Abnormal 2008 E92 M3 whistling noise- link attached

[MPG_LOL]

Hello Guys,

Car: 2008 E92 M3 6 speed with 60,400 miles.

Unfortunately this needs to be my first post, as I'm looking for some guidance regarding a strange engine noise that started today after picking up my car from getting an oil change and oil pan replacement.

My mechanic (Check Point Automotive in LA) said the drain plug was totally ruined from the last guy who changed the oil, so long story short what was supposed to be an oil change turned into a oil pan replacement, so the subframe was dropped.

I pick up the car today and he noticed "whistling". On cold starts it's more pronounced but the sound does not go away when warmed up. Essentially it sounds like a turbo spooling up at low rpm. My mechanic said he ran a diagnostic and checked the intake system for leaks and didn't find anything. The pulleys and belts were replaced 3,000 miles ago so that can't be the issue either, though a belt or pulley sound more like a "squeal" than a "whistle". The car drives fine and pulls hard, but the sound is disturbing and didn't exist before I took my car in. Does anyone have a clue what this could be? How could replacing an oil pan cause this sound?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5x7Fn7fGdc - video of idling and revving with the engine warm.

I'd be extremely thankful for any insight you guys have.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by MPG_LOL

Hello Guys,

Car: 2008 E92 M3 6 speed with 60,400 miles.

Unfortunately this needs to be my first post, as I'm looking for some guidance regarding a strange engine noise that started today after picking up my car from getting an oil change and oil pan replacement.

My mechanic (Check Point Automotive in LA) said the drain plug was totally ruined from the last guy who changed the oil, so long story short what was supposed to be an oil change turned into a oil pan replacement, so the subframe was dropped.

I pick up the car today and he noticed "whistling". On cold starts it's more pronounced but the sound does not go away when warmed up. Essentially it sounds like a turbo spooling up at low rpm. My mechanic said he ran a diagnostic and checked the intake system for leaks and didn't find anything. The pulleys and belts were replaced 3,000 miles ago so that can't be the issue either, though a belt or pulley sound more like a "squeal" than a "whistle". The car drives fine and pulls hard, but the sound is disturbing and didn't exist before I took my car in. Does anyone have a clue what this could be? How could replacing an oil pan cause this sound?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5x7Fn7fGdc - video of idling and revving with the engine warm.

I'd be extremely thankful for any insight you guys have.

To me this sounds like a metallic vibration noise...
And it makes me think on "wear" of the pulley axle .
I heard this before on here , and I hope a quick fix for your problem because this noise would make me insane (tracking noises takes time)
Good luck man , and please let us know ...

Your video..

[Kyoshi71]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

To me this sounds like a metallic vibration noise...
And it makes me think on "wear" of the pulley axle .
I heard this before on here , and I hope a quick fix for your problem because this noise would make me insane (tracking noises takes time)
Good luck man , and please let us know ...

Your video..

Agree (or maybe possibly a vacuum leak)

Take a stick (like a half of a broomstick) and listen to your accessories while the car is running. If it is a pulley bearing, you'll pinpoint it.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Kyoshi71

Agree (or maybe possibly a vacuum leak)

Take a stick (like a half of a broomstick) and listen to your accessories while the car is running. If it is a pulley bearing, you'll pinpoint it.

Take a what ...?

I heard some serious weard stuff on here , but I need to say "your half of a broomstick" beats everything .
And that's why I need to ask you...What are you smoking my friend ? lol..

[MPG_LOL]

Car is back at the mechanic, I'll let him break broomsticks. Could a vacuum issue even be possible if the car is otherwise running strongly with no CELs?

[redpriest]

Vacuum leak? OP's car sounds like a vacuum cleaner to me! That's horrible. I hope they find and fix it. I have a whistling sound as well, but it only happens when I'm lightly on the gas and above 3k RPMs. Doesn't seem to harm anything so I've learned to live with it.

This I wouldn't be able to, lol.

[Kyoshi71]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Take a what ...?

I heard some serious weard stuff on here , but I need to say "your half of a broomstick" beats everything .
And that's why I need to ask you...What are you smoking my friend ? lol..

It's an old trick for if one of your accessories are giving you trouble. The stick will transmit enough sound that you can at least tell where the problem is coming from. No joke. it works like a redneck stethoscope.

[IIAp3x]

sounds like a pulley bearing gone bad...

[BzsBimmer]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Take a what ...?

I heard some serious weard stuff on here , but I need to say "your half of a broomstick" beats everything .
And that's why I need to ask you...What are you smoking my friend ? lol..

Haha. You're out of a job now my friend. All the owners with rod bearing noise concerns are going to get broomsticks and stop sending you audio files!

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

Haha. You're out of a job now my friend. All the owners with rod bearing noise concerns are going to get broomsticks and stop sending you audio files!

Indeed my friend....It was about time, because the last two years I was suffering from nightmares with loud rattle noises and S65 black holes .

BTW....Yesterday I filled my trunk with half broomsticks , because we never know .

[M3AG]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Indeed my friend....It was about time, because the last two years I was suffering from nightmares with loud rattle noises and S65 black holes .

BTW....Yesterday I filled my trunk with half broomsticks , because we never know .

You'll need only one! I am using this...

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M3AG

You'll need only one! I am using this...

The styling of your stick fits with our S65, because it's not cheap .
Where can I order your $-stick ?

[Biggus Dickus]

+1 the bad pulley bearing diagnosis.

[MPG_LOL]

so the sound was NOT a pulley bearing. It was caused by a bracket that was barely making contact with the pulley. Apparently the bracket had to be removed to drop the subframe and was not put back 100% correctly. Everything was taken care of, the pulley was not damaged and the car is running great.

I apologize for not having photos of the bracket so I'll have to take my mechanic's word. I'm just happy nothing else was broken and I didn't have to shell out more $$$

[dry87]

Originally Posted by MPG_LOL

so the sound was NOT a pulley bearing. It was caused by a bracket that was barely making contact with the pulley. Apparently the bracket had to be removed to drop the subframe and was not put back 100% correctly. Everything was taken care of, the pulley was not damaged and the car is running great.

I apologize for not having photos of the bracket so I'll have to take my mechanic's word. I'm just happy nothing else was broken and I didn't have to shell out more $$$

I have the same problem, can u point out which braket?

[monterey]

I'm glad you found it. So the plug got crossed threaded?

[tchung6]

Hey do you know which bracket it is? My car is making that exact same sound but only at like 1000-1500 rpm under light throttle...

[dry87]

Originally Posted by MPG_LOL

so the sound was NOT a pulley bearing. It was caused by a bracket that was barely making contact with the pulley. Apparently the bracket had to be removed to drop the subframe and was not put back 100% correctly. Everything was taken care of, the pulley was not damaged and the car is running great.

I apologize for not having photos of the bracket so I'll have to take my mechanic's word. I'm just happy nothing else was broken and I didn't have to shell out more $$$

+1

[HerbNRacer]

Originally Posted by Kyoshi71

It's an old trick for if one of your accessories are giving you trouble. The stick will transmit enough sound that you can at least tell where the problem is coming from. No joke. it works like a redneck stethoscope.

Funny part is you are all talking shit but this is a tried and proven method for isolating sounds. Tricks like this have been used far a long time in a pinch and it works great. Not everyone that drives an ///M is filthy rich and can just eat $160 for a diagnostic...

[hankdc1226]

Hey do you know which bracket it is? My car is making that exact same sound

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