e39 gurus, help

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nadz325i
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Post Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:16 pm

hi folks

dad e39 523i is making a strange noise, best way to describe it sounds like a low quack quack (duck), on idle you can hear it cealrly as you rev then engine the noise still there but same level (dosent get louder or quiter).

dosent consume any oil, no power loss.

any ideas?i read the cats go on e39's, how do you diagnoise a faulty/going out cat?

Thanks.
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stuartgallafant
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Post Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:27 pm

does it get faster as you rev the engine? where abouts in the engine bay is it coming from?
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666JSB
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Post Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:56 am

Check the air filter housing, I recall a similar issue when I had my E39.

Look for loose fittings, it could be resonance, like a buzzing cos' it's not clamped up tight.

Good luck, Neil
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nadz325i
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Post Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:19 pm

hi Thanks for the replies.

from memory the noise does get faster but is quietened down by the engine noise, the noise is comming from the back of the engine nearer to the bulk head, but cant make out if its from the intake manifold side or the exhaust side. I think its more from the exhaust side??

Air filter housing, that more from the front left/passenger side isnt it?ill have a look though.

Thanks. :cool:
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bobafett
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Post Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:31 pm

What age of car? They suffer with the inlet manifold cyclone splitting under the manifold (looks like a ice cream cone with a round bit stuck to the top..

Try that Cheers Darren.
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666JSB
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Post Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:40 am

If the cats' on it's way out you get a horrible rattling noise which makes you cr@p yourself £Â£Ã‚£Ã‚£ seems like it's the end of the world but the engine runs super smooth. Ultimately you cannot get any power out of it as it kinda gets choked up and does'nt wanna pull.
I had mine pack up unexpectedly just before Easter weekend 2005 on the M21 between Gatwick & M25. Anyway I thought I was in big trouble, I got picked up and we dropped it off at Vines Gatwick. The car was driveable but lacked power as well as the worrying rattle....... about £800 and it was back on the road again after the Easter weekend.
If you do find this is the fault watch out for a lean fuel mixture, I read somewhere that this will quickly screw up your new cats, good luck, Neil.