Topic pretty much says all, I feel like it's getting worse but it might just be in my head? Either way - when the engine is warm and I drive next to a wall or something it's pretty loud.

It isn't a consistent friction noise, it's more like a loose "ringing" noise kinda like a screwed up throw out bearing or something on a manual trans vehicle. It appears to be coming from the lower / rear of the engine so it's possibly a trans-related thing but who knows. Noise does NOT change when I shift into neutral/park/drive etc however.

Normally this would REALLY be freaking me out, but if something was about to let loose I'd imagine the noise would be there regardless of engine temp.

If the disco is cold.. the noise is completely gone - nadda.

I need to double check the trans fluid level again since one of the stupid push-lock connectors on the cooler is leaking, but I checked it every 500mi for a while and only got like 2-3oz in there each time so I decided to top off with oil changes.

Any ideas? I'm looking for a new vehicle to replace the range rover sport, and I'm at the cross-roads of deciding if I should just sell this now or wait for something to let loose and be forced to sell a pile of parts.

 

I would suggest maybe a cracked or broken flexplate, but temp would have no effect on that.

 

Rattling Cats?

 

another good one

 

Definitely not cats - it's RPM-dependent but difficult to hear above idle (or maybe it does go away slightly as other noise comes in, I can't really tell once engine noise drowns it out.)

But it's like a chattering ringing-type noise (not totally constant, it sorta goes with the engine idle "chugging"). The frequency is interesting though, in the background it's got more of a resonant high pitch noise like tapping the edge of a metal disk.

I swear, if I'm parked on a hill and the parking brake doesn't pick up all the slack when I take my foot on the brake (ie. transmission does instead) and I switch into reverse.. the "clink" noise as it releases the tension and switches gears sounds similar to the type/pitch of noise I'm hearing at idle? I know one is static but maybe they're related.

EDIT: I read the huge flex plate thread and while everything sounds very similar and the location would be just about ideal, it still doesn't explain it not really being there when it's cold (others in that thread also mentioned that their problem was heat-related). Thread is dead now so I'm not really sure what happened to their mystery noise. I'll bump it when I get home from work.