I'm ignoring the pitches. I've seen the other posts.

Here is another video of it revving up through the ranges. First up to about 2k, second a lot higher.

BMW X5 2004 4.4 185000km Revs - YouTube

It really doesn't sound bad when you are standing there, but get the phone mic in there and it sounds likes it's chewing itself up. Only on the passenger side of the engine though. Would be good to hear a few other recordings from similar vintage and mileaged 4.4's. Sit in the driver seat and you wouldn't have a clue :).

Cheers.

Again, i recommend the amsoil because yes i sell it, but you are free to use any fuel system cleaner. If not the amsoil get redline, im merely making the point that fouled injectors as well as carbon desposits can be an underlying source to noises and other issues. (Common also with emissions). You have to remember i grew up around cars and am an automotive engineering major and have worked in a lab testing synthetics and their effects. Many people fail to understand the importance of proper lubrication as well as fuel system cleaning. Especially if you have lower octane fuel with higher ethanol amounts and lack of a high quality additive package. If you dont like professional advice dont take it and move on. Irs your vehicle.

Please post some videos of your engine sounds - particularly idling and on both sides of the engine. I'd like to compare to a few that have been ridden hard and well maintained. I'm sure there are a few on this forum that fit the bill :)

Yes, again and again you pitch Amsoil. Advice is one thing, pitching Amsoil all the time is quite another. Since none of the other "sponsors" do what you are doing I'm hoping it is against forum rules. Regardless, you should consider following their lead as I think you are compromising Amsoil professionalism and your personal credibility.

Don't Amsoil salesmen have territories that you are infringing upon?

I suggest sticking to troubleshooting the noise that you are concerned about. The question is--does my engine sound normal or is there something wrong?

I can't tell from your video. Before suggesting you try making another, do you have any symptoms that might indicate you have a problem? Are you able to check for any error codes? Does it idle and accelerate normally, any smoke, using much oil, etc?

I'm not adding anything to the system now. Just put in fresh oil (4,500km on it) and will continue to cycle it at 10,000km intervals. Trying to baseline the car, that's all. It was in decent shape, but maintained on an "as needed" or "cash available" arrangement with the PO. I am doing a lot to freshen it up to a baseline and then go from there.

As for symptoms, the engine is smooth, no smoke, doesn't burn oil, idles perfect, smooth through all the rev ranges, no codes thrown since I took the tape off the check engine light (that was an awesome discovery). Aside from the hard shift on occasion from 1-2 at really low speeds, it really puts a smile on your face. I am pretty picky with my cars, so I was listening to the engine and decided to record it to see what others' do. So far, no videos posted, and I'm not losing sleep. If others share videos, I can start to figure out if I should be immediately worried, factor something in a year or so, or just ignore it and chalk it up to a typical BMW engine with 185,000km on it :)

I plan on keeping it in good working order for at least another 200,000km, so this journey is just beginning.

And at least with the sales pitches, I get free bumps on the thread……. I hope others see through the tactic, focus on the thread and let the moderators do their job. I have enough stress at work. I come here for relief in a weird, twisted, I-love-to-spend-money-senselessly-on-old-BMWs kind of way.

Cheers!

If you think BMWs are expensive you should see the cost of parts on my Audi and Gallardo, i do the work myself so i save a few bucks but enough to make a whole lotta difference. Shoot if shes running like a raped ape, leave it be.

Here is mine at cold start
Whitecat x5 4.4i 2006 - YouTube

Thanks. Any chance you could get the phone right next to the valve covers on each side? Passenger side in particular? If you stand and just listen to mine, it sounds like yours. When you get the phone mic right in there, it really picks up all the noises. Thanks.

Il do it for ya tonight, its gotten cold here again so youll hear the engine gettin pissed off hahaha. Im pissed off too cuz I JUST BROUGHT OUT THE DANG GONE SUMMER RIDES JUST TO BE SNOWED IN AGAIN!