Supercharger-like whine from engine? 2006 Z4M

jontZ4M

Member
Hi guys

I've been increasingly noticing a supercharger-like whine from my car.

First I assumed transmission, but I pretty much ruled this out when:
A) realising that idle is present when car is static.
B) pressing/releasing clutch makes no difference to whine.

Next I assumed aux pulleys, so I removed aux belt and AC belt:
A) all pulleys feel fine
B) car still makes whine with belts removed

So as far as I'm aware that rules out transmission and aux area of engine.

Other things of note:
- whine is directly linked to RPM
- hard to locate but gut feeling is it's coming from front/top of engine. (I've had a listen around this area with stethoscope but can't confirm it).
- car is 51k miles. I'm the first "enthusiast" owner so I doubt it's had any kind of re-built work.
- no other problems or warnings etc.

What do you reckon guys?

Thanks
 
Someone install a Vortec while you wernnt looking?

All BS aside, you removed the belts you said and still the whine? I'd prob look at the chain guide then?
 
Someone install a Vortec while you wernnt looking?

All BS aside, you removed the belts you said and still the whine? I'd prob look at the chain guide then?
Checked, and no massive supercharger added sadly. Will investigate chain guide thanks.
 
Hi,
I had a similar noise to what you describe but on an n52 (3.0 not the M 😭).
Had the alternator replaced under warranty as part of the investigation, which didn’t solve it.
It turned out to be the oil filter vibrating. It wasn’t seated properly in the housing lid so could vibrate.
Not sure if it’s a similar set up in the M but could hopefully be an easy fix!

Is the car new to you and has the noise been there since you got it?
 
Can you grab a video
OK got the vid. This is a cold start. It's a bit weird as you can't hear it for the first minute or so but gets louder as vid goes on:



0-1 min: can't really hear it
After 1 min: can hear it now
After 2 mins: getting louder
After 3 mins: now the loudest thing about engine
After 3.5 mins: revving engine

I had a noise like this a bit, when cold only, it was either the water pump bearings or idler pulley. Replaced it all and it went away.
Def not that as I tried running without the Aux belt and still made the whine.

Hi,
I had a similar noise to what you describe but on an n52 (3.0 not the M 😭).
Had the alternator replaced under warranty as part of the investigation, which didn’t solve it.
It turned out to be the oil filter vibrating. It wasn’t seated properly in the housing lid so could vibrate.
Not sure if it’s a similar set up in the M but could hopefully be an easy fix!

Is the car new to you and has the noise been there since you got it?
It's certainly got worse since I've had it. Can you listen to vid above and see if that sounded like yours please?

Try without your wife in the car
Hugely valid point BUT have ruled that out buying her beauty gifts etc.
 
Sounds the same as mine. I’ve just been through a few videos I’ve made during various episodes of paranoia, dating back to 2014, (from around 37k to 84k) and it’s had a similar whine all along.

I’ve just put it down to the PAS circuit or the drag on various components-pulleys. No idea if that’s correct but it’s never given me an issue in all these years. I do have a ticky pulley that shows up when cold but that’s a recent thing and hasn’t changed the whine.
 
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