Clicking In Top Left of Dash

[absolutezero273c]

So I have an intermittent clicking sound that appears to be coming from the top left of the dash. It appears to be coming from right behind the air vent that is directly above the headlight switch. Almost sounds like a bi-metallic device like a turn signal timer/relay. It doesn't do it when I start it in the morning. I only noticed it this week as I started driving to my other office an hour away. So not sure if it is heat dependent or not. The frequency varies between 4 seconds and 20. Never the same frequency.


Wondered if anyone else has experienced this before I go removing the instrument cluster to see what is up behind there.


I'm going to try looking through realoem to see if there is anything that can be found in that area.


I have a video of it on my phone. I'll have to figure out how to post that.

[andrewwynn]

Upload a video to YouTube and upload the link xo.


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[EODguy]

I had the same thing happen and mine then started a gurgling noise...

Mine turned out to be the sound of the vacuum pump dying on my 4.8iS so as a just in case watch out as when it went I lost 90% of my brakes but I also had to replace my booster master cylinder

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[absolutezero273c]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Upload a video to YouTube and upload the link xo.

Thanks. I'll try to get that today.

[absolutezero273c]

Originally Posted by EODguy

I had the same thing happen and mine then started a gurgling noise...

Mine turned out to be the sound of the vacuum pump dying on my 4.8iS so as a just in case watch out as when it went I lost 90% of my brakes but I also had to replace my booster master cylinder

I had no idea these would require a vacuum pump. Would've thought they produced enough vacuum on their own. My diesel Excursion has a vacuum pump, but that's for a reason.

[EODguy]

Originally Posted by absolutezero273c

I had no idea these would require a vacuum pump. Would've thought they produced enough vacuum on their own. My diesel Excursion has a vacuum pump, but that's for a reason.

Welcome to the joy of the 4.8iS...

I love mine, yet I have at times wanted to put a hit out on BMW uber-engineers

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[Purplefade]

I had the same thing on mine, sounded like a very light "pop, pop, pop, pop" behind my dash, drove me insane for a few days while I hunted for it and I ended up tracking it back to the check valve in the line that runs from the brake booster to the vacuum pump. Easy check to see if its bad, if you can blow through that line from both ends, the check valve has failed and needs to be replaced (I actually think you are supposed to be able to blow from the booster to towards the pump but not from the pump end towards the booster, if memory servers, either way, if you can blow through both ends, the check valve is bad). If you don't replace it fast enough, you WILL DESTROY your brake booster and have CONSIDERABLY more work and more expense in fixing it.


On EODGuys suggestion and my personal experience, I would check that line and if it leaks down at all when you blow through it - replace it! In my case my "pop, pop, pop" was the check valve letting small "puffs" of air through at a time and me hearing it "flapping", it was actually that loud as it failed.



BMW Vacuum Pipe With Non-Return Valve (X5)

• - SKU: BMW-34336758560

[absolutezero273c]

Thanks Purplefade!!! That is a GREAT help!


EODGuy, I see now the bad check valve burned out your pump.


Not wanting to replace the master cylinder either.



Hope I have caught this in time.

[EODguy]

As long as you're on top of it you'll be fine, unlike myself who just finished an 650km drive and at the 1st stoplight found I was out of brakes and realized that I was better than Fred Flintstone

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[absolutezero273c]

EODGuy, that would NOT be a pleasant end to a road trip for sure! You end up using the emergency/parking brake?



You and Purplefade just made my week saving my a** like that. Thank you!