UPDATED WITH VIDEO - Diagnose this engine whine noise?

jmw_m3 · 07-18-2023, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maestrodevil

Guys, I'm having the same issue since yesterday and troubled to see that many have this issue but it isn't clearly diagnosed what's causing this. Anybody found the exact cause that might fix this? I'd like to avoid spending $hundreds$ trying to replace all pulleys and belts since some have confirmed it wasn't the problem. Mine is exactly like the video attached by fancybmw.

fancybmw what fixed your issue?

Alistair83; and dry87 yours??

Thanks!!

Hey, did you ever figure this out?

maestrodevil · 07-19-2023, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmw_m3

Hey, did you ever figure this out?

Nope... nothing yet. 😐

TechE · 07-19-2023, 03:18 PM

I can't confirm but I've been researching this topic for a long time now. I've seen many posts where people replace all their pulleys and belt with no change for this exact noise. It's super common and even shows on low mile cars, but varies with intensity. I'm led to believe it's the lash for the oil scavenging pump. There's another thread somewhere with a guy who worked with his dealer to get his pump and chain replaced which had a direct effect.

Video example. Guy has his belt off, isolating any potential noise from that group.

sxychubles · 07-24-2026, 04:39 PM

I have the same noise, only under load. Recently replaced water pump, ps pump, alternator, ac compressor, deflection pulley, tensioners.. so kinda scratching my head. hoping its not the oil pump.

DrFerry · 07-24-2026, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sxychubles

I have the same noise, only under load. Recently replaced water pump, ps pump, alternator, ac compressor, deflection pulley, tensioners.. so kinda scratching my head. hoping its not the oil pump.

What type of oil as well as oil viscosity are you using in your S65?

sxychubles · 07-24-2026, 05:06 PM

Oh hello again! Bmw 10w60

sxychubles · 07-25-2026, 09:06 AM

Here is the noise.

https://youtube.com/shorts/ZAhHy3I2EuQ?feature=share

DrFerry · 07-25-2026, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sxychubles

Here is the noise.

https://youtube.com/shorts/ZAhHy3I2EuQ?feature=share

Your S65 engine noise (if any) in the link above is much more subdued IMO than the one posted above by TechE I would go so far as to say yours is just normal S65 whirring noise with a hint of tensioner pulley(s) whine. Not a big deal IMO. People do change the belt tensioner pulleys when they become a little noisy but others put up with it until it becomes much louder than yours. Example below..
.

sxychubles · 07-25-2026, 08:27 PM

Yeah I replaced both tensioners and the deflection pulley. Could totally be normal, don't have any other m3 to compare it to unfortunately. In the cabin its quite loud but mic doesn't pick it up. Well go with normal till something goes wrong. 😳

I guess ive always been sensitive to noise especially with such a delicate and expensive motor.

sxychubles · 08-09-2026, 05:33 PM

Solved my issue. Its the plenum gasket where the plenum connects to the hose in the back. No more super charger.

07-19-2023, 03:18 PM	#47
TechE Second Lieutenant 178 Rep 253 Posts Drives: F90 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	I can't confirm but I've been researching this topic for a long time now. I've seen many posts where people replace all their pulleys and belt with no change for this exact noise. It's super common and even shows on low mile cars, but varies with intensity. I'm led to believe it's the lash for the oil scavenging pump. There's another thread somewhere with a guy who worked with his dealer to get his pump and chain replaced which had a direct effect. Video example. Guy has his belt off, isolating any potential noise from that group.
	Appreciate 2 DrFerry10035.50 jmw_m36.00 Quote

07-24-2026, 04:39 PM	#48
sxychubles Second Lieutenant 84 Rep 212 Posts Drives: Dravit G82 6MT, Silverstone E90 M3 6MT Join Date: May 2021 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	I have the same noise, only under load. Recently replaced water pump, ps pump, alternator, ac compressor, deflection pulley, tensioners.. so kinda scratching my head. hoping its not the oil pump.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-24-2026, 05:06 PM	#50
sxychubles Second Lieutenant 84 Rep 212 Posts Drives: Dravit G82 6MT, Silverstone E90 M3 6MT Join Date: May 2021 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Oh hello again! Bmw 10w60 Last edited by sxychubles; 07-24-2026 at 05:07 PM..
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07-25-2026, 09:06 AM	#51
sxychubles Second Lieutenant 84 Rep 212 Posts Drives: Dravit G82 6MT, Silverstone E90 M3 6MT Join Date: May 2021 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Here is the noise. https://youtube.com/shorts/ZAhHy3I2EuQ?feature=share Last edited by sxychubles; 07-25-2026 at 09:27 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-25-2026, 08:27 PM	#53
sxychubles Second Lieutenant 84 Rep 212 Posts Drives: Dravit G82 6MT, Silverstone E90 M3 6MT Join Date: May 2021 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Yeah I replaced both tensioners and the deflection pulley. Could totally be normal, don't have any other m3 to compare it to unfortunately. In the cabin its quite loud but mic doesn't pick it up. Well go with normal till something goes wrong. 😳 I guess ive always been sensitive to noise especially with such a delicate and expensive motor. Last edited by sxychubles; 07-25-2026 at 08:27 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-09-2026, 05:33 PM	#54
sxychubles Second Lieutenant 84 Rep 212 Posts Drives: Dravit G82 6MT, Silverstone E90 M3 6MT Join Date: May 2021 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Solved my issue. Its the plenum gasket where the plenum connects to the hose in the back. No more super charger.
	Appreciate 2 DrFerry10035.50 HairTooLongToo67.50 Quote