Weird noise coming from the front part of the engine

[aswy6]

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to see if anyone here have had the problem where the engine is producing some type of "Whaaa" sound at idle and increases as rpm increase. This cannot be heard inside of the car but can be spotted very well from outside. My initial guess it's a pulley related but would like to confirm from sound experts The car runs fine, here is a link for a Dropbox video
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u0gx7f7wwr...%20PM.mov?dl=0


Thank you very much

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by aswy6

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to see if anyone here have had the problem where the engine is producing some type of "Whaaa" sound at idle and increases as rpm increase. This cannot be heard inside of the car but can be spotted very well from outside. My initial guess it's a pulley related but would like to confirm from sound experts The car runs fine, here is a link for a Dropbox video
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u0gx7f7wwr...%20PM.mov?dl=0


Thank you very much

That's no Whaaa" noise , it's a Bzzzz".. noise !
You have a vibration noise . Something is vibrating against something.. Be patient and open your ears , I'm pretty sure you can find the location of the noise .
BTW...Your oil cap is leaking some oil.

[aswy6]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

That's no Whaaa" noise , it's a Bzzzz".. noise !
You have a vibration noise . Something is vibrating against something.. Be patient and open your ears , I'm pretty sure you can find the location of the noise .
BTW...Your oil cap is leaking some oil.

Thanks for your answer! I saw the deal with oil cap but never get my hands on getting a new one. The car does not consume any oil by the way. Regarding the Bzzz sound, you right something is vibrating but I can't understand what. I have touched a valve cover and other parts of engine and no vibration at all. However when I touch the oil filter cap, I do feel the vibration that follows the sound patter. Does that tell you anything?

Thank you

[aswy6]

Originally Posted by Suspence

I think I had the same issue. My power steering fluid was super low and I had it topped off. It went away.

Here's what it sounded like -

Here's how I fixed it -

Well yours is super obvious. I checked my fluid level and looks like it's slightly below the line but can't really tell lol. I think I will start off by flushing the fluid completely and replacing the reservoir. See if that will do it.

[aswy6]

Update: Flushed the power steering fluid today and filled it to correct level. Noise is still there. Went to BMW and they said it's either tensioner pulley or power steering pump it self. Recommended to replace both just in case. 1500 for pump and 1200 for tensioner. They also said that the belt is slowly starting to spin off so I need to replace the tensioner and belts to prevent the belt from spinning off. They also said they are pretty positive it's just the tensioner. Anyone ever replaced their tensioner? From what I understand there are 2 tensioners right?

[Youngh]

I have that same noise, its the power steering pump from what shops have been telling me

[aswy6]

Originally Posted by Youngh

I have that same noise, its the power steering pump from what shops have been telling me

My bmw dealer told me that they are pretty positive that its just a belt tensioner but they recommended to replace both, the tensioner and the pump itself.

[aswy6]

Originally Posted by Youngh

I have that same noise, its the power steering pump from what shops have been telling me

How long do you have the noise for? I have been having it for about a month now but no changes in steering feel at all so i dont think its a pump

[Youngh]

Ever since I bought the car two months ago, sound hasn't changed at all since then. But I took it to a very reputable shop who pointed to the power steering pump. I don't have any steering issues at all either

[aswy6]

Originally Posted by Youngh

Ever since I bought the car two months ago, sound hasn't changed at all since then. But I took it to a very reputable shop who pointed to the power steering pump. I don't have any steering issues at all either

So, should we replace the pump? Is that what you saying? Looks like I need the tensioner anyway because I can push down on the belt and it dips. I will probably put Macht Schnell pulleys while I'm in there and see if that will help because power steering pump will be rotating slower

[Scrippy]

I vote power steering pump. Definitely an accessory on the belt system. I would check...
-PS Fluid level.
-Idler tensioner for good tension to keep belt tight.
-inspect PS pump, Alternator, and overall belt system.

[aswy6]

Originally Posted by Scrippy

I vote power steering pump. Definitely an accessory on the belt system. I would check...
-PS Fluid level.
-Idler tensioner for good tension to keep belt tight.
-inspect PS pump, Alternator, and overall belt system.

In my case, the belt tensioner is little bit bad. I was told that it's getting off alignment gradually. They recommended to replace Drive Belt Tensioner and just in case the Power Steering Pump but they are pretty sure that the tensioner will solve the problem. When I push down on my belt it also dips pretty easy.
I am going to order the belt tensioner, idler pulley and Power Steering pulley plus new belts and will post an update some time later next week. Is there a DIY on tensioner pulley? Also, do you know what is hydraulic tensioner and how is it different from tensioner pulley?

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by aswy6

In my case, the belt tensioner is little bit bad. I was told that it's getting off alignment gradually. They recommended to replace Drive Belt Tensioner and just in case the Power Steering Pump but they are pretty sure that the tensioner will solve the problem. When I push down on my belt it also dips pretty easy.
I am going to order the belt tensioner, idler pulley and Power Steering pulley plus new belts and will post an update some time later next week. Is there a DIY on tensioner pulley? Also, do you know what is hydraulic tensioner and how is it different from tensioner pulley?

The hydraulic tensioner is nothing more than your every day tensioner but it's a hydraulic shock where a spring would fundamentally work. Sounds fancy but it is not. Fact is the tensioning shock wears as ALL MOVING PARTS DO. So the part is a stereotypical wear item. It's a 2 out of 10 in DIY difficulty IMO but ALL cars require the service every 150,000 MAX. It's cheap as things go overall. Just know it's so easy to unplug the cooling fan and remove it to get service area. No timing or calibration necessary after replacing.

[aswy6]

I am talking about these parts (link attached below). I cant really understand the difference. So i can purchase the hydraulic tensioner (First link) and it would substitute the belt tensioner pulley? (second link).
I am leaning towards just ordering a Standard belt tensioner pulley (2nd link), power steering pulley, idler pulley and may be turner motorsport crank pulley plus 2 belts. I like the fact that their product only has crank pulley of lower size rather than crank and a power steering reduced in size. (My car is daily driver)
https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-2...uine-bmw-part/
https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-2...uine-bmw-part/

[aswy6]

Originally Posted by Scrippy

The hydraulic tensioner is nothing more than your every day tensioner but it's a hydraulic shock where a spring would fundamentally work. Sounds fancy but it is not. Fact is the tensioning shock wears as ALL MOVING PARTS DO. So the part is a stereotypical wear item. It's a 2 out of 10 in DIY difficulty IMO but ALL cars require the service every 150,000 MAX. It's cheap as things go overall. Just know it's so easy to unplug the cooling fan and remove it to get service area. No timing or calibration necessary after replacing.

See above. Sorry, just wanted to make sure it gets to you

[aswy6]

Update:
Ordered pulley service kit for 570$. Will install it later this week. Let's see if that will solve the problem? Does anyone know a DIY for Hydraulic tensioner replacement?

[Three Pedal Steve]

What is the mileage on the car?

[aswy6]

Originally Posted by Three Pedal Steve

What is the mileage on the car?

75k miles. Never had belts or pulleys replaced

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by aswy6

75k miles. Never had belts or pulleys replaced

Me either but I did it preemptively because it is an easy service and well worth it. The belt system is already parasitic to engine power, so keeping the pulley and belt system smooth ultimately helps the motor. Some environments speed up the wear, like in SoCal and heat effects belts by drying them out.

[ItsGary]

So this sound is normal?

[aswy6]

Originally Posted by ItsGary

So this sound is normal?

The tick tick tick sound is normal. I'm guessing the car is cold. Let it warm up and record again. I kind of heard something behind the tick tick tick sound but it should go away as your car warms up. Should take around a minute for it to go away depending on how long the car was not used and how cold it is

[ItsGary]

Originally Posted by aswy6

The tick tick tick sound is normal. I'm guessing the car is cold. Let it warm up and record again. I kind of heard something behind the tick tick tick sound but it should go away as your car warms up. Should take around a minute for it to go away depending on how long the car was not used and how cold it is

I’ll record another one once I get back home