Getting an odd low rhythmic growling noise for a few seconds (best way I can describe it) on start, a second or so after the engine fires up and stabilizes. It’s not happening all the time, but is clearly tied to something spinning and goes away after a few seconds. Both my fan clutch and ac compressor are original, so one or the other is my prime suspect for a bearing starting to go.

I’m trying to narrow it down by only starting the car with the climate control Off, which would point to the compressor if I can’t repeat it in this configuration. That said, I see two makes of compressors at FCP: Denso and Mahle/Behr while ECS Tuning lists a Nissens compressor. Any recommendations between these three, if that’s where I end up? Denso is OEM I think, and while none are crazy money, the other two are about $100 less than the Denso.

I’ll likely throw a new fan clutch and fan (design change at some point after mine was made) at it anyway too, since mine is so old. I worry about the fan coming apart at high rpm.

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Current
Original owner 2002 E53 X5 4.4i to 4.6i swap
1993 Mopar 318 Jeep Grand Cherokee - original owner
2015 V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee - the nice car for my wife
Former
1972 Audi Fox
1986 Saab 900S
1996 BMW Z3
1998 BMW E36 M3 Sedan
2004 BMW E46 M3
2006 Audi A3 Quatro