N55 screeching serpentine belt/pulley

Mageshkk · 02-13-2018, 09:47 PM

For a couple of days now, my drive belt is screeching and it stops after driving around 10 miles. Is it worth to change out the belt and pulleys or should I wait for warm weather to see if it stops? I am on 46k miles. No oil leak from OFHG.

chris_flies · 02-13-2018, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mageshkk

For a couple of days now, my drive belt is screeching and it stops after driving around 10 miles. Is it worth to change out the belt and pulleys or should I wait for warm weather to see if it stops? I am on 46k miles. No oil leak from OFHG.

Is the A/C running? Is it louder when you lift off of the gas?

Mageshkk · 02-13-2018, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_flies

Is the A/C running? Is it louder when you lift off of the gas?

Tried with and without A/C.. the sound remains the same. It's not louder when I let off the gas though it's more audible when I let the gas off. But I'm sure it's because the engine is quieter when I let off the gas.

chris_flies · 02-13-2018, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mageshkk

Tried with and without A/C.. the sound remains the same. It's not louder when I let off the gas though it's more audible when I let the gas off. But I'm sure it's because the engine is quieter when I let off the gas.

Well, maybe. Our cars have a dynamic charging system, an early regenerative braking. When accelerating, a clutch on the alternator pulley disengages, reducing parasitic loses, and giving you more accessible power. When decelerating, the clutch engages, increasing drag, and boosting engine braking while charging the battery. It's a great idea, but some people have had issues with noise.

Mageshkk · 02-13-2018, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_flies

Well, maybe. Our cars have a dynamic charging system, an early regenerative braking. When accelerating, a clutch on the alternator pulley disengages, reducing parasitic loses, and giving you more accessible power. When decelerating, the clutch engages, increasing drag, and boosting engine braking while charging the battery. It's a great idea, but some people have had issues with noise.

Good info. I'll probably wait for a month or so. The belt looks visibly okay.

juld0zer · 02-14-2018, 01:12 AM

Get it checked out properly.
The belt could shred and push in the front main seal and destroy your engine.

chris_flies · 02-14-2018, 06:29 AM

That would be unfortunate. I need to replace my belt before summer starts, it's starting to feel dryer than usual...

02Pilot · 02-14-2018, 06:37 AM

Look very closely at the alignment of the belt on the pulleys. If the belt is not perfectly centered, replace belt, idler pulley(s), and tensioner assembly. The risk of destroying the engine due to sudden loss of the belt is quite real.

tracer bullet · 02-14-2018, 08:08 AM

If you get it repaired and the noise goes away please update us. I have a brief (1/2 second) screech on startup about 1 start in 3, and am guessing it'll get worse over time and be something much like this as the cause.

Mageshkk · 02-14-2018, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juld0zer

Get it checked out properly.
The belt could shred and push in the front main seal and destroy your engine.

... now you got me thinking...

OkieSnuffBox · 02-14-2018, 12:33 PM

I'm a fan of over-maintenance when the result is catastrophic.

It's supposed to be around 60 this weekend in OK, surely the same in GA, just replace them.

HyeWarrior · 02-14-2018, 12:58 PM

Had the same issue not long ago. Screeching would only happen after a cold start and last maybe 10 minutes.

Ended up being a faulty deflector pulley, but I went ahead and replaced the tensioner, belt and the other pulleys as well. ECS sells a lot for like $150

olds350 · 02-14-2018, 03:32 PM

We just had a big discussion about the belt issue last week. Look at this thread for details...

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1462063

Mageshkk · 02-14-2018, 08:01 PM

I ordered the drive belt kit from fcp euro. Next weekend I’ll change them out. Can’t be too careful.

02-13-2018, 09:47 PM	#1
Mageshkk Canyon Carver 50 Rep 185 Posts Drives: 135is 6MT; 2000 M5;1991 M5 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Alpharetta, ga iTrader: (1)	N55 screeching serpentine belt/pulley For a couple of days now, my drive belt is screeching and it stops after driving around 10 miles. Is it worth to change out the belt and pulleys or should I wait for warm weather to see if it stops? I am on 46k miles. No oil leak from OFHG. __________________ Dinan Stage 2; CF Diffuser; CF splitter; Dual slat black grille;
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02-14-2018, 01:12 AM	#6
juld0zer Lieutenant Colonel 480 Rep 1,600 Posts Drives: Prev 135i 7DCT, Now 130i 6sp Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: 2153 iTrader: (0)	Get it checked out properly. The belt could shred and push in the front main seal and destroy your engine.
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02-14-2018, 06:29 AM	#7
chris_flies Sideways and Smiling 3027 Rep 2,860 Posts Drives: In Exuberance Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Rosamond, CA USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW E91 328i [0.00]	That would be unfortunate. I need to replace my belt before summer starts, it's starting to feel dryer than usual... __________________ 2012 BMW 328i 6-Speed Wagon \| Deep Sea Blue with Grey Dakota Leather \| Manual Swap, 330i Intake + Tune, 3.15 Helical LSD, Öhlins R&T (SOLD) 2009 BMW 128i 6-Speed Coupé \| Monaco Blue with Black Sensatec \| chris_flies' 128i thread
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02-14-2018, 06:37 AM	#8
02Pilot Malcontent 188 Rep 305 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Look very closely at the alignment of the belt on the pulleys. If the belt is not perfectly centered, replace belt, idler pulley(s), and tensioner assembly. The risk of destroying the engine due to sudden loss of the belt is quite real. __________________ Life's tough. It's tougher when you're stupid. -John Wayne
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02-14-2018, 08:08 AM	#9
tracer bullet Brigadier General 2410 Rep 3,544 Posts Drives: '11 135i , '15 X3 35i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN iTrader: (1)	If you get it repaired and the noise goes away please update us. I have a brief (1/2 second) screech on startup about 1 start in 3, and am guessing it'll get worse over time and be something much like this as the cause.
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02-14-2018, 12:33 PM	#11
OkieSnuffBox Major 1803 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: '13 135i Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: OKC, OK iTrader: (0)	I'm a fan of over-maintenance when the result is catastrophic. It's supposed to be around 60 this weekend in OK, surely the same in GA, just replace them.
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02-14-2018, 12:58 PM	#12
HyeWarrior Major 747 Rep 1,119 Posts Drives: 2012 135i DCT Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: San Dimas, CA iTrader: (1)	Had the same issue not long ago. Screeching would only happen after a cold start and last maybe 10 minutes. Ended up being a faulty deflector pulley, but I went ahead and replaced the tensioner, belt and the other pulleys as well. ECS sells a lot for like $150
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02-14-2018, 03:32 PM	#13
olds350 Needs a long road trip... 347 Rep 527 Posts Drives: '11 e91, '13 e88, '19 golf R Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	We just had a big discussion about the belt issue last week. Look at this thread for details... http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1462063
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02-14-2018, 08:01 PM	#14
Mageshkk Canyon Carver 50 Rep 185 Posts Drives: 135is 6MT; 2000 M5;1991 M5 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Alpharetta, ga iTrader: (1)	I ordered the drive belt kit from fcp euro. Next weekend I’ll change them out. Can’t be too careful.
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