x-driver
Member
Yesterday I picked up my e39 530i (M54 engine) and immediately noticed that when I accelerate, a noise comes from in front of me, like it would be coming out of ventilation grille or somewhere from the bottom of the windshield (bottom left corner to be more precise - keep in mind that my steering wheel is also on the left 
).
At low revs it sounds like someone would speed up the ventilation while at high revs the engine roar can be heard more distinctively (which is kinda nice
). I then also noticed that I can hear the engine starting/cranking sound more distinctively.
So, starting the engine and accelerating, these sounds are now louder and can be heard from where I described.
What was done to the engine:
- new valve cover with gasket
- new oil separator
- new oil filter housing gasket
- new oil pan gasket
- new coolant expansion tank
- new oil filter and oil - first time 10w40 (previously 5w40)
- engine wash (looks like new now)
First thought was the problem being the microfilter air channel that has a broken tab and doesn't seat nicely into the splash wall. But on the other hand I know this is the thing from before I bought the car (in 2014!) and never causing problems before. Firstly the mechanic and later also I tried to seat the air channel better but it didn't help.
Mechanic then thought it could be the steering column gasket coming loose, he reached down there and stated it's fine. I'll have to check it again anyway.
His last idea was a very weird one but that the new oil separator would cause the sounds when accelerating. At the time he didn't know it was also the engine starting/cranking sound also louder. The separator is a Maxgear brand and it came with some extra foam coating around the separator housing and hoses. It was however built in without the housing foam because there was no space for it under the intake manifold.
Is it even possible this idea could be true?
Given all the information, does anybody have any other idea what could change to cause these noises inside the cabin?
). At low revs it sounds like someone would speed up the ventilation while at high revs the engine roar can be heard more distinctively (which is kinda nice
). I then also noticed that I can hear the engine starting/cranking sound more distinctively. So, starting the engine and accelerating, these sounds are now louder and can be heard from where I described.
What was done to the engine:
- new valve cover with gasket
- new oil separator
- new oil filter housing gasket
- new oil pan gasket
- new coolant expansion tank
- new oil filter and oil - first time 10w40 (previously 5w40)
- engine wash (looks like new now)
First thought was the problem being the microfilter air channel that has a broken tab and doesn't seat nicely into the splash wall. But on the other hand I know this is the thing from before I bought the car (in 2014!) and never causing problems before. Firstly the mechanic and later also I tried to seat the air channel better but it didn't help.
Mechanic then thought it could be the steering column gasket coming loose, he reached down there and stated it's fine. I'll have to check it again anyway.
His last idea was a very weird one but that the new oil separator would cause the sounds when accelerating. At the time he didn't know it was also the engine starting/cranking sound also louder. The separator is a Maxgear brand and it came with some extra foam coating around the separator housing and hoses. It was however built in without the housing foam because there was no space for it under the intake manifold.
Is it even possible this idea could be true?
Given all the information, does anybody have any other idea what could change to cause these noises inside the cabin?