Terrible start up noise (M60)

[AZChris]

Okay this only happens like 50% of the time but it's loud and embarrassing. I see no pattern in when it happens, cold or warm starts.

It turns over fine, but right when it catches it sounds like a loud wheezing sound. Like an old dude gasping for air. I have never heard any sound like it from any other car.

I'm thinking the clutch fan? It seemed okay though.

Also sometimes when I throw it in neutral to coast to a stop, the idle will fluctuate a little. Like maybe a 300rpm difference, nothing major. Not sure if that has anything to do with it. I know the intake mani gasket has been replaced at some point in its life.

I can probably get a video if it would help, but it's just a really loud wheezing noise at startup.

-Christian

[Layne]

Definitely going to need a video.

One random guess: the power steering pump leaks dry when it sits, and the wheeze is the pump refilling with oil. I can't think of much else that would be very loud.

[T444E]

My idle fluctuates all the time when I'm not on the gas, sorta annoying. But meh.
No vacuum leaks, new MAF, new battery, think it's caused by my HIDs :dunno

[AZChris]

Ahhhh....I've been trying to get a video for the last few days, but it hasn't done it. And the one time I don't record a video of it starting, it does it......Arghhhhh.

But yeah, it's a loud old man wheezing sound. With a little screech mixed in. I'm really starting to think it's the ps pump. When I let out the clutch in first and am turning at the same time (parking lot speeds) it'll sometimes screech a little.

Meh......

[K Fox]

Just a thought - maybe the starter hanging? If it doesn't disengage quickly enough it sounds funny spinning fast, but they usually don't hang for more than a half second or so.

Fox

[BoldUlysses]

Just a thought - maybe the starter hanging? If it doesn't disengage quickly enough it sounds funny spinning fast, but they usually don't hang for more than a half second or so.

Fox

My thought too. There was a recent thread from a gentleman with an M60 E34 with an awful startup noise too, turned out to be the starter gear not fully retracting and grazing the flywheel. It was more of a circular saw noise, though.

A vid would really help.

-Matt

[ARZ540i]

Hey AZ Chris
Think I got the same issue with my 540I pal here in AZ. It never done this when the temperature was warmer back in Mid OCT but since it has started dropping I get this upon start up and it really does not go away until engine is completely warm. But the sound you are describing sounds a lot like mine. Kind of a high pitched noise upon revs and dulls out once it goes through the gears? At first I thought Fan Clutch bearing or something to that effect or even Vacuum leaks somewhere. It’s very strange, Almost sounds electrical to some extent. To top things off last night I started the car as I had not driven it during the day and the crank time to start it took longer that usual. Maybe 3 – 3 ½ Seconds vs the usual 1 second to turn over. Don’t like these kind of issues. Think it may be time to do a tune up anyway.

Let me know if you pinpoint the cause.
Lee

[530V8]

I got the same issue with my 525. It turned out to be one of the belt tensioner pulleys.

[ARZ540i]

AZ Chris,
you ever find the route cause to the issue?

[AZChris]

Hey AZ Chris
Think I got the same issue with my 540I pal here in AZ. It never done this when the temperature was warmer back in Mid OCT but since it has started dropping I get this upon start up and it really does not go away until engine is completely warm. But the sound you are describing sounds a lot like mine. Kind of a high pitched noise upon revs and dulls out once it goes through the gears? At first I thought Fan Clutch bearing or something to that effect or even Vacuum leaks somewhere. It’s very strange, Almost sounds electrical to some extent. To top things off last night I started the car as I had not driven it during the day and the crank time to start it took longer that usual. Maybe 3 – 3 ½ Seconds vs the usual 1 second to turn over. Don’t like these kind of issues. Think it may be time to do a tune up anyway.

Let me know if you pinpoint the cause.
Lee

Mine only happens right at startup. I'm really guessing now that it's the starter not fully disengaging.

And I haven't been able to get a video as it's only done it once in the past few weeks. lol.