Engine Noise Drivers Side

ddave328i · 02:35 PM

Hello all,

I have a noise coming from the drivers side engine. I have replaced the (11281427252 M40) Drive Belt Tensioner for Water Pump/Alternator Belt, and the
(11-28-1-748-131-M40) Adjusting Pulley, used on A/C Belt. However I still have a noise that sounds like a vacuum leak or a small turbo charger / jet engine under the hood area. My best guess is the area under the intake plastic cover.

This is a video I found on youtube, and my car sounds like this.. (this is not my car in the video however am linking to this from youtube, Click here.... his car is making the same noise as mine..)

My car is an '1996 e36 328i 6cly. 5 speed Man. Tran.

Any help would be appreciated... (with photos, and PN# even better)

Thank you

Dave.

ddave328i · 12-28-2009, 12:55 PM

Has anyone had this whistle sound, and fixed it?? It will increase and decrease with the rpm/throttle. It idles fine, just sounds like a mini jet engine..

It does it with the engine hot or cold, day or night...

Vacuum line maybe but where? Is it easy to remove the plastic intake (cover)?

Thank you.

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

It could be the cyclone separator (pcv valve). It hakes a continuous sucking and whistling sound.

ddave328i · 12-31-2009, 02:23 PM

Well I broke down and took the car in and had it check out..... The trouble was the alternator. I got it replace and now it's so quiet, that at a light I thought the engine died because I could not hear it.

frankzen · frankzen's Garage

Strange your whistle was cured by a new alternator - the whistle on my car
STARTED when I had the alternator replaced. They are often the cause of stange
noises.

A.C.SCHNITZER · 01-04-2010, 06:38 AM

Hi People.
I also had the same sound and I replaced the top tensioners, the tensioners ggearings were worn out but now it's good. heck the tensioners and belts in most cases.

Manolito · 01-07-2010, 05:58 AM

I have a similar noise coming from the driver side of the engine on one of my '97s.

I suspect that it may be due to the chunks of plastic that have rotted from the cooling air tube and gotten sucked into the alternator.

I had the alternator off last weekend while replacing power steering hoses, but the main power lead on the back of the alternator was unbelievably tight. I gave up for fear of breaking the lug off, so I did not effectively blow out the alternator.

I left the rotting cooling air tube off when I put it back together.