2003 BMW X5 4.6is noise
 

Having a strange noise coming from engine bay, no check engine lights and if occurs after about 10 min after start up. Maybe it’s the alternator shit the bed but I want to be sure before I purchase one.Here’s a link to the video I took.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bcDqhi_A9ZE

Hmm, hard to tell.
Does the noise go away after a while? Did you test the alternator or just guessing?

2003 BMW X5 4.6is
 

No I haven’t tested the alternator yet, I’m guessing alternator because the vehicle has almost 110,000 miles and they are common to failing in the x5’s. Also does a bad alternator trigger a check engine light?

Yes an alternator can give you fits, as to checking on a noise I use the old shade tree method of a wooden dowel rod.

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2003 BMW X5 4.6is
 

I appreciate it guys, the red battery icon illuminated today which is the alternator.

Have your timing chain guides been done?

BMW X5 4.6is
 

Not yet, it has 105,000 miles and no problems yet (knock on wood) but a buddy of man had a 540i that went all the way up to 220,000 miles on original guides and told me his secret was 10w-50 in the summer time.

Just don’t wait to late for guides, especially with a 4.6. The motors are rare and if the guides go, it typically trashes the engine, which you can’t replace, not easily like a 4.4. Did mine at 120k, 15 years. Found them extremely brittle, which should not be the case. You could grab an edge and easily snap off a chunk.

Do yourself a favor and get the timing guides done on the X5. You will want to preserve your 4.6is engine. Its time