Can you identify this annoying noise. Video

[G-A-R-Y]

With someone sat in the car and letting the clutch up to put load on the engine I get an annoying squeal from the top of the engine near the pulleys or inlet manifold. It does it if I pull away gentle with little or no throttle.
[youtube]h6hiLlJwK0s[/youtube]

 

[firebobby]

Sounds like a cricket
It's something that happens only as the clutch is being let up and appears near to the drive belts??, is your A/C on as it could be the belt slipping. It could be one of your other drive belts.
I would check them, have a look to see if there is any crazing or cracking on the belts themselves.

 

[G-A-R-Y]

You're right, it does happen just as the clutch comes up and I try stalling the engine, belts were changed with no change and aircon is off. It appears a bit higher nearer the manifold. By keeping the engine near to stall the noise remains constant.

 

[firebobby]

Just a thought, could it be the , DISA valve, Vanos. Worth searching the forum, I believe the DISA can badly damage the engine if it does fail.

 

[G-A-R-Y]

A friend suggests water pump, by letting the clutch up it slows the engine, I will remove belt and re-test.

 

[stevo///m3]

That sounds like the little internal referee blowing his whistle for a foul. These referees are installed in all BMW 6 pot engines. He doesn't like you not giving a bit of revs when you raise the clutch. If you get a code reader, you'll probably see you've got enough yellow cards for a short ban. If you'd stalled it, he'll issue a straight red so you and your friend best watch out. If you get a ban at the start of the summer, it lasts until your first few outings in August.
:wink:

 

[G-A-R-Y]

Just an update to help others in the future.
Although I thought the mentioned noise was vacuum related this weekend I changed the tensioner pulley (pictured) and re-greased the others, as a consequence the squealing noise at very low revs has disappeared.

 

[dans6490]

I've got a very similar noise and had thought about pulleys etc but don't have a clue where to start. Is this an easy/cheap job? Hoping I can have a go myself?

 

[G-A-R-Y]

Very easy, just a few sockets needed (13mm,16mm), take the belt off first making a drawing of its routing first. Spin the pulleys and listen.