bellymus1

Quick Question; I have an '07 530i, Automatic with 86/K Miles. So, recently I was told I needed my serpentine belt replaced so I let BMW do it, cost 200+. After that I now here a whistling noise, especially loud when the car is cold, then whenever I push on the accelerator I hear the whistling, even on the highway and city driving.

I can drive for 20+ miles and it still won't go away. BMW told me it is the alternator that I need to replace, price tag about 900, just for a second opinion I brought it to another shop and they stated about switching some pulleys that the Serpentine Belt connects too, price tag about 300.

Does anyone here have any experience or suggestions on what I should do before I start spending money left/right?

turboawd

could you possibly have an air/vacuum leak? maybe the dealer didnt reattach the intake tube properly??

rctmthouse

possible bad tensioner pulley; when i replaced my pulley, the old one spun freely with a whistling sound due to bad bearing but I doubt you can hear it over the engine noise though. If it's in fact the tensioner pulley, then it's a DIY project which will cost you around $ 100 for part and couple of hours.

toyota2bmw

A bad tensioner with worn bearings will sound like there's a clickity-clack clock in the engine. Same with the water pump. You should have never let BMW change your belt. Now they are trying to scare ya into spending more $$$. It's a $28 belt and they charged you $200. A socket wrench and a t-60 torx bit with a little bit of elbow grease and about 30 minutes would have sufficed. I despise dealer service after the warranty is up! :thumbsdown:

flopper1988

I'm having a similar issue. When in going over 90 MPH I start to hear a whisling noise. Sounds like its comming from the AC vents to me. If i hit a bump just right it goes away. Naturally the dealer will not even look at it becauze they will not take my car that fast to replicate it. I even recorded on my cell phone and showed them. Any Idea's? It is a 2008 535I, was going to just get a new one this year, but do to financial issue's I'm going to keep it about 2 more years. So would love to fix it.

bellymus1

Went to a different BMW Dealership [Braman in Miami] vs. the one I went to [Lauderdale BMW]. Anyways, they did try replacing the pulleys for me, and stated they still hear the noise, so they are not going to charge for pulleys even though that's what they initially thought.
They are now telling me they think it is the alternator, I didn't tell them what other dealership [not affiliated] told me, so I am starting to think it's true.

Here's the question for about $900 do I let them fix it, or can I trust a local shop to do so with another alternator.

I just want it done right and not worry, not concerned about spending it, more concerned about spending it, then still having other issues pop up if done wrong, etc.,

ray=out

have you checked your intake piping, as suggested earlier?