Squeaky belt, pulley or?? when idling....

racerbruce · 05-10-2011, 01:32 PM

Noticed it this a.m.; sounds perhaps like a squeaky idler pulley bearing? Noticed at idle w/top down (not a lot of top down in Seattle yet)....

If this was a component requiring replacement, would the BMW warranty cover this?

Have any of you experienced this?

I searched the ZPost site but didn't see anything related to this - thanks very much.

tekmoe · 05-10-2011, 03:24 PM

Post up a vid with what it sounds like.

zillaZ4 · 05-11-2011, 01:29 AM

I have experienced a noisy idler pulley bearing. I went ahead and replaced that and belts at the same time. I was out of warranty. Also I think I replaced a tensioner as well, with a hydraulic vs mechanical version. This was at around 54k miles.

santov · 05-11-2011, 02:07 AM

What's your mileage? Hopefully you're still under warranty and the dealer can replicate it.

If not, you could always pull the belts and inspect them closely. With the belts off you can turn the tensioner pully and make sure it spins freely and doesn't look crooked.

The belts would be under $40 to replace.

My wife's Infiniti FX35 was starting to squeek real bad at idle. I replaced the belt and used a high temp grease on the pully bearings. Purrs like a kitten now at 113k miles.

zillaZ4 · 05-11-2011, 03:21 PM

Just to add to what santov said.. I think the pulley is NOT supposed to spin super freely. Meaning if you spin it and it spins for quite awhile, it's worn. A new pulley should spin, but stop relatively soon. At least with the research and youtube videos I've seen.

At around 2:05 there is a comparison of old and new.

Regards

santov · 05-11-2011, 03:31 PM

^^ Good point. Taking the belts off and inspecting the pulleys would prob be the best way for OP to diagnose the noise.

05-10-2011, 01:32 PM	#1
racerbruce Brigadier General 3858 Rep 3,004 Posts Drives: 21 X3 & 13 335is E93 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	Squeaky belt, pulley or?? when idling.... Noticed it this a.m.; sounds perhaps like a squeaky idler pulley bearing? Noticed at idle w/top down (not a lot of top down in Seattle yet).... If this was a component requiring replacement, would the BMW warranty cover this? Have any of you experienced this? I searched the ZPost site but didn't see anything related to this - thanks very much. __________________ Racerbruce
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05-10-2011, 03:24 PM	#2
tekmoe Captain 55 Rep 844 Posts Drives: ///M Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Post up a vid with what it sounds like.
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05-11-2011, 01:29 AM	#3
zillaZ4 Enlisted Member 2 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Davis, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 Z4 3.0i [6.00]	I have experienced a noisy idler pulley bearing. I went ahead and replaced that and belts at the same time. I was out of warranty. Also I think I replaced a tensioner as well, with a hydraulic vs mechanical version. This was at around 54k miles.
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05-11-2011, 02:07 AM	#4
santov Lieutenant 64 Rep 483 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 3.0si White over Beige Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bay Area, Calif iTrader: (8)	What's your mileage? Hopefully you're still under warranty and the dealer can replicate it. If not, you could always pull the belts and inspect them closely. With the belts off you can turn the tensioner pully and make sure it spins freely and doesn't look crooked. The belts would be under $40 to replace. My wife's Infiniti FX35 was starting to squeek real bad at idle. I replaced the belt and used a high temp grease on the pully bearings. Purrs like a kitten now at 113k miles.
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05-11-2011, 03:21 PM	#5
zillaZ4 Enlisted Member 2 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Davis, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 Z4 3.0i [6.00]	Just to add to what santov said.. I think the pulley is NOT supposed to spin super freely. Meaning if you spin it and it spins for quite awhile, it's worn. A new pulley should spin, but stop relatively soon. At least with the research and youtube videos I've seen. At around 2:05 there is a comparison of old and new. Regards
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05-11-2011, 03:31 PM	#6
santov Lieutenant 64 Rep 483 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 3.0si White over Beige Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bay Area, Calif iTrader: (8)	^^ Good point. Taking the belts off and inspecting the pulleys would prob be the best way for OP to diagnose the noise.
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