S54 Squeak

elerner61 · 04-17-2019, 07:50 AM

Z4M/S54, 75K miles on it. For about 6 months now I've had a very short duration squeaking from the engine when I first start up my car in the morning. It only happens when the car has been sitting at least overnight. It sounds like a noise caused by rotation. I'd say it goes away after 4 seconds. A few months ago I pulled the belts, checked the various pulleys to see if they might be the cause (I changed all but the A/C idler pulley at 50K miles) and played around a bit but couldn't find the source of the noise. The noise has come and gone and come and gone.

This morning on startup the noise was the loudest I've heard it, and again it quieted down in a few seconds. When I got to work (25 minute drive) I restarted the engine...no noise.

Has anybody experienced this? I'm starting to think it might be the waterpump going south. I would say it could be a cooling fan, but that wouldn't kick on right at startup, would it?

Thx.

XMetal · 04-17-2019, 09:21 AM

I had similar squeak for the past few months, but haven't heard it in the past month or so. Mine is much shorter, in duration, than yours - only about a second or so, almost sounds like a bird chirp. Same as you, it only happens on cold startup - on first start. My belts were changed at ~46k mile or about 3 years ago. It's currently sitting at ~59k. I'm curious to hear what you or other find.

elerner61 · 04-17-2019, 10:11 AM

I definitely think I'm going to change the water pump out. There's a great DIY and it doesn't seem hard, just a bit long at about 3-4 hours. Maybe I'll change out the reservoir and get that out of the way..but then should also change the hoses...and maybe the radiator. Aaahhhhhh!!!

Jsinghzzzz · 04-17-2019, 10:28 AM

Is it similar to this sound at around the 4-5 second mark?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iel91njxnj...15.56.mov?dl=0

I first noticed it about a month and a half ago, but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Similar to both your cases, it only happened on cold starts. Surprisingly, last weekend when I started the car up, the noise was gone.

garz747 · 04-17-2019, 10:52 AM

My E46 330 has been doing this forever. Dealer changed out tensioners years ago -still a problem when cold.. Im guessing its a tensioner issue on the Z although mine hasnt done this.

KevinC · 04-17-2019, 12:34 PM

Secondary Air Injection pump? When (ever?) were the belts last changed?

elerner61 · 04-17-2019, 01:27 PM

I don't think so. Mine has been more of a slight "chirping" sound. That's why I think it is caused by rotation, as in possibly a dry bearing (like in the water pump).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jsinghzzzz

Is it similar to this sound at around the 4-5 second mark?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iel91njxnj...15.56.mov?dl=0

I first noticed it about a month and a half ago, but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Similar to both your cases, it only happened on cold starts. Surprisingly, last weekend when I started the car up, the noise was gone.

elerner61 · 04-17-2019, 01:39 PM

Just had a thought. I think I'll remove the water pump belt and let the car sit overnight. Then in the morning I can turn the water pump pulley by hand, isolated from the rest of the engine, and see if I get the noise.

I usually get to the tensioners from below (certainly the A/C one). Hope I can get to the top tensioner from above.

(belts and 2 of 3 pulleys were done at 50K miles)

KevinC · 04-17-2019, 06:32 PM

^^ great plan, good luck

elerner61 · 04-18-2019, 08:38 AM

So..I removed the belt this morning (pushed it out of the way really) and spun the water pump by hand. Felt smooth, no noise and no binding feeling. Pushed and pulled on the pulley, tight, no movement. I then started the car...no squeaking noise. I let it run for 10 seconds and turned it off. Waited 5 seconds and restarted...again no noise. Back under the hood I spun the alternator by hand, no noise, no binding. I didn't get a chance to spin the power steering pump by hand (if that's even possible). Will try to do that.

So at this point it would seem I've isolated the noise to those components. I think I'll probably swap out the water pump as that was on my list to do soon anyway, as that is the most critical component of the three, maybe do the expansion tank at the same time. The pulleys only have 25K miles on them so as long as they still feel smooth probably keep them unless the squeak doesn't go away.

Any thoughts? Always appreciated.

elerner61 · 04-29-2019, 11:47 AM

So I finally dug into the water pump swap out the past couple of days. One item not covered in any of the videos/DIYs I see is that for the Z4M (and not M3) there is a short thermostat coolant pipe that enters the thermostat housing. There is actually an O ring on both ends of the pipe but the DIYs only show changing the exposed O ring. I tried to pull off the pipe to get to the inner O ring but that sucker is tight. Not sure if I should just leave it, or have another more aggressive go at it. Thoughts?

[Edit]
Muscled and wiggled it out. Wasn't so much as tight, just had to do many "micro wiggles".

elerner61 · 05-09-2019, 09:52 AM

So after 5 or so cold restarts it seems like that noise was (cringes when saying) the water pump. All has been quiet and good. The pump I pulled out felt very solid, no play in the bearing at all. The only difference when comparing to the new pump is that when lightly spinning it the old pump felt a little notchy while the new pump was smooth.

XMetal · 05-09-2019, 12:38 PM

Thanks for the update! Now, I know what to look for when my chirp turns into a longer duration squeak

elerner61 · 05-21-2019, 09:57 AM

Well, it's back, the squeak, chirp. Actually it re-appeared 5 days after my last post. So it's not the water pump. At this point since it can't be anything that will cause catastrophic damage I guess I'll monitor and see if it gets worse. I do have spare idler and tensioner pulleys so I may swap those out when I do my power steering hose in the near future.

saintex · 05-08-2020, 06:07 AM

Hello

Any update on this?

My Moupe just started doing this exact thing like yours.
First cold start of the day. Rpm related., disappears after 30 seconds

elerner61 · 05-08-2020, 08:28 AM

I still haven't done the power steering hose. Life and a new daily driver have gotten in the way (Macan).

The noise has stopped happening though for the most part. It certainly hasn't gotten worse. One of life's great mysteries continues! Maybe the new tires I'm putting on will make it start happening again.

04-17-2019, 07:50 AM	#1
elerner61 Major 157 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	S54 Squeak Z4M/S54, 75K miles on it. For about 6 months now I've had a very short duration squeaking from the engine when I first start up my car in the morning. It only happens when the car has been sitting at least overnight. It sounds like a noise caused by rotation. I'd say it goes away after 4 seconds. A few months ago I pulled the belts, checked the various pulleys to see if they might be the cause (I changed all but the A/C idler pulley at 50K miles) and played around a bit but couldn't find the source of the noise. The noise has come and gone and come and gone. This morning on startup the noise was the loudest I've heard it, and again it quieted down in a few seconds. When I got to work (25 minute drive) I restarted the engine...no noise. Has anybody experienced this? I'm starting to think it might be the waterpump going south. I would say it could be a cooling fan, but that wouldn't kick on right at startup, would it? Thx.
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04-17-2019, 09:21 AM	#2
XMetal Colonel 1131 Rep 2,866 Posts Drives: Anything Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Z4M Coupe [10.00] 2018 Audi S3 [0.00] 2004 X5 [8.50]	I had similar squeak for the past few months, but haven't heard it in the past month or so. Mine is much shorter, in duration, than yours - only about a second or so, almost sounds like a bird chirp. Same as you, it only happens on cold startup - on first start. My belts were changed at ~46k mile or about 3 years ago. It's currently sitting at ~59k. I'm curious to hear what you or other find.
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04-17-2019, 10:11 AM	#3
elerner61 Major 157 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	I definitely think I'm going to change the water pump out. There's a great DIY and it doesn't seem hard, just a bit long at about 3-4 hours. Maybe I'll change out the reservoir and get that out of the way..but then should also change the hoses...and maybe the radiator. Aaahhhhhh!!!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-17-2019, 10:28 AM	#4
Jsinghzzzz Private First Class 77 Rep 177 Posts Drives: Black Z4M Coupe Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	Is it similar to this sound at around the 4-5 second mark? https://www.dropbox.com/s/iel91njxnj...15.56.mov?dl=0 I first noticed it about a month and a half ago, but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Similar to both your cases, it only happened on cold starts. Surprisingly, last weekend when I started the car up, the noise was gone.
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04-17-2019, 10:52 AM	#5
garz747 Captain 286 Rep 679 Posts Drives: 07 Z4MC 01 330i 18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	My E46 330 has been doing this forever. Dealer changed out tensioners years ago -still a problem when cold.. Im guessing its a tensioner issue on the Z although mine hasnt done this.
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04-17-2019, 12:34 PM	#6
KevinC your average JAMF 3097 Rep 4,093 Posts Drives: '21 M2 Comp, '19 Golf R Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cochise County, AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 VW Golf R [0.00] 2021 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00]	Secondary Air Injection pump? When (ever?) were the belts last changed? __________________ '21 M2 Comp '19 Golf R
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04-17-2019, 01:39 PM	#8
elerner61 Major 157 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	Just had a thought. I think I'll remove the water pump belt and let the car sit overnight. Then in the morning I can turn the water pump pulley by hand, isolated from the rest of the engine, and see if I get the noise. I usually get to the tensioners from below (certainly the A/C one). Hope I can get to the top tensioner from above. (belts and 2 of 3 pulleys were done at 50K miles) Last edited by elerner61; 04-17-2019 at 03:24 PM..
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04-17-2019, 06:32 PM	#9
KevinC your average JAMF 3097 Rep 4,093 Posts Drives: '21 M2 Comp, '19 Golf R Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cochise County, AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 VW Golf R [0.00] 2021 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00]	^^ great plan, good luck __________________ '21 M2 Comp '19 Golf R
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04-18-2019, 08:38 AM	#10
elerner61 Major 157 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	So..I removed the belt this morning (pushed it out of the way really) and spun the water pump by hand. Felt smooth, no noise and no binding feeling. Pushed and pulled on the pulley, tight, no movement. I then started the car...no squeaking noise. I let it run for 10 seconds and turned it off. Waited 5 seconds and restarted...again no noise. Back under the hood I spun the alternator by hand, no noise, no binding. I didn't get a chance to spin the power steering pump by hand (if that's even possible). Will try to do that. So at this point it would seem I've isolated the noise to those components. I think I'll probably swap out the water pump as that was on my list to do soon anyway, as that is the most critical component of the three, maybe do the expansion tank at the same time. The pulleys only have 25K miles on them so as long as they still feel smooth probably keep them unless the squeak doesn't go away. Any thoughts? Always appreciated. Last edited by elerner61; 04-18-2019 at 09:40 AM..
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04-29-2019, 11:47 AM	#11
elerner61 Major 157 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	So I finally dug into the water pump swap out the past couple of days. One item not covered in any of the videos/DIYs I see is that for the Z4M (and not M3) there is a short thermostat coolant pipe that enters the thermostat housing. There is actually an O ring on both ends of the pipe but the DIYs only show changing the exposed O ring. I tried to pull off the pipe to get to the inner O ring but that sucker is tight. Not sure if I should just leave it, or have another more aggressive go at it. Thoughts? [Edit] Muscled and wiggled it out. Wasn't so much as tight, just had to do many "micro wiggles". Last edited by elerner61; 04-29-2019 at 12:58 PM..
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05-09-2019, 09:52 AM	#12
elerner61 Major 157 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	So after 5 or so cold restarts it seems like that noise was (cringes when saying) the water pump. All has been quiet and good. The pump I pulled out felt very solid, no play in the bearing at all. The only difference when comparing to the new pump is that when lightly spinning it the old pump felt a little notchy while the new pump was smooth.
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05-09-2019, 12:38 PM	#13
XMetal Colonel 1131 Rep 2,866 Posts Drives: Anything Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Z4M Coupe [10.00] 2018 Audi S3 [0.00] 2004 X5 [8.50]	Thanks for the update! Now, I know what to look for when my chirp turns into a longer duration squeak
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05-21-2019, 09:57 AM	#14
elerner61 Major 157 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	Well, it's back, the squeak, chirp. Actually it re-appeared 5 days after my last post. So it's not the water pump. At this point since it can't be anything that will cause catastrophic damage I guess I'll monitor and see if it gets worse. I do have spare idler and tensioner pulleys so I may swap those out when I do my power steering hose in the near future.
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05-08-2020, 06:07 AM	#15
saintex Private First Class 23 Rep 125 Posts Drives: Z4MC BSM E92 335xDrive BSM Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Canada iTrader: (-1)	Hello Any update on this? My Moupe just started doing this exact thing like yours. First cold start of the day. Rpm related., disappears after 30 seconds
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05-08-2020, 08:28 AM	#16
elerner61 Major 157 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	I still haven't done the power steering hose. Life and a new daily driver have gotten in the way (Macan). The noise has stopped happening though for the most part. It certainly hasn't gotten worse. One of life's great mysteries continues! Maybe the new tires I'm putting on will make it start happening again.
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