Guru's HELP! - United Bimmer Community

**Bimmer_5er** · 05-30-2006, 11:00 PM

Hey guys I hope someone will be able to help me. I drive a 1992 e34 525i M50. I was driving the other day and i kinda of noticed this whinning noice, it was very very faint so i though nothing of it. Today i was driving and it became much worse, right at about 2k it starts whinning like WWWWHHHHAAAAAAAAA(best way i can describe it lol) and then kinda stops if i take it high up in the RPM's. It does this through out 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. When i put it in 5th i cant hear it at all. Oh yeah when im just ideling at a light or somethin it doesnt make the noice if i rev it. IM GOING CRAZY

Please help me

TIA

**xsperf** · 05-30-2006, 11:07 PM

spray wd40 into ur belt tensioner(had typed up a whole reply, accidently clicked back, then clicked forward and it got erased

)

**Bimmer_5er** · 05-30-2006, 11:14 PM

Thnx for the input man ill try that tomorrow when i wake up

**c1apton** · 05-31-2006, 04:45 AM

DON't use WD 40 on ANYTHING that spins with RPMs - PLEASE! WD 40 will work like cutting oil and only stop the noise momentarily. I think xperf is on the right track - possible tensioner Alternator or AC but don't use WD 40. You also don't want to get WD 40 on your belts.

Re: noise could be tensioners, alt bearing, water pump, fan clutch, AC bearing. If cars' a stick could be throw out bearing. Does it happen more often cold or after warmed up?

**Bimmer_5er** · 05-31-2006, 06:46 PM

It happens more often when warmed up, car is also a 5 speed

**c1apton** · 05-31-2006, 07:28 PM

Ok, try the process of elimination: with car warmed up. take AC belt off (easy, just releive tensioner pulley pressure) then take it for one of your power runs or situation when you experience noise. If noise is still there, pop cap off Alternator tensioner bolt cover, apply a little grease (very little) to tenioner pulley internal section replace cap then do "power run again" see if noise is still there or maybe a lower level of noise. If noise is still there - pull alternator belt off (DO NOT DRIVE!) and spin individual components Alternator, waterpump and see if you can feel roughness in any of those things. You can also try "propping" rear end of car off ground on jack stands and try running through gears and listening for noise (have someone else drive while you listen) CAREFULLY. Also check around each of the components & look for small metallic shavings or leakage around waterpump (pumps are common probelm on the E34s)
I know this sounds tedious but it's the easiest way to eliminate possibilities without throwing $$$ at parts you might not need. It's hard for us to diagnose from afar without hearing the actual noise

**Bimmer_5er** · 05-31-2006, 11:49 PM

Yeah i know it is, but i appreaciate you giving me some advise rather than i waste $$$$ i dont have at the shop. I will try everything you suggested this saturday and let you know how it goes. Thanks again!!

**c1apton** · 06-01-2006, 12:23 AM

Until you get it fixed keep and eye on ALL your guages. Especially the temp - if it even looks hotter than normal, cool it down & fast or this could really get expensive. Also watch to see if electrics fluctuate - lights, etc. These all are possible early warnings. Another possible noise - low pwr steering fluid level. Just trying to "arm" you with all possibilities...

**Bimmer_5er** · 06-01-2006, 06:12 PM

Well the brake light came on when I hit check control, but this has been going on and off since i bought the car (MAY 05) I had a friend do a walk around and all my lights were in working order. As for the temperature iv seen it just a little tick over towards the red, and i mean just a tick almost nothing, what do those two symptoms indicate??

By the way I love you car man!

**euro driver e34** · 06-02-2006, 07:26 AM

Dude, did you check the brake fluid level? Also the switch on the drivwes side front caliper likes to go bad, try that.

**Bimmer_5er** · 06-02-2006, 06:28 PM

No I havent checked anything yet, been waaaay to busy at work. I plan to do everything that was suggested tomorrow (saturday).
Thanks for all the input guys i really appriciate it. I will let everyone know how their suggetions worked.

By the way euro driver e34 your car is sick!!

**euro driver e34** · 06-04-2006, 06:44 AM

Thanks for the props dude! Anyways, a lot things I see when I'm working at my other bosses dealership, pertaining to brakes are those that I told about.

**Bimmer_5er** · 06-04-2006, 06:05 PM

Hey guys, well iv been working on my car all weekend and did some of the things that were suggested to me.

I took off the AC belt, but the noise was still there

I then put some grease on the alternator belts, noise still persisted

I also checked my brake fluid, and power steering fluid, both were good.

I did a complete oil change with oil filter (just for the hell of it) and the car seemed to run better, but the noise was still there

So in short im out of ideas and i think i have to take it into the $tealership

I just want to say thanks to everyone who gave me some suggestions on what was wrong, and i will let everyone know what the problem is when i get my car into the shop.

OH ya when i was taking my AC belt off, i was thinking why not just take out the whole AC unit, i never use it and i heard that it weighs 100 LBS?? Has anyone else done this?

**euro driver e34** · 06-07-2006, 04:19 AM

Since the place where I live doesn't get all that hot I don't even try to run it. It justs sits in a box in my room. But it doesn't make that a big of difference unless you are a track guy.

**Bimmer_5er** · 06-07-2006, 06:41 PM

Yeah i guess that is true, but i never use it, i usually just open my windows in the summer