[Frogman]

Originally Posted by brybarrett

Any update on this?

I took my car in for the 45K maintenance and again complained about the wind noise.

All previous attempts to get this fixed were met with either "it's normal", or "could not reproduce".

This time (thanks to this forum), I worded it differently; I just said it sounds like the front driver and passenger windows were not sealing properly and that there is a lot of noise at the top-rear of the windows.

They "confirmed" the issue and they replaced both window guides:

51 33 7 258 325
51 33 7 258 326

Inspecting the installation shows that at the top end of the door where the seal slides over the is very much tighter than my previous seals were.

Initial results were very positive, but it's hard to say how much difference there is on short trips in traffic. But the difference was easily noticed by both of us. It's hard to tell sometimes as I think I'm mistaking wind noise with road noise.

We just got back from a long trip (LA-SFO) and I'm very pleased with the reduction in noise over about 10 hours of fast I-5 driving under lots of different road conditions. I think I'm finally past this long-term wind noise nuisance!

Notes:

1. Over a really good road surface (there actually is some on I-5 theses days), the car is virtually silent; It's never been this quiet before. I very pleased with this.

2. Over bad/patched/grooved sections (still lots of those on I-5), the increase in road noise is huge and probably amplified by the run-flats. I think a component of the road noise manifests itself as wind noise, but isn't. It may be just the sound bouncing off the windows.

So, if you can show your SA that you have a gap between the glass and the seal at the back of the windows and/or report that it sounds like the window glass is not sealing properly, maybe having the window guides replaced will fix the issue for you. It did for me.

[///Mangler]

Originally Posted by Frogman

I took my car in for the 45K maintenance and again complained about the wind noise.

All previous attempts to get this fixed were met with either "it's normal", or "could not reproduce".

This time (thanks to this forum), I worded it differently; I just said it sounds like the front driver and passenger windows were not sealing properly and that there is a lot of noise at the top-rear of the windows.

They "confirmed" the issue and they replaced both window guides:

51 33 7 258 325
51 33 7 258 326

Inspecting the installation shows that at the top end of the door where the seal slides over the is very much tighter than my previous seals were.

Initial results were very positive, but it's hard to say how much difference there is on short trips in traffic. But the difference was easily noticed by both of us. It's hard to tell sometimes as I think I'm mistaking wind noise with road noise.

We just got back from a long trip (LA-SFO) and I'm very pleased with the reduction in noise over about 10 hours of fast I-5 driving under lots of different road conditions. I think I'm finally past this long-term wind noise nuisance!

Notes:

1. Over a really good road surface (there actually is some on I-5 theses days), the car is virtually silent; It's never been this quiet before. I very pleased with this.

2. Over bad/patched/grooved sections (still lots of those on I-5), the increase in road noise is huge and probably amplified by the run-flats. I think a component of the road noise manifests itself as wind noise, but isn't. It may be just the sound bouncing off the windows.

So, if you can show your SA that you have a gap between the glass and the seal at the back of the windows and/or report that it sounds like the window glass is not sealing properly, maybe having the window guides replaced will fix the issue for you. It did for me.

I sold my car so there was no resolution on mine.

It's a very easy thing to demonstrate. Get some painters tape and tape the top 6 inches of the driver and passenger windows backtop corners. Go for a drive it'll be silent. Videotape it. Remove the tape and go for a drive you'll hear the wind vacuum noise. Videotape it.

T

[NordicBob]

Originally Posted by ///Mangler

I sold my car so there was no resolution on mine.

T

What car car did you replace your's with?

[brybarrett]

Possible this fix for a honda accord could work for us!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZL6yNho8ng

[bimmeupscotty]

Originally Posted by brybarrett

Possible this fix for a honda accord could work for us!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZL6yNho8ng

Has anybody tried something like this out ??

[Fronzdan]

Just thought I'd share...

Like everyone else, I had wind noise since taking delivery. Having read everyone's experiences here I think there are multiple issues that could cause this and different interpretations of what "excessive" wind noise is. Mine was pretty bad and it seemed mainly (or even "only") on the drivers side. Hell I'd hear wind noise sitting parked in the car on a windy day and of course any time I'd go over 50mph. People on the phone would say "do you have your window open?!"
I lived with it for a year, thinking it was just part of owning an F30. But while detailing my car a couple weeks ago, I noticed that the rubber seal along the top of the door (not the window) did not press snugly against the door frame for a good 10" length. In fact, there was a fairly significant gap of about 1/4 - 3/8" at one point!! All other doors had a snug fit.
I have no idea how I missed this before and I think the gap may have varied depending on temps. But this would clearly cause the excessive noise I was hearing since it would be wind rushing over what is basically a hole.
I took the car in for my first service and they reseated the rubber and adjusted the door latch to pull the door tighter closed.

MY excessive wind noise is gone!

Is it now completely silent? Well I have sensitive hearing so no, it's not silent. But with the seal fixed, I can now pickup the more subtle wind noise from around the car. But it's about 90% improved and honestly not more than any other car that I've driven in this class.

So if you haven't checked, look at the seal around the top of the door and make sure it's tight.

[Tim@codemybimmer]

As I've driven several loaner F30s, the wind noise seems to be less with those loaners compared to mine. Granted those cars didn't have shadowline trim, but it appears that they've changed the design slightly with one slightly larger ridge rather than two ridges.

Picture of my 2013 F30 with two ridges



Can someone with a 2014 or 2015 confirm they've changed the side mirror design with one ridge? This is the closest I've found...



Because if there is this change, I may bring it up at my next service since it would probably improve the wind noise quite a bit.

[VernonD]

Hi all, I see this wind noise issue blog coming along for quite some time and I have to mention that, after visiting 3 BMW dealerships in Cape Town, South Africa I have finally decided to email the Global BMW in Germany about this. Lets hope they can do something as they asked for my VIN number as well as the dealerships in question.

I have attached the link below wrt the facebook info i pasted:
https://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup/po...7&notif_t=like

[whoisthis]

i also have pretty loud wind noise on the freeway. It sounds like they noise it coming from rear side. I thought this is normal but maybe not after reading this thread.
Say i take it to dealership for this matter, and they come back to me saying they can't reproduce the problem. Then what's my next step to solve this problem?

[metrathon]

Originally Posted by whoisthis

i also have pretty loud wind noise on the freeway. It sounds like they noise it coming from rear side. I thought this is normal but maybe not after reading this thread.
Say i take it to dealership for this matter, and they come back to me saying they can't reproduce the problem. Then what's my next step to solve this problem?

Sell the car. There's no fix. It's the way it's been designed.

[MikeTerp]

Given how extensive and long-running these complaints are about excessive wind noise on the F30, let's hope that BMW has fixed this for the LCI.

[metrathon]

Originally Posted by MikeTerp

Given how extensive and long-running these complaints are about excessive wind noise on the F30, let's hope that BMW has fixed this for the LCI.

Most ppl don't care or don't perceive it as a problem & BMW is not known for quiet cars. They will only fix big issues, like the overly soft ride in the standard trim.

[whoisthis]

i would think that if everyone is complaining about this issue, then BMW would at least come up with something to reduce the problem..
Maybe redesign the door seal or something.
Next time, i go to dealer i'll mention it. But not expecting much out of them now

[metrathon]

Originally Posted by whoisthis

i would think that if everyone is complaining about this issue, then BMW would at least come up with something to reduce the problem..
Maybe redesign the door seal or something.
Next time, i go to dealer i'll mention it. But not expecting much out of them now

But that's the point, that only few ppl complain of this. For me, this is the noisiest car I ever owned and it ended my love for the 3 Series.
My wife for example doesn't care. Is she deaf? No, she's just not bothered by it. She can clearly tell that the car is noisier than anything we owned before, but she doesn't care.

[FR2323]

thanks yes i noticed the same thing ITS ALSO THE NOISIEST CAR AND MOST EXPENSIVE CAFR I HAVE PURCHASED AND IT BOTHERS ME AS WELL.....
I HAVE THE 2014 AND IT DOES HAVE THE RIDGES BY THE MIRRORS...

[Rainbird]

Originally Posted by Frogman

I took my car in for the 45K maintenance and again complained about the wind noise.

All previous attempts to get this fixed were met with either "it's normal", or "could not reproduce".

This time (thanks to this forum), I worded it differently; I just said it sounds like the front driver and passenger windows were not sealing properly and that there is a lot of noise at the top-rear of the windows.

They "confirmed" the issue and they replaced both window guides:

51 33 7 258 325
51 33 7 258 326

Inspecting the installation shows that at the top end of the door where the seal slides over the is very much tighter than my previous seals were.

Initial results were very positive, but it's hard to say how much difference there is on short trips in traffic. But the difference was easily noticed by both of us. It's hard to tell sometimes as I think I'm mistaking wind noise with road noise.

Thanks! My F32 interior was absolutely quiet until 13,000 miles --- now, there is wind noise at passenger window when driving 50-60 mph. I will cite your part numbers during next service.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by MikeTerp

Given how extensive and long-running these complaints are about excessive wind noise on the F30, let's hope that BMW has fixed this for the LCI.

I've become used to whatever level of sound in my 335i Msport.
At first I noticed more over all road noise than I would have liked especially since the S4's I drove were quieter over all, or least didn't have the kind of noises I could detect in my 335i.

Recently I drove an S3 and it is very nice and quiet inside.
At same speeds compared to my 335i I could have a conversation in the S3 at a lower volume speaking voice. It was noticeable.
My mom recently purchased a new Passat and it's nicely quiet too.

I'm just not bothered at all. It would nice I guess if it were quieter.
But this is a sport sedan, and I have the louder HK audio system.
And I don't have RFT's, the Conti's I put on after 3 months new are quieter and smoother over all.

The thing that bugs me most is the amount of water that comes in through the driver window when I crack it open about 2". The air flow over and along the car diverts water into the cabin. This shows that air is directed towards the side windows, and some people are likely sensitive to it.
At 50yrs and a whole lot of playing rock music live in bars and clubs has taken it's toll on my hearing. What was that?

So when I have a cigarette and crack the window and it's raining water does come in. The rain gutter at the top of the F30 doesn't work in my experience because water comes down and in through the window and it also gets onto the window controls, so I have to be very careful about that.
I also crack the rear window to equalize the pressure when the front window is open.

Overall I'm not bothered by wind noise.
I'll have my 340i in 2-3 months and I'll see/hear then if there have been any changes.

[layer_4]

My initial reaction after reading this thread was, "First world problems".... but it seems there is a legitimate issue with some F30's. I can tell you that with only 1000 km's on my 2015 I do not hear anything like whats being described here. My car right now is so perfect im dreading the seemingly inevitable issues that may pursue after i drive it a bit more.

Here's to hoping they worked out all the kinks by the time the final year of the F30 335i N55 hit production.

[whoisthis]

I careless now but having some sort of finned/diffuser like B pillar would decrease the wind noise

[rambalu80]

I have a 2016 F30 and have very noticeable wind noise above 35-40 mph. Anyone else with a 2016 F30 experience wind noise issues?

[bluemark]

Anyone know if the 4 series also suffers from wind noise?

[E902F30]

See the video below for something I found related to wind noise on my 2012 335i.

After reading through this, I think there are multiple issues going on in this thread. I believe the gap I measured above definitely affects some of the 2012s out there. NONE of the other 3 series cars on the lot had a gap anything like the one on my car!