2004 530i with M54 straight six. 240,000 miles abruptly started making loud engine noise, sounded like a piston pin loose or something similar, but sound didn't change with load. Same sound whether revving up or revving down, driving, idling, etc. so didn't make sense to me. Looked at oil filter and it was very clean, what the heck is this noise??? Then took off valve cover and things looked fine, nothing loose or scored, etc. Put it all back together and finally figured it out...it was the silly AC clutch bearing. Fortunately there is a separate belt for the AC and with it off, engine is super quiet and smooth as usual.
Here are a couple pics, I have a video from my cell phone but am unable to post it here for some reason. But here are a couple pics even though they don't help with the sound of course.
Thankfully it's not AC weather here in the northeast right now, but I'd like to fix it for next summer. The AC system still works great (when the belt is on) so I'd like to just replace the clutch and/or bearings etc without removing the compressor if possible. Anybody have any ideas?
Thanks a bunch.
Here are a couple pics, I have a video from my cell phone but am unable to post it here for some reason. But here are a couple pics even though they don't help with the sound of course.
Thankfully it's not AC weather here in the northeast right now, but I'd like to fix it for next summer. The AC system still works great (when the belt is on) so I'd like to just replace the clutch and/or bearings etc without removing the compressor if possible. Anybody have any ideas?
Thanks a bunch.