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Strange "ticking" noise from front of engine

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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 12:05 PM
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Hello everyone,

I'm hearing a "ticking" noise from the front of the engine. I originally thought it was a valve noise, but after popping the hood, and listening carefully, I have located the noise to the front of the engine, near the belts.

Any ideas what it could be? Perhaps something that is driving the belts? Alternator, A/C compressor, etc?

Thanks in advance!

Jake
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 12:29 PM
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My Ride: 2004 530i | Sapphire Black | Sport | Premium | NAV | Logic 7 | DPE R07 Variant S Gloss Black with Polished Lip 20x8.5 front 20x10 rear | Falken FK452 tires 245/30/20 front 275/30/20 rear | H&R Coilovers | Smoked Tail Lights | M5 trunk spoiler | AC Schnitzer style roof spoiler | HID 8000K headlights & foglights | 35% tint all around | Sprint Booster | Speed Innovation ECU tuning | M5 trunk finisher | M-Tech body kit | Remus Quad Exhaust | AC Schnitzer style pedals | Euro Stickers | RPi Ram Air Induction | Smoked LED Side Lenses | AC Schnitzer style e-brake handle | AC Schnitzer style shifter | AC Schnitzer style iDrive knob | AC Schnitzer style carbon fiber diffuser | carbon fiber hood/trunk/steering emblems | carbon fiber grilles | carbon fiber door pillars | MTEC v2 Angel Eyes | Hamann style carbon fiber splitter
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If you've made any enemies recently, I'd run away as fast as you can from your car... could be a bomb
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 12:35 PM
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Could be the water pump. I'm hearing the same thing. Passenger side, front of the engine.
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by BMWRINO' post='1078442' date='Dec 22 2009, 03:29 PM
If you've made any enemies recently, I'd run away as fast as you can from your car... could be a bomb
Nice.....Do I cut the red wire, or the green wire????
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by billeul' post='1078443' date='Dec 22 2009, 03:35 PM
Could be the water pump. I'm hearing the same thing. Passenger side, front of the engine.
Hmmm, water pump? That would be somewhat of a relief.....I'm hoping it's not drivetrain related.

Does yours seem to get louder as time goes on? I originally heard this sound a few months ago, however, very faint. But lately, my 545i sounds like it's powered by a Detroit Diesel.....

Thanks,
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 01:29 PM
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I had the same problem on my 07' 530. Brought it in 2 times for ticking in the engine. First time they replaced the camshaft and the lifters and told me the problem was fixed. Second time i brought it in the car spent two weeks in the shop while they replaced the entire cylinderhead and all of the components. Cost bmw around 10k the second time.

hope that helps
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 01:32 PM
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Originally Posted by blindboy79' post='1078476' date='Dec 22 2009, 04:29 PM
I had the same problem on my 07' 530. Brought it in 2 times for ticking in the engine. First time they replaced the camshaft and the lifters and told me the problem was fixed. Second time i brought it in the car spent two weeks in the shop while they replaced the entire cylinderhead and all of the components. Cost bmw around 10k the second time.

hope that helps

hmmmm, well water pump scared me a whole heck of a lot less.....but thanks...
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 01:54 PM
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Do a search, this is a very common issue with BMW cars.
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 03:05 PM
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A similar tick happened to mine, the waterpump was shot. Try grabbing the water pump pulley and moving it up and down. If there is play, thats more than likely the noise you are hearing. It requires replacement.
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 03:21 PM
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yes, it gets lou
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