[HarryTee]

Hi,
My 440i GC (23k miles) is still under warranty and has this faint whistling/whining noise only at speed around 30mph. It is always there and disappears at speeds other than at around 30mph. The dealer checked it but couldn't tell why and said it's within acceptable tolerance. It doesn't cause any problem and has no code.
Anyone has experience similar to this? Did it cause any problem further down?

[tardboi]

The mirror caps are known to howl around 25-40 mph and there is a bulletin to fix this. Could that be it?

[HarryTee]

Originally Posted by tardboi

The mirror caps are known to howl around 25-40 mph and there is a bulletin to fix this. Could that be it?

Thanks! I tried folding the mirrors to check if the change of position would eliminate the noise, but the mirrors could only be folded at speed under 20mph ! Where can I read about this mirror howl, and about the fix?

As I haven't seen any side effects of the whistle/ whine, I suspect that the noise is simply generated by the turbo's spooling, when the turbo starts to kick in, but this needs confirmation from members with more experienced than I am. As for the whine/ whistle I experience, it occurs at the speed around 30mph and doesn't hang around for long as I don't hang around at that speed, but I hear it mostly at exiting roundabouts when I tend to speed off the 30mph threshold.

[tardboi]

If youre saying its from the engine bay/related to acceleration then of course it cant be the mirror caps, but if you're not sure - I just brought my car into the dealer mentioning the howling at certain speeds and they fixed it with tape. I believe the SIB may be 51 21 13.

Mine did it driving around at city speeds and it was just terrible to hear this high pitch whine every time you go slow.

[HarryTee]

Thanks again! I'm open to considering all possibilities. If the noise I hear is indeed the wind noise or turbo spooling, then it's all good by me. Either of these would be preferable to something wrong with the car that generates the noise.

[ashkanvafaee2]

Does it sound like a whistling noise due to wind? If so, it could be the notorious f30 whistling issue discussed here:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=781339

When I had a f30 2013 328i I experienced the same issue but more around 50ish mph. The cause of the problem in my case was a gap in the rubber trim on the sides of the windshield. When I got up to around 50 mph, I could start hearing a high-pitched whistling noise that could be heard even if the radio was on.

If it is indeed due to wind, to pin-point the location, use some cheap tape and tape all the crevices in the windshield and mirror areas. Tape both sides of the rubber that surrounds the windshield, tape crevices in the mirror caps (the part where they fold in), tape everything. Then drive the car and see if the sound goes away. If it does, then one-by one remove the pieces of tape until the noise comes back.

This is how I solved my issue.

[HarryTee]

Originally Posted by ashkanvafaee2

Does it sound like a whistling noise due to wind? If so, it could be the notorious f30 whistling issue discussed here:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=781339
This is how I solved my issue.

Hi,
I've done a few things and concluded that it's not wind-noise:
- Wind-noise tends to start at some speed and keep going as the speed is raised. In my case, the whistle comes on at around 30mph and goes away as soon as the speed changes, up or down. That means the whistle is speed-specific.
- At 30mph when I hear the whistle, if I put the car in neutral, the noise would immediately stop. This again indicates that the whistle comes from the engine or transmission
- I also tried various gears at 30mph, and the whistle is most pronounced in gears 4th and 5th (My car is AT8). In these two gears, the whistle also sustains over a wider band of speeds, you can hear it between 25mph-40mph. From this, I think that as the car accelerates through the gears from low speed to high, at around 30mph is when the 4th/5th is engaged and that is when you'd hear the whistle.

I'm now convinced that the noise is from the engine or transmission. It is fairly quiet and the dealer said it's normal, I'm therefore half a mind wanting to leave it till it gets worse and half a mind wanting it sorted, as my original warranty will be out in just couple of more weeks.

[Corindm]

Hi there. I have a 440 with what seems like exactly the same issue, did you get it resolved ?

[HarryTee]

No. Not worse, not better. I've accepted it as a characteristics of the car and it doesn't make me like the car any less
Since when did you start noticing this with your car? Has it been like that from new?

[dv_damian]

Originally Posted by HarryTee

Hi,
My 440i GC (23k miles) is still under warranty and has this faint whistling/whining noise only at speed around 30mph. It is always there and disappears at speeds other than at around 30mph. The dealer checked it but couldn't tell why and said it's within acceptable tolerance. It doesn't cause any problem and has no code.
Anyone has experience similar to this? Did it cause any problem further down?

Does it sound like you have a super charger on the car? I had that issue and it turned out to be the transmission low on oil. I would have them check that just in case.

[HarryTee]

Originally Posted by dv_damian

Does it sound like you have a super charger on the car? I had that issue and it turned out to be the transmission low on oil. I would have them check that just in case.

Sounds promising. I'll ask about this at the next service. Thanks!

[Silverlining_m2]

Originally Posted by HarryTee

Sounds promising. I'll ask about this at the next service. Thanks!

Does it sound like this? I have a 2015 435i with a weird whistle at low speeds only and can't for the life of me discern it. Appt at BMW Tuesday.

[Corindm]

Mine has done this from new. It’s been In 3 times , two long test drives with a senior tech. They checked gearbox and transmission levels. In the end they managed to convince a customer to lend them their car to compare and have concluded its all ‘normal’

[HarryTee]

Good to know, Corindm. I think you'll be fine there (just like me )

[Silverlining_m2]

Originally Posted by HarryTee

Good to know, Corindm. I think you'll be fine there (just like me )

I had mine into the dealer. Of course the noise was at it's most faint when I tried to replicate for them. They changed the differential fluid and did a full service for the engine. They say they hear nothing. The noise persists for me. I have decided to either drive harder or turn the tunes up, as the engine noise or radio drown it out.

Side note. My friend says it's audible from outside the car too. Is anyone else's?

[dv_damian]

Originally Posted by f32spaceship

Does it sound like this? I have a 2015 435i with a weird whistle at low speeds only and can't for the life of me discern it. Appt at BMW Tuesday.

I can tell you this much. This is not what mine sounded like. Mine was just like a supercharger whine and the sound came from the front.

[Ougtr]

Hello!
I am facing exactly the same probleme , if someone find the solution please share it with us, i recorded the sound it is audible at 35 seconds (video youtube) and its apears between 45 and 50 kph and only @ 4th gear

[Ougtr]

Originally Posted by HarryTee

Hi,
My 440i GC (23k miles) is still under warranty and has this faint whistling/whining noise only at speed around 30mph. It is always there and disappears at speeds other than at around 30mph. The dealer checked it but couldn't tell why and said it's within acceptable tolerance. It doesn't cause any problem and has no code.
Anyone has experience similar to this? Did it cause any problem further down?

Hello!
I am facing exactly the same probleme , if someone find the solution please share it with us, i recorded the sound is audible at 35 seconds (video youtube) and its apears between 45 and 50 kph

https://youtu.be/3qZNDZNxIGc

[bmitrovcak]

Originally Posted by Silverlining_m2c

Does it sound like this? I have a 2015 435i with a weird whistle at low speeds only and can't for the life of me discern it. Appt at BMW Tuesday.

https://youtu.be/Uslaw7zxqns

Have u found a solution for this whistle ???

[BRK]

Interesting. Cheap stuff first. Have a look at the entire air intake system and make sure piping is fitted correctly and slightly tighten all fittings. Check the aircleaner element is sitting correctly in the air box.

[kBrazy]

Originally Posted by BRK

Interesting. Cheap stuff first. Have a look at the entire air intake system and make sure piping is fitted correctly and slightly tighten all fittings. Check the aircleaner element is sitting correctly in the air box.

I have a similar issue with my 340i, only thing is around 75mph+ it sounds like something is humming, a bit vibrate on the gas pedal if that makes sense. Not sure what it is or if its an issue. car is at 54k miles.

[phelpsy]

Originally Posted by bmitrovcak

Have u found a solution for this whistle ???

I’m also looking for a solution Is there any available?