Well it looks like it's time to get rid of my 2002 X5 4.6is...and go ahead and purchase my dream SUV, a Grand Cherokee SRT8, if I sound excited it's because I am...lol!
So here's what happened, started it up yesterday morning, hear this clicking, clacking noise, immediately shut it down, start it again, same noise, shut it down again. Fire up the laptop, do a search here, (this site is awesome) found two threads that have the exact same symptoms, looks like the timing chains guides need replacing. Looks like it's an expensive (even if you DIY) and time consuming job, so now I have justification (more for my wife...lol) to get a 1st Gen SRT8. I haven't decided if I'll fix it before I get rid it, if anyone in Northern California wants to shoot me an offer, PM me.
Now for those of you driving high mileage V8's if you hear a noise that sounds like an old GM power steering pump whining/failing (prior to the clicking clacking noise) it's the timing chain guides, check out the two threads below.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...my-m62b46.html
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ing-apart.html