump
[/quote]

Thanks for the suggestion mate. Just wondering what makes you say water pump or alternator bearing? I would have expected to see other symptoms if it was either of these two.

[phil-e30]

I should also add that the engine only has 57k miles on it.

[marti]

That is unusual for 57k engine to have that problem, possibly one has just broken due to a manufacturing fault, get a metal tube and place it on the chain cover and put your ear the other end and listen...I use that method when trying to locate strange noises on engines...its worked for me on many things....

[Horizon]

[quote="phil-e30"]
[quote="slparry"]
Alternator bearing or water pump
[/quote]

Thanks for the suggestion mate. Just wondering what makes you say water pump or alternator bearing? I would have expected to see other symptoms if it was either of these two.
[/quote]
I had a clicking noise on my 330i when cold which increased with engine revs, turned out to be the alternator freewheel pulley, so don't eliminate these suggestions

[phil-e30]

[quote="marti"]
That is unusual for 57k engine to have that problem, possibly one has just broken due to a manufacturing fault, get a metal tube and place it on the chain cover and put your ear the other end and listen...I use that method when trying to locate strange noises on engines...its worked for me on many things....
[/quote]

This is a great suggestion, I will do that and see what conclusions I draw.

Horizon, I'm by no means eliminating the suggestions, I'm just trying to form and educated guess as to what is going on. The noise doesn't increase in my engine when I rev it, it's not present upon revs or upon acceleration. It is only present when sat idle, in drive. It appears at a far lesser degree when idle, in park.