I just bought a 1998 z3 1.9 and when you first start the car some noisy accessory or something runs for about 3 minutes or so then it sounds like this thing shuts off and the car runs quiet. Can someone tell me what this thing that is making the noise for a few minutes on startup?
BMW z3 Noob wondering what the noise is on startup
- Thread starter 98z3
- Start date
Do you have the round pump on your car that you can see on the left front of my zed ?
It will likely be there just in a different position as Ant's car is a 2.8. They were only fitted for the US market. You can disconnect the wiring and they run perfectly well without, but, if that would be legal in the States I don't know.
Tony.
Tony.
What is the purpose of this noisy thing Tony?
IF I remember correctly it blows clean air into the exhaust to reduce emissions on and after start up. It's called an Auxilliary Air Pump I beleive, some refer to it as the Smog Pump. It made zero difference to my Z3 2.0 6 cyl. either emissions or performance.
Tony.
ps. The bearings in the pump failed on mine making it very noisy, so I replaced the bearings and all was well for a while then it started getting noisy again, so I binned it!
Tony.
ps. The bearings in the pump failed on mine making it very noisy, so I replaced the bearings and all was well for a while then it started getting noisy again, so I binned it!
Thanks for the info...I think I will try to figure out how to disconnect the noisy little booger.
I think @t-tony has got some photos and advice on how to do that?
I am sure he had to make a blanking plate.
Mine had a twin wire with a male and female bullet type connector, it just pulled apart. Have you located the pump itself?
Tony.
Tony.
I haven't yet Tony, I will have to see if i have time when I get home from work but it sounds like it is on the right side. Did you only have to disconnect it or was there more to it than that?
You only need to do that if you remove it completely, disconnecting the wire stops it running and as you're in the US it may be wise to leave it in situ.
Tony.
Ah OK so just disconnect the wire and leave it hanging then.