Hello everyone. I’m the new owner of a 2003 3.0i Z4, automatic, with about 45k miles. I’ve noticed around 2000 rpm; I hear a high-pitched squeaking noise. The second I take my foot off the accelerator the squeaking stops or if I speed up it seems to stop. It sounds like the noise is coming from the engine compartment and while driving it sounds like it’s coming from the right side. If I put it in park or neutral and rev the engine the squeaking does not occur. Can anyone tell me what would cause this? Thanks in advance to all that reply.

That is likely the squirrel in cylinder no. 4. At exactly 2000 rpm, the squirrel is poked in the butt by a sharp stick to get him running. Once he's off and going, the stick no longer pokes him, and thus the squeaking stops.

Or

You might have a belt slipping, or a strut brace might possibly be loose on its mount. A wheel bearing might be the cause, tho I think that would likely squeak constantly.

Ok, Treepusher, that's funny! I don't care who you are... that there's funny :) But I thought they were chipmunks! Learn summtin new every day.

Do you hear it going over bumps?

Do you hear it going over bumps?

No. It just seems to happen when keeping a constant pressure on the accelerator. It I let up or press on the accelerator it stops immediately.

I would say its a belt...

I have an 03 with the same amount of miles. I took mine in last year and asked the dealer about that noise and they said it was normal and nothing could be done. I thought that was strange and really did not beleive it until I was next to an X5 one day and it was making the exact same squeaking noise. I have had mine for well over a year now and I still have the squeak but it has never gotten worse and I have had no problems from it. I think it may have something to do with the vanos solenoids but that is just a guess.

Check the belt tensioner, the bearing can be on its way out.

Check the belt tensioner, the bearing can be on its way out.

I agree. See it all the time in the shop on late model Bimmers.

Paul

I agree. See it all the time in the shop on late model Bimmers.

Paul

Well I can say in my instance this is def not a tensioner squeal.

I agree. See it all the time in the shop on late model Bimmers.

Paul
Thanks everyone for the information. I've made an appointment with the dealer to check it out. If it is the belt tensioner would it also make the sound when revving the engine in park or neutral?

Thanks again for everyone's response.

Thanks everyone for the information. I've made an appointment with the dealer to check it out. If it is the belt tensioner would it also make the sound when revving the engine in park or neutral?

Thanks again for everyone's response.

Yes it would.

I would agree to start with the belt tensioner, I had the same thing on my E39 last year and after pulling out my E85 last week for the summer I had the same thing - changed it and the noise is all gone! Good Luck!

I have the same exact problem you describe with my 2003 Z4 2.5 with 28k miles.

Have you taken yours to the dealer yet? If so let me know if they were able to fix it and what was wrong.

Thanks,

Jeff

i know with the top down, the latch for the top squeaks when going over bumps sometimes on some models, but in your case, i duno

I have the same exact problem you describe with my 2003 Z4 2.5 with 28k miles.

Have you taken yours to the dealer yet? If so let me know if they were able to fix it and what was wrong.

Thanks,

Jeff

The dealer checked it out and after running a diagnostic and road test; they said they heard the noise that was consistent with what I was describing. However they said nothing was wrong. They contributed it to “air flow over the throttle body”.

Meh, didn't I tell you? “Air flow over the throttle body” is technospeak for squirrels.

However they said nothing was wrong.
I knew it all along. :)