my 545 has the exact same issue..front passenger side rattle..i thought i was going crazy since nobody else seems to hear it

 

Has anyone found out what this noise originates from. My 04 545i does exactly the noise coming off idle at around 600 rpm. It seems like it come from around the AC unit only when it's off.

 

I think there was an AC compressor TSB aeveral years ago where the symptom was a ticking sound. I jist searched and could not find anything on it.

 

My 545i rattles at low idle also, but only when the transmission is in drive. If I place the car in neutral or park the rattle goes away. I need to get her on a lift and check this out.

 

So did anyone change the ac compressor and fix the sound?

 

I have the same rattle as well in my 2004 545i. Has anyone ever resolved the issue? I'm pretty sure it is coming from the passenger vanos unit. My theory is that the computer is adjusting the Vanos when the AC is on to account for the increased load.

The noise is really annoying and I would like to fix it if anyone has any ideas. I was thinking maybe the Vanos solenoids in the front of the engine are bad??

 

Has anyone diagnosed this yet?
It seems to be a major issue with the E60.... yet nobody has any definitive answers.
Is there anyone out there with experience that can shed a light on this.. see my other post about CCV Vanos etc.. just posted, it explains my problem is extreme detail, likely similar to many others here. There's a half dozen possibilities as to the cause, but to replace each with a definitive diagnosis would be very 'cost prohibitive'.

 

Hey Trans25ham - how far have you driven since July when you first posted about this - it started happening to me around the same time!
What makes you think vanos solenoids?

 

Has anyone figured this out???

 

I have ruff idling also any ideas any of you guys tried the pulleys or the tensioner