Whining noise from the oil cooler housing

[Redline]

Took the Zed (Z4 3.0SI N52 engine) into work this morning only to hear a nasty whining noise from the engine when I got there. It wasn't there when I started but very distinctive when I arrived. No lights on the dash. No loss of power etc. No checked for any codes yet. My initial fears were VANOS, but its not quite in the right place.

No noise when I started the engine this evening, but, by the time I got home the noise was back.
However, it isn't a constant whine.

Cold - whatever engine revs : No noise
Hot - at idle : No noise
Hot any other revs : the noise starts but appears at a constant note irrespective of revs and disappears again as soon as the revs drop to idle. It is coming from the oil cooler area. Is the oil filter in there too?

A quick search indicates that theres nothing rotating in there that could cause what sounds like a bearing noise. Straight off out this evening - I'll have a proper listen with a screw driver to properly isolate the whine tomorrow when I get chance.
Some suggestions are its a deformed oil filter or some other constriction.

Anybody any thoughts or ideas.
The nearest place I could get to look at it is by work - 27 miles. I'm hoping its still ok to drive.

 

[Low Rider]

I'm sorry to hear your bad news Ian.

 

[Redline]

I'm sorry to hear your bad news Ian.

I'm hoping that it's not anything mechanical.
I've just read two posts with this problem and in both it is a cheap non-OEM oil filter that deforms and then increased oil flow causes it to vibrate or something that causes the noise.
Here's hoping.

 

[Brian4]

@Redline Ian I was thinking the oil filter collapsing when you mentioned cooler. It could be restricting flow once the oil pump is spinning faster with the higher revs and more flow trying to get through. Needs looking at soon but should be ok till weekend. Oil and filter change needed. Would help but away for weekend.

Nothing rotating in there.

 

[Redline]

@Redline Ian I was thinking the oil filter collapsing when you mentioned cooler. It could be restricting flow once the oil pump is spinning faster with the higher revs and more flow trying to get through. Needs looking at soon but should be ok till weekend. Oil and filter change needed. Would help but away for weekend.

Nothing rotating in there.

Thanks Brian.
I don't yet have the necessary stuff for doing an oil change at the moment including no jack or ramps

To protect the engine I don't mind having a local Indy do it. Have got one close by but if there's a decent BMW Indy near us I'll try them first. Do you know one.

Can't do much wrong just changing the oil and filter I would have thought. They did the Aircon pump for me on the LR last year.
A place near work (a race car and high end sports car specialist) suggested changing to 10W30 oil to cure the hydraulic valve lifter noise. I'd get them to do it but that's. 30 mile drive. :-(

 

[oldcarman]

What weight oil are you using now Ian? JIM

 

[Redline]

What weight oil are you using now Ian? JIM

I don't know - it was serviced just before I bought it. I never thought to ask.
Am hoping its the recommended 5W30.
A racing tuner near work suggested I use 10W30 to solve the Hydraulic Valve Lifter noise.

 

[Redline]

Just picked my Zed up after a bit of tlc at the local indy. The oil filter was apparently shot to ribbons - completely collapsed as had been suggested in the posts I'd found. They'd seen a few on BMW 6 pots.
The oil has been changed and a new german made Mahle oil filter put in. They used 5W40 oil though - not the recommended 5W30. I presume I can expect slightly reduced consumption from the higher viscosity oil but better high temperature performance/protection.
I'm just pleased that the filter issue has been resolved - I can worry about the oil spec later. Anybody got any thoughts on if its OK?

 

[5harp3y]

glad to hear its sorted!

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Sounds to me @Redline like the garage you bought the car from used the absolute cheapest materials when they serviced the car so in a way you are lucky it's happened this way and you now have oil and filter you can trust. We are please you have sorted it. the 5-40 oil should not be a problem, provided you don't do to many short runs in the car and allow the oil to get hot when you do use it.

Mike

 

[Redline]

Sounds to me @Redline like the garage you bought the car from used the absolute cheapest materials when they serviced the car so in a way you are lucky it's happened this way and you now have oil and filter you can trust. We are please you have sorted it. the 5-40 oil should not be a problem, provided you don't do to many short runs in the car and allow the oil to get hot when you do use it.

Mike

It tends to do 20+ miles or more when its used (every couple of days) although it does get moved everyday off and on the drive so probably does the worst possible things and run for a minute or so.
Am intending to create some parking space on the grass using some matting rather than putting down a hard surface. Just need to pull my finger out and get it done :-(
I'm hoping that the more viscous oil will also solve the occasional valve lifter rattle.

 

[Redline]

@t-tony - you agreeing I should pull my finger out?

 

[Brian4]

Glad it's sorted out and quiet again.

 

[Redline]

Glad it's sorted out and quiet again.

Definitely not quiet




Big relief it was something so simple - even if I didn;t get chance to fix it myself.

 

[Brian4]

If you put the car details into this website it comes up with both 5-30 and 5-40 oil for yours Ian so wouldn't worry unduly.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/

 

[Redline]

If you put the car details into this website it comes up with both 5-30 and 5-40 oil for yours Ian so wouldn't worry unduly.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/

Thanks - Its a confusing minefield when you start looking at it - and you've actually no idea whats been put in your car unless you do it yourself. Never realised there were so many specifications for engine oil.
But, new filtered oil has to be better than non-filtered or even little or no oil at all

 

[Bozzy]

Took the Zed (Z4 3.0SI N52 engine) into work this morning only to hear a nasty whining noise from the engine when I got there. It wasn't there when I started but very distinctive when I arrived. No lights on the dash. No loss of power etc. No checked for any codes yet. My initial fears were VANOS, but its not quite in the right place.

No noise when I started the engine this evening, but, by the time I got home the noise was back.
However, it isn't a constant whine.

Cold - whatever engine revs : No noise
Hot - at idle : No noise
Hot any other revs : the noise starts but appears at a constant note irrespective of revs and disappears again as soon as the revs drop to idle. It is coming from the oil cooler area. Is the oil filter in there too?

A quick search indicates that theres nothing rotating in there that could cause what sounds like a bearing noise. Straight off out this evening - I'll have a proper listen with a screw driver to properly isolate the whine tomorrow when I get chance.
Some suggestions are its a deformed oil filter or some other constriction.

Anybody any thoughts or ideas.
The nearest place I could get to look at it is by work - 27 miles. I'm hoping its still ok to drive.

Hi Ian,only just had a read through this thread,pleased it turned out to be an easy fix you must have felt relieved after your initial thoughts .

Steve

 

[Redline]

Hi Ian,only just had a read through this thread,pleased it turned out to be an easy fix you must have felt relieved after your initial thoughts .

Steve

Am hoping its two problems sorted with one fix.
It was a very mechanical sound. Quite astounding to find it was caused by essentially wet cardboard!

 

[Bozzy]

Am hoping its two problems sorted with one fix.
It was a very mechanical sound. Quite astounding to find it was caused by essentially wet cardboard!

Well it'll serve as a warning to us all to only use good quality oil filters.
As you say it's surprising that the filter could degrade so quick to that extent.

Steve