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Thread: Help diagnosing engine noise in my E46 (YouTube vid provided)

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Stamford, CT
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    48
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 330Ci

    Help diagnosing engine noise in my E46 (YouTube vid provided)

    Edit: Noise was my old alternator which I have replaced.
    Last edited by wallofgrath; 02-28-2020 at 03:27 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Houston, TX
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    12,462
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    36 Cylinders
    Probably should raise the hood every once in a while. I think I hear a faint exhaust leak in between there. The puffy sounds.

    Removing the belts for a very quick test (no water pump, don't run engine long!!) will eliminate some of the belt/bearing noises for elimination of suspects.
    Last edited by 328 Power 04; 06-21-2017 at 01:45 PM.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, NC (yes, again)
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    23,673
    My Cars
    E39M5, E500 4WD
    When you get into your car, you put your feet into a place called "the footwell".

    To the left of your feet is a crescent shaped black handle. Pull that handle.

    Then get out of the car, and look at the grilles. You'll see another little black handle, sticking out of one of the grilles.

    Pull that handle, while lifting upwards on the hood.

    Voila ! Now you can actually SEE the engine, and you can aim your camera at whatever part seems to be making the noise!

    If you redo your video, with the hood open, it's just possible someone might recognize the noise.

    Or, you might want to buy a mechanic's stethoscope, at Sears or Napa, for less than $20.

    Sorry, I can't identify the source of the various noises in the video; direction is imperative in identifying a noise.

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Stamford, CT
    Posts
    48
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 330Ci
    Translation = "I don't know what that noise is"

    Chris, it's easy to be a smart ass on the internet, isn't it? Keep it up with your internet posts, almost at 20 thousand!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, NC (yes, again)
    Posts
    23,673
    My Cars
    E39M5, E500 4WD
    Yes, it's true, I am a smart ass. That said, if you're going to ask people to identify a noise via a video, you really should give us the best possible shot. Video sounds are difficult, anyway, because there's no sense of direction, no way to separate one sound from another. If you took a video with the hood open, and aimed your microphone / camera in several directions, you could help to pinpoint which sound you're trying to diagnose. Honestly, all I heard was a slightly noisy engine -- I do not even know what particular noise it is that concerns you.

    But I tell you what: I'm driving up to Stamford on Sunday, and I'll be there 'til the following Friday, visiting my Mom. If you want to PM me with a phone # , I'll give you a call on Monday, and I'll be glad to have a listen to your car, in person. (I'll bring my stethoscope, which helps my long-abused ears....

    (Yes, I'm serious, not being a smart ass....I grew up in Stamford, decades ago)

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Chicagoland area
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    4,372
    My Cars
    EXOTICS
    Not trying to be a smarta$$, but a video with an open hood would have been infinitely more helpful.
    Maybe a new video - cold start & after a proper warm up, this will help us> help you!

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