Help! What is this noise! E39

[peaktorque]

Wife phones me earlier ans says that car is making a 'strange' noise. I get home and a 'strange' noise is an understatement! It is horrific!

The car is a E39 535iA. When you start the car you are presented by a noise that I can only describe as sounding like a cross between an overly tight belt and excessive bearing noise . Initially I thought it was coming from the front of the engine (or hopeing something cheap (ish) like a power-steering pump) but no. Got the car up on the ramps and I'm pretty sure that it is coming from the bell-housing area of the gearbox.

This problem is also affecting the idle which is causing the car to 'rock', although if you blip the throttle it sort of settles down. Also if you rev the engine a bit the noise nearly disappears, but soon returns. The car actually drives normally and kicks-down etc fine, there are no warnings on the dash.

I don't really have a lot of knowledge on automatic gearboxes, but I'm thinking torque converter? Any ideas on this would be appreciated. (Continued driving of said car not to be advised?)

Thanks James

[8Tech]

Sounds like your transmission input shaft or pilot bearing. Transmission out I'm afraid.

8Tech.

[peaktorque]

8Tech said:

Sounds like your transmission input shaft or pilot bearing. Transmission out I'm afraid.

8Tech.

Thanks for speedy response! Does this problem affect the idle of the vehicle? because it is bad. Is this bearing on the block or on the gearbox? And Would it be a mistake to use the car (only for short journeys until fixed)

Thanks James

[dxb335d]

Can you check the tranny fluid?


Whats the mileage?

[peaktorque]

dxb335d said:

Can you check the tranny fluid?


Whats the mileage?

I can (I think it needs to be checked at a gearbox temp. of 32c, is that right?), but there are no signs of leakage.
The car has done about 145,000.

Thanks James

[peaktorque]

Sent car along today to BMW m.d, and after some investigation they have reported that the noise is due to a worn/leaking waterpump and the rough idle is due to a misfire on number 1+2 cylinders (possibly head gasket due to overheating although wife claims all gauges were normal during journey). I'm not fully convinced as I am sure the noise is at the rear of the engine.

Anyway I'm going to change waterpump and thermostat and see if that does it (BMW wanted £700 pounds to do this ). Possible head gasket? Well at least it is not the gearbox..........

[fixedwheelnut]

If it is a high pitched sqeak noise from the back of the block and it is a V8 check the breather valve at the back of the inlet manifold, they are prone to the diaphragm splitting and causing excess vacumn in the crankcase.
The squeak/squeal is the air being sucked in at a split hose or in past the oil seals into the crankcase, gently undo the oil filler cap and see how much suction there is with the engine running, only lift it a few mm or it will spray oil everywhere.

[8Tech]

fixedwheelnut said:

If it is a high pitched sqeak noise from the back of the block and it is a V8 check the breather valve at the back of the inlet manifold, they are prone to the diaphragm splitting and causing excess vacumn in the crankcase.
The squeak/squeal is the air being sucked in at a split hose or in past the oil seals into the crankcase, gently undo the oil filler cap and see how much suction there is with the engine running, only lift it a few mm or it will spray oil everywhere.

I agree with this too and additionally would add that this engine is VERY prone to oil seepage through the cam cover gaskets filling up the spark plug sockets with oil, especially no1 and no5 cyl's. Check the plugs to see if they are running submerged in oil.

Do the stat and pump anyway, and replace those serpentine belts whilst you're there but man, if it is the headgasket, you'll wish it was the transmission.

8Tech.

[peaktorque]

8Tech said:

fixedwheelnut said:

If it is a high pitched sqeak noise from the back of the block and it is a V8 check the breather valve at the back of the inlet manifold, they are prone to the diaphragm splitting and causing excess vacumn in the crankcase.
The squeak/squeal is the air being sucked in at a split hose or in past the oil seals into the crankcase, gently undo the oil filler cap and see how much suction there is with the engine running, only lift it a few mm or it will spray oil everywhere.

I agree with this too and additionally would add that this engine is VERY prone to oil seepage through the cam cover gaskets filling up the spark plug sockets with oil, especially no1 and no5 cyl's. Check the plugs to see if they are running submerged in oil.

Do the stat and pump anyway, and replace those serpentine belts whilst you're there but man, if it is the headgasket, you'll wish it was the transmission.

8Tech.

I'm begining to wish it was the gearbox, had a butchers on BMW TIS and it looks a horrendeous job! My cam cover gaskets do weap and I'v been meaning to change them for a while now!
I like the sound of this breather valve theory and if it can cause a rough idle then it makes sense. We have use of other vehicles so I might as well go to town on it and change the lot while it is off of the road.

Thanks James

[peaktorque]

8Tech said:

fixedwheelnut said:

If it is a high pitched sqeak noise from the back of the block and it is a V8 check the breather valve at the back of the inlet manifold, they are prone to the diaphragm splitting and causing excess vacumn in the crankcase.
The squeak/squeal is the air being sucked in at a split hose or in past the oil seals into the crankcase, gently undo the oil filler cap and see how much suction there is with the engine running, only lift it a few mm or it will spray oil everywhere.

I agree with this too and additionally would add that this engine is VERY prone to oil seepage through the cam cover gaskets filling up the spark plug sockets with oil, especially no1 and no5 cyl's. Check the plugs to see if they are running submerged in oil.

Do the stat and pump anyway, and replace those serpentine belts whilst you're there but man, if it is the headgasket, you'll wish it was the transmission.

8Tech.

O.k been busy today and found the following-

1. Tried the oil filler cap test and yes indeed there is a big vacuum there (you can barely get the cap off!). So I just need a new diaphram do I?

2. I'm also in the process of changing the water pump an thermostat, but to be honest with the pump out there is no evidence of leakage or noise (I think this may have been a fob-off by BMW), although the new pump has a metal impellor rather than the original plastic one which is better! Supplied with wrong 'stat though.

3. I'v had a good look at the spark plugs and they are swimming in oil! Took the left bank cam cover off and the gaskets are completly rotten! Going to change the lot.

4. The car has always sounded a bit 'chainy' at the top end, so whilst the cam cover is off I'v had a look at the top chain and tensioner. No sign of wear but (I know the tensioner works on oil pressure and the engine isn't running) the chain was slack at the bottom. I intend to change both top tensioners in hope this will cure the rattle. Can I change the tensioner's without removing the chain?

5. oh yeah just one other thing the thermostat electrical plug had burnt-out? Strange

Thanks for you help

James