Mystery Engine Noise. What is it?
 

Hi all:

So I've had this strange noise coming from my X 4.8 for quite awhile now. Had it to the dealer a bunch of times...they've changed a bracket, the power steering pump and pressure hose, but I'm still hearing this. Took it back yesterday, but it wouldn't do it. It happens on a cold start when the car is put into gear and occasionally when I'm moving slowly (engine around 700-800 rpm)

Any thoughts? The actual noise starts about 15 sec in to the video I took (link below)

Thanks in advance!

Mystery X5 Noise - YouTube]

Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? :)

not really sure,,,but the thumping sounds like it is coming from the exhaust somewhere...either in the resonator,muffler,or somewhere along the tail pipe, or a bracket...:dunno:

OP any updates on this noise describes, i think I am getting the same one, please help.

Mystery Engine Noise. What is it?
 

My '08 X5 4.8i (04/08 manufacture date) does the same thing .... noise is primarily evident during cold weather (40 degrees and below). Noise will continue until the car is completely warmed up. By "warmed up" I mean that the interior temperature has reached 68+F. Noise seems to disappear after. I don't recall hearing it during the summer months ...

I suspect that it is an electric circulator pump that circulates warm engine coolant through the interior heater core until the thermostat opens ...

Try lowering the interior cabin temperature setting to something like 40F or less. If my theory is correct, there should be no demand on the circulator pump and therefor no noise ...

Thanks Basora. I'll give that a try. My build date was 11/07, so I bet they are similar cars.

You're right - the noise is much worse when the car is cold. The dealer couldn't figure it out (they kept saying it sounded normal)

Maybe they had the car inside the garage overnight and were starting it up at warmer inside temp. Who knows. I've just decided to live with it for now because I'm sick of going back and forth to the dealer!

No matter what the case, $70K for this car wasn't worth it. Too many issues.

:(

Mystery Engine Noise. What is it?
 

You'll notice from reading the forums that the majority of complaints are on the '07 and early '08 models. Driveability, a.k.a. transmission problems, is/was a major one. Tailgate rattles and peeling steering wheel covers are another.

I have owned BMW for 30+ years. BMW's are historically problematic during the first year of production of a given model, and depending on the extent of the problem, it can linger into the second year.

I am now looking for a 2010 e70 4.8i, the last production year before they switched to the 5.0 twin turbo.

HIJACK WARNING

That's actually a 4.4 twin turbo, isn't it? They [BMW] just call it a 5.0?

Is the whining sound? If so, turn off all HVAC systems and see if it goes away. May be the blower motor under the dash. I had a droning sound coming from what seemed to be the dash area just to the center left. They replaced the blower motor and it went away. The noise was more prevalent when the blower was on low speed and the engine was at low rpm or idle.