Whining Chain Drive on new setup

[nicknikolovski]

Yeah but does it sound like the whine in the video that peerless posted in this thread?

[Jtuner]

Just watched the motorweek test drive of the 318is that tjts posted,, listen to the under the hood engine rev,, that damn whine is there!!!! So they came from the dealer with this whine?? I've tried 3 tensioners and now have given up myself... no problems after 1000 miles with a fresh timing chain assy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRgKisbQ87U

[inx750]

Nicknikolovski - I don't believe switching the tensioner orientation would effect the spring rate or its interface with the chain guide.  My situation has not changed since the initial posting.  I also used a mechanic's stethoscope and did not find the alternator or a/c compressor to be the source of the noise.  It still appears to be coming from the front of the engine near the valve cover/timing case.  I will have to wait longer and monitor the noise level.  As an additional thought, could there be problem if the crank bolt was not torqued correctly (over or under)?  Or could the sprocket teeth be wearing in or could the timing components (guides etc.) be misaligned?

[nicknikolovski]

I think it is related to the re-design of the components. I've had the new chain assembly running for about 1500-2000km. I am using 10W/40 Mobil Synth S oil. No sign of bad performance, just damn annoying is that whine. I changed my crankshaft bolt when I did my chain as the bolt is a stretch design bolt. I don't think it would contribute to it. I believe it could be the camshaft sprockets - possibly a wearing in noise. Its got alot of people stumped.

[txleadfoot]

I installed a new Febi-Bilstein "Chain Tightener" a few days ago...fresh out of the box compressed/transport mode...whatever.

P/N 11311743187
or
No. 08688

Terrible racket for about 5 seconds while I kept the revs up and runs smooth as silk now.  Been driving it for a few days no whine!

I am running Mobil 1 15w-50 oil.

I'm having the same whine after a fresh rebuild.  I reused a known good tensioner and installed it uncompressed.  I may try a few spares until I hear of a permanent fix.

[nicknikolovski]

I installed a brand new tensioner as posted earlier, the whine did not subside for me. This is pissing me off.

txleadfoot - can you please post a video (if possible) so we can hear your engine?

[nicknikolovski]

Hi guys, nothing has been added to this thread for a while so I thought I would give you all an update. I recently re-sealed my timing covers and of course had the chance to view my new timing chain assembly after having driven with it for 5,000 KM with no problems except for the annoying whine that I've got used now.

Anyways, I inspected my timing chain - all ok, guides - ok, sprockets -ok.
No visible sign of misalignment of anything rubbing.

I am however stumped about one thing, that is when turning the engine over by hand, I placed in the flywheel pin and felt it lock in. Checked it was locked in - ok. I noticed that at crank TDC, my camshaft lobes on cyl 1 were pointing down and not towards each other. However camshaft lobes on cyl 4 were pointing towards each other. How is the engine running perfectly normal?

[e30guydownunder]

You must have locked it at TDC #4....ie #1 is on the exhaust stroke not the compression stroke. The camshafts rotate at half the rpm of the crank. if you rotate the crank 1 turn and relock it will be at tdc #1 the cams should be in the right orientation.

i think thats right...if not basically you locked it in the wrong spot, keep rotating

[xwill112x]

i installed my tensioner decompressed?

i thought that was the way you were supposed to do it?

[Voluted]

Just watched the motorweek test drive of the 318is that tjts posted,, listen to the under the hood engine rev,, that damn whine is there!!!! So they came from the dealer with this whine?? I've tried 3 tensioners and now have given up myself... no problems after 1000 miles with a fresh timing chain assy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRgKisbQ87U

I was going to post this video but you beat me to it! It seems that the whine you hear is completely normal. Personally, i love the noise

[roundel318]

I agree, the noise I hear in the MW 1990 BMW 318 Youtube video noted there is normal, my engine has the same whine. The chain drive is famous for being noisy, at the same time, when my car had 124k on the ticker it needed a tensioner. The noise then was different and only heard over 4k rpm. (4300-4600 range as I recall)
I now have 266k on the motor, its on its second tensioner.

Just my experience