[cadeorion]

Hey guys, So I have an F30 328i with 80,000 miles on it. Recently I have started to hear a whining noise, specifically at lower rpms when I let off the gas. I thought it would be the timing chain seeing that there was a recall for it. I checked the timing chain and everything seemed fine, no play in the chain, and no scratches on it either. If anyone could help me out that would be much appreciated.

[RMachuca3d]

Originally Posted by cadeorion

Hey guys, So I have an F30 328i with 80,000 miles on it. Recently I have started to hear a whining noise, specifically at lower rpms when I let off the gas. I thought it would be the timing chain seeing that there was a recall for it. I checked the timing chain and everything seemed fine, no play in the chain, and no scratches on it either. If anyone could help me out that would be much appreciated.

Its not just the chain, the plastic guides can crack and break and rub on the chain, or the chain has stretched while seemingly looking ok, the pieces of the plastic guide can make their way into the oil pan and block the oil pickup starving the engine of oil.

Best thing you can do is post a video and hope its mostly placebo, or have it checked at a bmw dealership\indpnt mechanic, granted if you're spending money on the diagnosis, might aswell save that money and have it changed out anyways as a precaution.

[Solidjake]

+1 on posting a vid if you can with the car starting up, in idle and a little bit of revving. I hope it's not the TC. It's something we all are afraid of

[Rokoz]

My car had a little whine with the AC on at low speed, when it's off there is no sound. This is just the compressor noise.

Try turning your off and seeing if the sound persists

[pierreye]

If you plan to keep your car long term, I would just change the timing chain and guide for piece of mind. If you never change your engine gasket, looking at your mileage it would be almost time to do that too.

[cadeorion]

Originally Posted by RMachuca3d

Its not just the chain, the plastic guides can crack and break and rub on the chain, or the chain has stretched while seemingly looking ok, the pieces of the plastic guide can make their way into the oil pan and block the oil pickup starving the engine of oil.

Best thing you can do is post a video and hope its mostly placebo, or have it checked at a bmw dealership\indpnt mechanic, granted if you're spending money on the diagnosis, might aswell save that money and have it changed out anyways as a precaution.

thinking about going to my mechanic on monday, we'll see hopefully nothing is wrong and its just placebo.

[cadeorion]

Originally Posted by Solidjake

+1 on posting a vid if you can with the car starting up, in idle and a little bit of revving. I hope it's not the TC. It's something we all are afraid of

yeah i tried taking some videos, the noise is very hard to hear. You can hear it clearly if you are in the cabin but thats about it. I'll try again tomorrow and give you can update.

[cadeorion]

Originally Posted by pierreye

If you plan to keep your car long term, I would just change the timing chain and guide for piece of mind. If you never change your engine gasket, looking at your mileage it would be almost time to do that too.

Yeah, I do plan to keep it. Its just alot of money so I would have to save up.

[cadeorion]

Originally Posted by Rokoz

My car had a little whine with the AC on at low speed, when it's off there is no sound. This is just the compressor noise.

Try turning your off and seeing if the sound persists

Will definitely try this tomorrow. Hoping its just that, would hate to see something seriously wrong with my TC.

[victorso1]

Originally Posted by cadeorion

Will definitely try this tomorrow. Hoping its just that, would hate to see something seriously wrong with my TC.

Hey bro, did you ever figure out what was making the whining noise? My car is also making a whining noise. Specially when slowing down. Its not that loud but you can hear it inside the cabin.

[MaverickCruise]

Lift the car and use the stethoscope to reduce the noise range

[MaverickCruise]

I highly recommend using a directing stethoscope, I don't know if you've seen it. But it is very useful for determining the source of noise.
The technicians near me can use it very skillfully and can find the source in 5 minutes.

[iamkjoe]

Starting to hear a slight whining noise. Is this one of the first indicators of the timing chain going out?

[Twinturbo3400]

Following

[Billfitz]

Timing chain noise is heard when the engine revs, not at low speed, and it's not in the least bit slight.

[dís_f30]

If it whines when you start to accelerate, then that's a timing chain symptom. Other than that, it could be anything.... A/C, A/C blend doors, transmission, wheels, etc., etc.

[Sigla]

Originally Posted by Rokoz

My car had a little whine with the AC on at low speed, when it's off there is no sound. This is just the compressor noise.

Try turning your off and seeing if the sound persists

Did you sort the AC whine out ? I'm getting the same whine when I turn my A/C on. Mostly noticeable at low speeds.

[meltbox]

I get this too. My suspicion is this is actually noise from the transmission and not the engine. Going to change the fluid... soonish? I need to get around to it. So I guess I will be listening for a change in that noise.

My timing chain seems to be fine from what I can tell but I have also seen oil pan gasket change videos where it seemed fine, and the pan was full of little plastic bits. So that is always a wild card.