Strange whining sound coming from the drivers side engine area...need help

[Hit Redline]

Originally Posted by hawkeye12345

Were you hearing the same thing as I described? It sounds like a turbo booster or a tractor engine winding up but not necessarily loud, just annoying. It is associated with the engine RPM but once I get it up to speed and drive without the acceleration then the noise goes away until I step on the throttle again.

Sounds like the same noise. Here is a video I shot of the noise.

P1000846.flv video by turborx7mac - Photobucket

Is that the same noise?

[TriX5]

On my 03 the steering pump wss defective and caused a whining sound.

Good luck and let us know what you find it to be the cause?

Thx

[shooter]

I agree with thedweeb. Sounds like your torque converter. If it is and you address it now you might save your self a couple thousand dollars. I had a whine in N and D, which increased with the RPM's and progressively grew louder until randomly one day it got real loud and crapped out. See my thread "Horror from underneath" Someone posted a link to a video on it about the supercharger noise they had. Its identical to the one I had

[hawkeye12345]

Originally Posted by Hit Redline

Sounds like the same noise. Here is a video I shot of the noise.

P1000846.flv video by turborx7mac - Photobucket

Is that the same noise?

No, the noise doesn't sound the same. Your noise sounds more like an r/c cars plastic gears winding up. Mine sounds like air flow....hell, I can't describe it. I have found that if I step on the gas a little it seems to go away. Could be a belt, could be a birds nest....I have no clue.

I'm taking it to the Indy on Weds for oil change and inspection. I will have them look at it carefully and report back what they say.

[bimmerFanatic]

Hey hawkeye...Any update on your visit to the garage?

I'm getting the same sound. I'll post a video of the sound soon.

BTW, I first heard this sound a few years ago whenever my reserve light was on for a while (very little gas left). So I learned not to drive with very low gas and haven't heard the sound since. But after parking the car at the airport for a week, the sound is back and won't go.

[hawkeye12345]

When I took it in to the shop they didn't hear the same sound that I was hearing and didn't feel it was the torque converter but it may be time to change the tranny fluids as the X5 is hitting 92k miles. I will try and post a video of the sound to see if someone on hear can diagnose the problem but I have no idea on how to post a video.

[bimmerFanatic]

I'm also at 94k miles....but am not touching the transmission fluid...too many horror stories.

Post the video on youtube and paste the link here. Also shut your door since the sound can be heard from the inside (footwell driver?).

[hawkeye12345]

Yeah I guess I'm a little confused about the tranny fluid change because the fluid is supposed to be 'lifetime' whatever that means. To me, my tranny sounds like it is being stressed or overworked because there may be a load or less efficient transfer of power. I'm hoping that a change of fluids will help solve my problem.

[hawkeye12345]

UPDATE: It had nothing to do with the transmission. The problem was a busted fan clutch. I had it replaced yesterday and the sound is gone.

On the bright side, the valve covers are leaking and my anti-freeze reserve tank? has a leak as well. The joy never stops.

[Allstarsrd12]

for those that have the whining as well, check the intake adjuster unit. Pop the hood, look on the top right side of the engine. Its the little small black piece behind the black rectangle piece. Small little leak in there will do it. Had the same thing. Sounded like a supercharger from ebay.