Wing Mirror Noise thread...another............

exAlfaMale · 10-11-2018, 07:39 AM

Read so many threads on forums about noise from the F30 wing mirrors, but with no definitive fix.

My car RHD suffers from a droning at high speed from the passenger side which gets louder when it's windy and quieter on calm still days.

I decided to look at the wing mirrors for differences as the drivers side is quiet.

I've attached a couple of pics of the mirror bases. The noisy passenger side has quite a high step bit with a slope . The drivers side has a much lower step and is almost flat.

Why is this? Has one of my mirrors then been replaced at some point?

Cheers

kingmonkey8 · 10-16-2018, 06:11 PM

I can't see any issue. I doubt it would cause any wind noise from the mirror that's audible when driving. Especially when you have tyre noise.
Check that the mirror caps are clicked together and there are no gaps.
Check that your window is fully closed. Any wind noise is more likely to be around the door seals.

Zanity · 10-16-2018, 08:19 PM

I can't think that it would make loud noises from a bump on the mirror panel, I think perhaps what might be possible is the wind is entering an opening somewhere due to the bump and causing turbulence which makes the noise.

Korvo · 10-17-2018, 08:47 AM

It looks like the passenger side popped out when compared to the driver side. Can it be popped back under the trim?

exAlfaMale · 10-19-2018, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdegene

It looks like the passenger side popped out when compared to the driver side. Can it be popped back under the trim?

Not sure what you mean mate. The difference is in the molding of the base. As far as I can see, nothing is out of place.

upsidedownfunnel · 10-19-2018, 11:33 AM

What's strange is that my American F30 looks nothing like that. It's all one solid piece all the way around. There's no seam on the top of the base.

But it looks like to me that the passenger side is not assembled properly. You can see that the front part is supposed to fold over the back part like on the driver's side (right mirror). On the left mirror, the back part goes over the front part. If so, that would definitely cause enough air turbulence to make some noise. Even very small divots and bumps can cause whistling and sounds when driving at highway speeds.

Check this quick diagram I made. The yellow is a side profile view of the base of the mirror and the blue lines are like the wind flowing across it.

Korvo · 10-19-2018, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

What's strange is that my American F30 looks nothing like that. It's all one solid piece all the way around. There's no seam on the top of the base.

But it looks like to me that the passenger side is not assembled properly. You can see that the front part is supposed to fold over the back part like on the driver's side (right mirror). On the left mirror, the back part goes over the front part. If so, that would definitely cause enough air turbulence to make some noise. Even very small divots and bumps can cause whistling and sounds when driving at highway speeds.

Check this quick diagram I made. The yellow is a side profile view of the base of the mirror and the blue lines are like the wind flowing across it.

Exactly what I tried to explain. Thanks for the diagram!

Wires · 10-20-2018, 01:07 PM

Do you have that 3M clear film on the mirror caps? Dealer installed on mine when I bought, it, the driver side was placed on that it protruded down a bit too far, and would whistle when driving.

fluke · 10-20-2018, 01:53 PM

If you suspect the mirror base is the cause of the droning, tie a rag around it and drive around for a few minutes. If the droning sound changes or stops, you've confirmed your suspicion. Once you've confirmed the cause, we can work on a fix.

IAmATeaf · 10-20-2018, 02:30 PM

I had a look at my mirrors and from the quick glance they look nothing like the pictures in that I couldn’t see a gap or a line?

upsidedownfunnel · 10-22-2018, 12:44 AM

I think both of your mirrors are either not original or modified for some reason. The Left and Right mirrors don't even look the same and both look different from any other F30 rear view mirror I've ever seen.

exAlfaMale · 10-26-2018, 03:04 AM

There is nothing to click together. The bases have that seam molded. They are a single piece. Sorry if the pictures don't show that clearly.

I wrapped tape around the left mirror to smooth out the ridge. Noise gone. So there is definitely something wrong with the design. It's a 2012 UK car. It is possible the mirror design has been altered over the years. Well, my mirror bases have different size ridges moulded, so..

10-11-2018, 07:39 AM	#1
exAlfaMale New Member 1 Rep 5 Posts Drives: F30 330d 2012 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0)	Wing Mirror Noise thread...another............ Read so many threads on forums about noise from the F30 wing mirrors, but with no definitive fix. My car RHD suffers from a droning at high speed from the passenger side which gets louder when it's windy and quieter on calm still days. I decided to look at the wing mirrors for differences as the drivers side is quiet. I've attached a couple of pics of the mirror bases. The noisy passenger side has quite a high step bit with a slope . The drivers side has a much lower step and is almost flat. Why is this? Has one of my mirrors then been replaced at some point? Cheers Attached Images
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10-16-2018, 06:11 PM	#2
kingmonkey8 Lieutenant 81 Rep 552 Posts Drives: BMW 428i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I can't see any issue. I doubt it would cause any wind noise from the mirror that's audible when driving. Especially when you have tyre noise. Check that the mirror caps are clicked together and there are no gaps. Check that your window is fully closed. Any wind noise is more likely to be around the door seals.
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10-16-2018, 08:19 PM	#3
Zanity Major 731 Rep 1,045 Posts Drives: 428i Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: BC, Canada iTrader: (0)	I can't think that it would make loud noises from a bump on the mirror panel, I think perhaps what might be possible is the wind is entering an opening somewhere due to the bump and causing turbulence which makes the noise.
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10-17-2018, 08:47 AM	#4
Korvo Respect My Authoritah 368 Rep 873 Posts Drives: 2014 335i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Minneapolis, MN iTrader: (2)	It looks like the passenger side popped out when compared to the driver side. Can it be popped back under the trim? __________________ 2014 335xi M-Sport 6MT: Estoril Blue II, MHD Stage 2+ , Dinan Exhaust, Dinan CAI, ER Catted DP, ER Chargepipe, AA FMIC.
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10-19-2018, 11:33 AM	#6
upsidedownfunnel Colonel 1996 Rep 2,499 Posts Drives: 2014 335i Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: SoCal iTrader: (4) Garage List 2014 BMW 335i [0.00]	What's strange is that my American F30 looks nothing like that. It's all one solid piece all the way around. There's no seam on the top of the base. But it looks like to me that the passenger side is not assembled properly. You can see that the front part is supposed to fold over the back part like on the driver's side (right mirror). On the left mirror, the back part goes over the front part. If so, that would definitely cause enough air turbulence to make some noise. Even very small divots and bumps can cause whistling and sounds when driving at highway speeds. Check this quick diagram I made. The yellow is a side profile view of the base of the mirror and the blue lines are like the wind flowing across it.
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10-20-2018, 01:07 PM	#8
Wires Brigadier General 1646 Rep 4,876 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	Do you have that 3M clear film on the mirror caps? Dealer installed on mine when I bought, it, the driver side was placed on that it protruded down a bit too far, and would whistle when driving.
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10-20-2018, 01:53 PM	#9
fluke Private 36 Rep 68 Posts Drives: 2013 328 and 2015 X5 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	If you suspect the mirror base is the cause of the droning, tie a rag around it and drive around for a few minutes. If the droning sound changes or stops, you've confirmed your suspicion. Once you've confirmed the cause, we can work on a fix.
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10-20-2018, 02:30 PM	#10
IAmATeaf Captain 238 Rep 878 Posts Drives: 2015 F30 335i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW 335i [0.00]	I had a look at my mirrors and from the quick glance they look nothing like the pictures in that I couldn’t see a gap or a line?
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10-22-2018, 12:44 AM	#11
upsidedownfunnel Colonel 1996 Rep 2,499 Posts Drives: 2014 335i Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: SoCal iTrader: (4) Garage List 2014 BMW 335i [0.00]	I think both of your mirrors are either not original or modified for some reason. The Left and Right mirrors don't even look the same and both look different from any other F30 rear view mirror I've ever seen.
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10-26-2018, 03:04 AM	#12
exAlfaMale New Member 1 Rep 5 Posts Drives: F30 330d 2012 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0)	There is nothing to click together. The bases have that seam molded. They are a single piece. Sorry if the pictures don't show that clearly. I wrapped tape around the left mirror to smooth out the ridge. Noise gone. So there is definitely something wrong with the design. It's a 2012 UK car. It is possible the mirror design has been altered over the years. Well, my mirror bases have different size ridges moulded, so..
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