New to DTM! 97 328i skweaky engine... ?

[craig_gutoskie]

Hey At idle my engine often makes a slight skweak, it seems to increase as i release the clutch but goes away once im driving. I think it might have to do with belts..? Im 17 and a new bmw owner i just finished doing bodywork and reapinting my car, im very good with my hands. I just lack expirience with car engines.

[Manolito]

A noise that changes as you release the clutch is usually the clutch throwout bearing. Hope that it is not the dual mass flywheel. If you hear a chatter right after you turn off the key as the engine comes to a stop, it is the flywheel. In that case, you just learned why the previous owner sold the car. Flywheels run about $900, but you spend more because while you are replacing the flywheel, you want to do the clutch as well, while you are in there.

The throwout bearing is not expensive, but it is a pain to drop the tranny to get to it. If you have to replace the throwout, you will want to think about doing the clutch while you are in there.

The other sound that you will often hear from a '97 328 is the chatter from the belt tensioners. For some reason, the lower (accessory) tensioner lasts only about a year and a half, and the upper tensioner lasts only about three years. I have never had one fail because the chattering noise drives me crazy so I replace them long before they fail completely. I own two 97 328s, so I have replaced several of these.

The upper tensioner may be a different style, with an off-center bolt. One of my cars has two identical tensioners and the other has one of each style. The parts guys can't figure out which type you have on the top. You have to look. I just keep a spare of each type in my garage so I have what I need when one starts chattering.

[craig_gutoskie]

Thanks alot, i dont think it has to do with my clutch , the noise seems to come from the engine when its under load :its louder when i put my heater fan on max , or when releasing the clutch withought giving much or any gas, and is intemiten... i do live in canada so its -15c here if that makes any diffrence

[E30stain]

my e36 has the same sorta problem and i was certain it was the belts so this has jus enforced that! thanks for the advice... one more thing to add to my checkover im jus bout to do.

[Tassie_328i]

The bearing in my A/C compressor pulley clutch assembly shat itself and it started making a terrible squeaking noise to the point where i started it one day and i thought the whole top end of the motor was running without oil!.. luckily i discovered it was the A/C compressor.

The noise actually got quieter when the ac was on and under load... i just took off the A/C belt and put the bearing replacement on the to do list. Check for the giveaway metal filings around the pulley and surrounding cooling hoses and loads of play in the pulley.

just something to check.