Loud grinding noise during start (Very Cold Weather)

[jlegendre]

It's been mighty cold in Chicago the last couple days, I noticed when I started the vehicle this morning a loud grinding type noise? From inside it sounded like the telescoping wheel going from the off/raised position to the driving position made the noise. I'll try again tonight listening outside while my wife starts it. Am I crazy? Has anyone else ever heard this noise?

2004 X5 3.0i

[Kamel Jockey]

I have the same noise whenever I start the car in very cold weather, I was also guessing that it may be the steering motor.

[jpnut]

I had to this morning it was 16 degrees out this morning, plus a frozen window!! I leave it open when I start the car in the morning because I am paranoid about being locked out.

[nwizard]

I have the same noise in very cold temperatures (-16 degrees of Celsius by this morning), so I guess it is belts...

[Dudenhagen]

-16 celcius this morning. Mine shook and lurched a bit with the SES light flashing a few times. Settled down after 30 secs.

[930LDR]

I got the same noise Sunday night when I started my 4.4L that had been sitting in the midway airport lot all weekend.

[bindas]

I've heard this noise also, on cold days..it goes away after like 5-10 minutes when the car is warm...so I think its with the Cold weather cause I never heard this in warmer weather...

[jlegendre]

Tried again this morning no noise, though it's 18 degrees and not -2. Thanks for all the feedback, guess we can chalk this up to another strange X5 cold weather issue.

[primetime]

Yes the noise..I believe it is known as a "burp" but it sounds like grinding belts. Well..I had my belts replaced...and the X still makes the same grinding noise during cold weather starts...I've had the oil seperator and valve cover gasket replaced last month. I still can't identify what the noise is...But its the same as everyone else describes..Only during cold morning starts...Whatever the noise is..It's going to be hard to convinvce me that the noise is "normal".