330i N53 Odd noise

[mahoone]

Hi,

I’m having an issue with the noise my car developed in the past few days. The car is a 2011 330i N53 in auto.
The noise is only present once the engine is warmed up to 70+ C. There’s nothing when cold.

Managed to get the engine cover off and the sound is definitely coming from the top of the engine.

The noise is mostly there at 0.11 and 0.15 sec:

https://youtu.be/k2u1RwvdC8E

And here when revved up to 1100 rpm:

https://youtu.be/j_D0BQ_2YzI

[Eddieslofart]

Sounds like water pump or alternator pulley to me.

[mahoone]

Eddieslofart said:

Sounds like water pump or alternator pulley to me.

Good shout! Thank you.
Took the car to BMW specialist SWSS MINI in Cardiff today. They had a quick look and they suspect it’s an air leak somewhere from the engine.
Car booked in for Thursday for a smoke test.

[bmwmike]

Let us know how you get on. Must admit I can't hear the noise you refer to. I'm in Cardiff if you're local.

[mahoone]

bmwmike said:

Let us know how you get on. Must admit I can't hear the noise you refer to. I'm in Cardiff if you're local.

Will do! I'm in Cardiff too.

I bet you could tell the difference in the sound if I parked my 330i next to your 530i. Assuming yours is a N53 engine too.