Is my N62 engine dead - what's this rattling noise?

[g3org3y]

Did some work on the X5 today, changing the engine partition and put on the summer alloys/tyres. Decided to take it for a drive and wasn't best pleased when I turned it on.

Unusual 'pulsed' rattle I've not heard before (last time I drove the car was months ago and was fine). Seems to be loudest when cold and speeds up with engine speed. No difference if AC off/on.

Car drives fine, not down on power. I couldn't say how long it has been going on as wife drives the car and wouldn't notice anything like this.

Under the bonnet:
https://vimeo.com/556857033

With engine revving:
https://vimeo.com/556857412

Timing chain guides/tensioner/the chain itself? Maybe the AC compressor or some kind of pulley/idler thing? How worried do I need to be?

Advised wife not to use the E70 for the time being and take the E91 or E63 instead.

Edited by g3org3y on Sunday 30th May 16:30

[g3org3y]

Will do.

I think (fingers crossed) it could be the water pump bearing.

This guy had the same noise

YouTube Guy said:

That noise, It turned out to be the Water Pump Bearing, it started several months back, and I thought it was the timing chain, because it sounded like a chain rubbing against the guides, so I first heard it then did some research, so in this order this is what I did to fix that noise.
1. Replaced Serpentine Belt & Pully and Tensioner (DID NOT fix noise)
2. Replaced Timing Chain Tensioner (DID NOT fix noise)
3. Replaced Water Pump (FIXED the NOISE)
My car is quite again

[g3org3y]

Any ideas lads? Am probably going to take it to a Specialist rather than chuck parts at it.

[g3org3y]

Thanks guys, appreciate the input.

I'll give the specialist a bell today. I use the local mechanic in the village for a lot of other stuff, but for this would prefer to use the specialist.

EDIT: Booked in for the 17th June. (they are very busy!).

If it's the waterpump, I'll get the 'stat done, the little rubber tube behind it, the belt, the pulley and tensioner. No point messing around.

Edited by g3org3y on Tuesday 1st June 14:42

[g3org3y]

Pastie Bloater said:

Good luck g3org3y, thinking positive if you want to save a few quid you could get OEM Saleri water pump £90 (BMW £275) and Wahler thermostat £40 (BMW £79).
I also went OEM Continental Contitech belts and INA tensioners/idler.
For thermostat Wahler do a stock 105C version and a lower 101C version (4508.101D).
I have all this to hand due to my recent issue
The water pump pulley is the only plastic one (bar tensioners/idler) so worth replacing.

Edited by Pastie Bloater on Tuesday 1st June 20:22

Thanks for the advice Pastie, appreciate it. Where did you source the items?

Is there any advantage to using the lower temp 'stat?

Do you think there's merit in doing the AC belt and other tensioner 'while you're there'?

Fingers crossed it's just something on the 'belt system' so to speak. The car is only on 70k miles and has had quite an easy life and appropriate maintenance so we'll see.

[g3org3y]

Pastie Bloater said:

Autodoc, and using the app is cheaper. Just put in the BMW part numbers, only problem is it can take a good 7 days for them to arrive.

In my experience yes as the actual operating temps will come down from max 115C to about 105C, so lower but not so low as to keep the car on warm-up map (like the £150 'modified' 80C ones will), and it's an OEM unit just lower temp insert. It also gives you a bit more leeway/grace period in the event of say belt failure, lower temp is easier on seals etc.

At 70k I would as preventative, you'll probably find they could do with doing. You can just replace the tensioner/idler pulleys rather than the whole thing but need the Dayco part numbers or they'll come up on Autodoc.
To be fair the AC belt drive isn't critical but the risk is a failed belt or bits of belt being pulled into the front main crank seal.
It's so easy to do them it's a no brainer for me, as failure of any of the bits could be a cooked engine or fubar crank seal (which is no joke).

It looks like ~£120 to do belts, tensioners, idler and WP pulley, so plus the £130 for WP & thermostat is £250, less than the BMW WP.

Thanks for the info. I'll think I'll just leave the Specialist to supply whatever parts are needed. We haven't got to that stage of our 'relationship' where I can supply parts, plus as you say without knowing what is needed, difficult to plan in advance.

[g3org3y]

Specialist had a look, diagnosis: waterpump bearing. Unfortunately can't get one until early next week.

Have requested to do all the pulleys/tensioner/belt done at the same time. Might be overkill but at least it's all sorted (and I can just worry about coolant leaks, oil leaks, valve stem seals etc...!)

Edited by g3org3y on Friday 18th June 08:26

[g3org3y]

To conclude, was indeed the water pump. All sorted (£££) so the X5/N62 lives another day.