jst2878 – Thank you for your comment. I live in an apartment and unfortunately I don’t have the luxury of working on my car. I need to find a shop and have them check out the pulley. I know the dealer changed the AC tensioner pulley not too long ago. I might have another bad one that the dealer just didn’t catch.

DUCATI5 – Thank you for your comment. The noise depends on the engine rpm. I had the leaf problem (actually with a parking stub paper) on my E46. I know exactly how that one sounds... In my case, the noise sounds like a hybrid of grinding and cricket noise and depends on the engine rpm.