[iwantaw335]

Hello, my car just started making this sort of squealing sound at low RPM.
Has anyone had this problem?
Belt? maybe pulley?



Thanks.

[BashShah]

Well, can't say what it is, but it sure is times with the Belt revolutions for sure.

so Pulley or Tensioner.
I say replace them all.

quick test.
Idle the Car, and pour slight water on the belt.
if noise goes away then it's the Belt, Tensioner and or Pulleys.

If I were in your situation:
I would replace the following , whether good or bad.
Belt, Tensioner, Upper and Lower Pulleys
Problem solved for a VERY Long time.

[iwantaw335]

Thanks I'll give that a try

[d1saster]

My car is developing that sound but less noticeable. I replaced belt, the tensioner and pulleys but it didn’t go away. I noticed the belt wasn’t oem so previous owner replaced it. Somebody on the net had the same noise and said it was parts of belt around crank seal after failure. I hope that’s not the case but my next step will be diagnosing pulleys old school method with long screwdriver.

[iwantaw335]

Thanks I'll give that a try. Hopefully not the crank pulley. Hard to find a place to stick a screw driver way down there.

[JUMAS]

are you 100% sure it's coming from the belt area? if your pcv is bad the rear main will make a squeal or groan, mine was very similar to yours, but it was not as consistent, it would come and go at low rpm/slow driving.

[iwantaw335]

Yeah mines come and go too. But the sound seems to come from the front of the engine and not the back. I'll have to check it this weekend.

[Delta0311]

I replaced my the day my car hit 70k. One way to tell if your belts\pulleys are about to go is to spray some water on the belt. The water should stop the squeaks for a little bit. So spay the water and if the squeak stops then it's a sign that the belt\pulleys need to be replaced.

This component should be part of your BMW maintenance. I suggest getting it replaced asap if you start hearing the squeaks. The belt can shred off, leaving you stranded or even worse get pulled into the motor.

[JUMAS]

Originally Posted by iwantaw335

Yeah mines come and go too. But the sound seems to come from the front of the engine and not the back. I'll have to check it this weekend.

I never did get under my car I tested my PCV and it was bad and decided that was the likely cause and replaced it.

I can tell you that from standing infront or next to the car, the noise sounded like it was from the front of the motor. The symptoms for a PCV call for the rear main, but I haven't heard it since I did the replacement about a month ago now. I daily the car.

Any updates?

[tcphoto]

D1saster is right, take a long screwdriver, gently put it behind the tensioner and flex it a little. If it stops the squeak you'll need to replace it. A friend showed me the trick when my E46 made that sound.

[iwantaw335]

Update. I replaced the tensioner pulley and sound is gone! The old one shows no play and spins freely.

[iwantaw335]

Spoke too soon dreaded embarrassing sound is back. The sound come and go so hard to replicate it.

[JUMAS]

Originally Posted by iwantaw335

Spoke too soon dreaded embarrassing sound is back. The sound come and go so hard to replicate it.

so.... did you check out your PCV..

[iwantaw335]

Shit I think you are right. I found this thread and the first video sounds like mines.


https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1197666

Originally Posted by JUMAS

so.... did you check out your PCV..

[JUMAS]

Originally Posted by iwantaw335

Shit I think you are right. I found this thread and the first video sounds like mines.


https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1197666

Yep. I had the same issue. Just order a new valve cover, it comes with seals and all hardware. You can follow the steps in that thread and test the PCV, but I'm willing to bet that'll solve your issue. It did mine.

[iwantaw335]

I found this other thread for replacing just the failed diaphram. https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...7#post21705199

I just ordered the part.

[JUMAS]

Originally Posted by iwantaw335

I found this other thread for replacing just the failed diaphram. https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...7#post21705199

I just ordered the part.

If you feel comfortable cutting open the VC and JB welding it together, that will work. Goodluck!