[Andy07841]

Hi guys I’m new to the forum and BMW 3-Series f30’s,I was looking for some help with regards to what’s best described as a rotational hum noise coming from the front of the car,it’s a 330d rear wheel drive and happens between speeds of 35mph up to approx 90mph I’ve put the auto box into neutral whilst moving and it’s still present,and also seems to be worse on different types of tarmac
The car is on 100k miles and has full bmw dealer history,but I cannot find any proof of a gearbox service,any suggestions advice help would be much appreciated.

[M33DLO]

I had a slow pulsing hum sound when at around 70Mph.
BMW diagnosed a wheel bearing, front nearside and once sorted it was hum free.

[robbiep]

It's a RWD car, the noise is coming from the front, so it's highly unlikely to be anything to do with the gearbox.

Tyres are a real possibility. What brands, what tread depths, pressures, etc.

[Andy07841]

I was hoping it’s that,and not the gearbox etc

[Andy07841]

Originally Posted by robbiep

It's a RWD car, the noise is coming from the front, so it's highly unlikely to be anything to do with the gearbox.

Tyres are a real possibility. What brands, what tread depths, pressures, etc.

Hi my tyres are Goodyear eagle F1 with tread depth of approx 5mm
The pressures are according to the tpms system front 37 rear 38 psi

[GOF_430d]

+1 for tyres especially as the sound worsens on poor road surfaces. Personally I think the hum is due to worn run flat tyres as I had a similar sound admittedly when I had Continentals [I just turned the stereo up].

The hum disappeared when I fitted new tyres - Eagle F1s.

Tyre pressure wise & as per the guide, the fronts are 2.4 bar [35psi] and the rears 2.7 bar [40psi]

[john lummis]

In my 43 years of being a driver and having a good few cars, some of which have made a humming or droning noise, It usually turned out to be wheel bearings, which made the noise even in neutral.

[Andy07841]

Thanks for the reply guys,I’ve got it booked in tomorrow in bmw so we will see what they come back with

[thescouselander]

Originally Posted by Andy07841

Hi my tyres are Goodyear eagle F1 with tread depth of approx 5mm
The pressures are according to the tpms system front 37 rear 38 psi

I've not normally found tyres to get noisy until they're down to less than 3mm tread left. My money would be on a wheel bearing. If you can find somewhere to do a few manoeuvres you could try turning in each direction at a speed where the noise appears; if the noise increases during the turn the problem will be the bearing on the loaded side (opposite to the direction of the turn).

[f30paul]

I may be wrong but if it sounds worse on different road surfaces, it points more towards tyres or tyre wear than anything else. Road surfaces don’t make wheel bearings sound worse or better, but if you’ve got uneven tyre wear especially on the outsides then that will...

Ps I’ve been through this sort of worry with all 3 of my previous cars. Every time, it’s the tyres or tyre wear. And I’ve always started with getting them to check the wheel bearings.

[nickcuprar]

My bet is wheel bearing !

[AnDub]

Wheel bearing - mine is doing the same

[kingmonkey8]

Originally Posted by Andy07841

Hi guys I’m new to the forum and BMW 3-Series f30’s,I was looking for some help with regards to what’s best described as a rotational hum noise coming from the front of the car,it’s a 330d rear wheel drive and happens between speeds of 35mph up to approx 90mph I’ve put the auto box into neutral whilst moving and it’s still present,and also seems to be worse on different types of tarmac
The car is on 100k miles and has full bmw dealer history,but I cannot find any proof of a gearbox service,any suggestions advice help would be much appreciated.

I was getting tyre rumble, seemed to occur from the front at low speeds on rough tarmac and wasn't sure if there was a bit of rumble/vibration at motorway speeds.
Decided to get all the wheels balanced. Seems smoother now and not as much rumble at low speeds.
You could try that.

[Assassin]

Had exactly this issue on my 535d MSport after about 500 miles on new tyres. The easiest way to find out if its a problem with tyre wear on the front is to swap the front wheels over and try it. Obviously many tyres are directional but that doesn't matter for a test run or two in the dry only. On mine it got rid of the loud hum from the tyres immediately. I complained to the maker and, after much back and forward, they gave me a refund for the tyres and had them collected for evaluation.

[gIzzE]

Is it in warranty?

I wouldn't take it to BMW if it isn't. They just throw parts at your car.


Go for a drive, go round a roundabout fast as you can, does the noise increase or decrease?
If it increases then your nearside wheel bearing is probably to blame, decreases then your drivers side is probably to blame.

Could still be tyres of course, but doubt it.
May try different pressures. Drop them to 30psi front and rear, then up them to 42psi and see if anything changes. If it does it is your tyres.

Also, seen lots of BMWs where people say humming is from the front where it turns out to be the diff.
Does the noise change at all under load, coming off the gas?

[Andy07841]

Update,
The car has had the original tyres re balanced and the noise is still there,they have put alloys and new tyres on the car and it's still the same,if anything id say the noise is louder than before,I've also put the auto box in neutral whilst driving it and the noise is still there too,the car was purchased from a non bmw dealer so I've got it booked in tomorrow at an independent bmw specialist who I trust well,
The car is rear wheel drive only

[Quantox]

Thought I was experiencing some rear diff. whine some years ago but it turned out to be the wife.

Q

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by Andy07841

Update,
The car has had the original tyres re balanced and the noise is still there,they have put alloys and new tyres on the car and it's still the same,if anything id say the noise is louder than before,I've also put the auto box in neutral whilst driving it and the noise is still there too,the car was purchased from a non bmw dealer so I've got it booked in tomorrow at an independent bmw specialist who I trust well,
The car is rear wheel drive only

To be honest, everything shouts at wheel bearing.

It needs to be driven on these.

Do the following..

Go for a drive, go round a roundabout fast as you can, does the noise increase or decrease?

If it increases then your nearside wheel bearing is probably to blame, decreases then your drivers side is probably to blame.

If it doesn't change it is not bearings.

[Andy07841]

Update:
Was took into graham Martin bmw specialist
And they could hear the noise when they road tested it,they had plugged in a diagnostics and it returned no faults.Also they had the car up on the lift and was driving it whilst the front wheels were stopped and there was no noise,so was found out to be a passenger side wheel bearing,I also had the gearbox oil service done using a genuine zf kit,when they opened the sump up all was good and the magnets had no filings on them.

[M33DLO]

Me me me.... I diagnosed it first...
Glad its sorted.. a happy car again.!

[john lummis]

When I've had a wheel bearing go, I've normally had both sides replaced at the same time

[Spencer786]

Is front wheel bearing change on F30's an easy DIY job then i.e. no specialist tools etc.
-easy as in, like replacing a set of brake disc and pads?