Ticking noise drive me crazy. Someone help!

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magnuzza

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I bought 1999 BMW 323i e46 a week ago. Everything is great until 1 day when I'm about to go to work, there's this ticking sound when the car in idle position. the ticking noise will go faster when I hit the gas. I brought it to BMW dealer 2 days ago and they said it's the power steering pump and they said previous owner put weird green liquid in it. Personally, I don't think its power steering pump. Anyone know what's the problem? Help would be much appreciate it.

*I did oil change but it's still there *

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tmm6u8aje64
 
Kirby

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The "weird green liquid" is Pentosin CHF 11S Mineral Oil. BMW used it in the 1980s and early 1990s in the 5, 7 and 8 series, but to my knowledge NEVER in the 3 series, especially by 1999. Maybe the previous owner had one of those cars previously, or an Audi/VW as they also use Pentosin CHF 11S, and assumed the 3er used it also.

I don't know if using it could have damaged the pump. it's possible I guess.

What oil did you use when you did the change? The VANOS is very sensitive to using the correct oil weight. The VANOS will make a ticking noise if the oil is too low or too high in viscosity. You can identify a VANOS tick as it will sound like it is coming from the metal bulge at the very front top of the engine. Sometimes you can even feel it.
 

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magnuzza

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Kirby said:
The "weird green liquid" is Pentosin CHF 11S Mineral Oil. BMW used it in the 1980s and early 1990s in the 5, 7 and 8 series, but to my knowledge NEVER in the 3 series, especially by 1999. Maybe the previous owner had one of those cars previously, or an Audi/VW as they also use Pentosin CHF 11S, and assumed the 3er used it also.

I don't know if using it could have damaged the pump. it's possible I guess.

What oil did you use when you did the change? The VANOS is very sensitive to using the correct oil weight. The VANOS will make a ticking noise if the oil is too low or too high in viscosity. You can identify a VANOS tick as it will sound like it is coming from the metal bulge at the very front top of the engine. Sometimes you can even feel it.
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I went to dealer to change oil and do diagnose. It's 5w-30. Should I try 0w-40? people say it might need thicker oil.
 
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magnuzza

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By the way I just notice that when I turn the steering wheel the sound become little bit louder. I guess it's the power steering pump after all.
 
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Big Daddy

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You have two choices, remove the PS belt and confirm and or just replace it. You can get them at a good price from our sponsor AutoHaus Arizona, look in the Marketplace section.
 
Kirby

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Regarding the oil, I've seen this exact problem. Replace the oil with 0-40 as recommended by BMW. Then you need to drive it a few days or weeks and see if the noise clears up. The VANOS cylinder fills with oil, and it will take a bit of driving for it to flush through.
 
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magnuzza

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I flushed the steering fluid this afternoon. I use oreilly transmission fluid (dexron III spec). I did it 3 times and nothing change (there's still little green liquid from previous fluid). the 6th time I did it, the noise "almost gone" (color completely dark red). What happen is sometime when the steering wheel stay still the noise just pop up. When this happen and I turn my steering wheel the noise disappear. When the noise occur I can feel the "thumping" if I put my hand on top of the steering fluid reservoir. My steering wheel not getting heavier when I turn it, So I don't think it's the pump. Which mean the problem is the belt?
 
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