Awful Engine Noise, Now Sorted

ivancrx

Member
My E85 2.2 2004 is making the most awful noise at the front of the engine at idle.

I have replaced the Vanos and used a stethoscope on it and it isn't that making the noise.

I would upload a video but it wouldn't let me (In a .mov file).

It has had new belts so wouldn't have thought that unless it is a tensioner?

If some one can let me know how to upload a video I will do that.
 
Ivan

I've got similar albeit much quieter- see my post last night with video?

Does it sound like that? Same engine and age

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=123454
 
bigwinn said:
Ivan

I've got similar albeit much quieter- see my post last night with video?

Does it sound like that? Same engine and age

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=123454

Exactly the same symptoms but mine is a lot louder.
 
I'm gonna have a look at the water pump next
Think I have ruled out air but not 100%
Will have a look at belts too
 
I recently had a noise at idle, it did actually sound like a bit of play in a bearing, slightest touch of the throttle and it’d disappear. Mine actually was a bearing on one of the belt pulleys. Fairly cheap and quick fix.

I did also notice that when rattling at idle, the noise would disappear if the air con was turned off. On rattle, off no rattle.

2003 2.5
 
Just upload the video to YouTube and post a link. Does it sound anything like this? If so it’s a very simple case of replacing the oil filter.... https://youtu.be/0SK23DgAq2A
 
I think I may have found the problem, one if the belt tensioners doesn't run free when tightened up (One with the long bolt through by the alternator). I have ordered a new one and shall see how I get on from there.
 
ivancrx said:
I think I may have found the problem, one if the belt tensioners doesn't run free when tightened up (One with the long bolt through by the alternator). I have ordered a new one and shall see how I get on from there.

Keeping eyes on to see if this is the same issue I have
 
Well changed the tensioner and it has made no difference.

So I have dropped the belts off again and started it and the noise is still there. So this rules out alternator, water pump aircon compressor and all other pulleys.

It only started after I refurbished the Vanos unit so I will be stripping this down again.
 
Having discounted the belts and pulleys and tension idlers have you considered the timing chain being the source of the noise. It sounds like a rotational noise with something rubbing, I would hazard a guess at a slack chain or bad chain tensioner. Only way to check is a front end stripdown to check it out.
 
colb said:
Only way to check is a front end stripdown to check it out.

What sort of job is this? I have nut and bolt stripped and rebuilt a defender and engine so I am mechanically minded. Is there a how to lol.
 
Take a look here on the BMW TIS site for service and repair details for the 2.2 https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e36-z3-2.2-roa/repair-manuals/11-engine/
Sounds like your happy with a spanner or two :rofl:
 
Bit more of an update.

Prior to the noise I had refurbished the Vanos so I thought there could be something going on there.

I have now stripped all of the Vanos off again and I couldn’t find anything wrong with it, nothing dropped in the engine or anything.

For some reason I decided to turn the engine over on the front crank pulley bolt and that is exactly where the noise is coming from. Perfect match for the noise so I am thinking crank pulley?

How to get it off I don’t know, wife pressing the brake with me on a breaker bar and piece of scaffolding and not a hope of it moving. I have ordered a pin that locks the flywheel but to be honest I don’t think this is going to work.

Anyone else had problems with the pulley?
 
Well I hope I have sorted the problem, there was a nut wedged behind the crankshaft pulley. No idea how but it was there and it is a BMW one.

It has made a nice pattern in the casing but thankfully all looks ok.

Just waiting on a water pump as I have decided to change it as I have it all stripped to pieces and then I can rebuild it...... again.
 

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Looks like a 11mm nut used on the inlet manifold, have a look if you have one missing, I dropped one of mine when I changed my CCV system and could'n't find it, gave up and got a replacement from BMW. I recently found the lost one when I had to put a new starter motor in, the nut was resting on the engine block behind the starter motor.
 
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