M54B30 Engine Idle Sound Normal?

BG MOA 110 found here for those curious:
http://www.bgprod.com/products/engineoil.html

Please do update us. A before and after video would also help.

And I was thinking .. if we start a "post vid of your engine idling" thread and get both engines with and without this sound, maybe we would have more of a case with BMW of NA reps?

P.S. I am using OEM BMW synthetic oil. Couldnt be more "bmw approved" if I tried.

here new video i took today :

Hi,

Did any of you experiencing this problem manage to get it sorted out?

I missed the thead when it first came up but it sounds like a water pump heading south. If not a water pump, then probably a tensioner/accessory bearing starting to howl.

The noise went away for sometime after putting M1 0W-40, but now, 3000 miles later, I can hear same noise came back.
One day I was looking for some after market upgrade and found BMW shop(sport modification) in Dulles VA, so the guy listened this noise and said it's probably an air compressor.

Have you replaced any of the following:

Water Pump
Tensioners
Pulley
Belts
Oil Separator/CC/DISA Valve

If you have not replaced your water pump, my guess is that is starting to go. The OEM water pump is not designed to last a long time. What maintenance have you had performed? How many miles do you have?

Originally Posted by GDA

I missed the thead when it first came up but it sounds like a water pump heading south. If not a water pump, then probably a tensioner/accessory bearing starting to howl.

Originally Posted by phlfly

The noise went away for sometime after putting M1 0W-40, but now, 3000 miles later, I can hear same noise came back.
One day I was looking for some after market upgrade and found BMW shop(sport modification) in Dulles VA, so the guy listened this noise and said it's probably an air compressor.

I thought there is only one air pump and that it only runs (off electricty) when you first start up and something like 45 seconds longer. On hot starts it does not run. I can hear mine start up and shut off from within the car .. its a clear sound and does not pertain to the ticking type sound we're talking about. So Idk about that (but i am no professional).

But as far as the water pump being the culprit .. has anyone with the sound replaced theirs? Mine is due for it but its low on the priority list presently.

This is not the engine making this noise, it is either the PS or WP.
I have the exact same noise and I think it might be the power steering pump, has anyone ever been able to figure this out? If it is the water pump I hate to change the PS if you know what I mean... Just changed out the control arms this weekend, supa lots of fun!

I havent dug into my car yet .. the noise is annoying but at least the car remains totally reliable and the noise does not grow any worse....

I am happy to hear anyone suggest with some authority that it is not the engine, but a pump or pulley. I could not be happier if that were the case!!

(also doing my control arms sometime in the upcoming few weeks. Rebuilding my suzuki drz first )

I was changing antifreeze past weekend, so i had a chance to listen engine and different components underneath the car, the using a screwdriver. So while listing different components i didn't find a problem, but i could hear district noise with same period.

Remove the drive belt and start the car (Briefly, your water pump will not be turning!) and see if the noise is still there. If not you know for sure that it's a belt-driven accessory.

Try just removing the A/C belt first...

hi all,

i have 03 325ci EU makes the same noise

what was the source and how to fix it ?

thanks in advance

Did anyone ever solve this?

I have the exact same noise! It seemed to appear after changing the belts and all the tensioners / pulleys, water pump and thermostat.

We've taken the belts off, and the noise is still present, so it's not the water pump or any of the pulleys or tensioners making this noise!

It seems to be coming from the crank damper pulley (which is still turning with belts off, obviously). I put a screwdriver to the engine block just underneath the pulley and I could hear the noise very faintly. I believe the oil pump is in this area.

The fact that it happens once warmed up, leads me to think it's something to do with the oil pump, rather than the crank damper pulley?

My oil was only changed about 2k miles a go with Mobil1 0w40 New Life - LL01 approved.

Cheers,
Mark