I Think Something Is Wrong...
 

So, this stranded me on the highway today. Took out the main belt, everything stops-$140 tow, $70 part, back up and running. Thank God it didn't happen to far away or on a trip. Can only imagine what a dealer/indy would charge for this. Older cars, need love. I heard something funny for the last couple of days and sounded like the alternator. Was going to look into it deeper-it decided to show me exactly where the noise was coming from........pay attention to those funny noises.

I just upgraded my mechanical tensioner to a hydraulic tensioner for my 3.0 and replaced all the pulleys and belts at the same time.

Yes since BMW started to use these plastic pulleys and tensioner wheels I have decided to always change them out once my vehicle hits 100K. Luckily for you it wasnt anything catastrophic like clutch fans that lock up and then explode with shrapnel everywhere. I once saw an fellow E39 owner continue to drive his lovely E39 540i after the fan clutch locked up(it gave him plenty of warning that something was wrong,sounded like a school bus fan). After a few more drives neglecting this condition it blew up took out his radiator, damaged the hood to where it had to be replaced and painted, cracked the front timing cover, destroyed water pump, etc.. After all was fixed his damage exceeded $2800.

Seen that happen myself. E36 and E39.

All pulleys, belts & tensioner: $851 as of three weeks ago. Mine was noisy too, but was replaced before it failed.

2002 X5 3.0 311,700 miles
2014 428i 22,500 miles

2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles

1970 Firebird - Under restoration