Car making strange noises

RumanAmin · 04-30-2017, 10:26 AM

Hi all,

I have an E92 3 Series with around 70k miles on the clock. I've not had any previous issues bar the usual cracked wheels and DPF lights (although that's not been an issue for last 15 months).

Recently I've noticed a strange tractor like sound particularly when driving on dual carriageways/motorways, pretty much anywhere above 30 mph.

I've attached a sound clip.

Any ideas what might be causing this?

allanv · 05-01-2017, 06:21 AM

From the clip and from a distant memory of my old 1 series that made a similar sound and it turned out to be a wheel bearing.

Does it get louder that faster you go?

djgandy · 05-02-2017, 04:26 AM

My 335 used to make that noise. I suspected wheel bearing.
BMW did the usual BS of tyre pressures are slightly out (?!**&!?!)
After enough pushing they investigated and replaced the diff!?

The noise was still there with the new diff, I traded the car in the end anyway.

It was definitely a rear bearing as putting some beans in the rear axle would cause the noise to start. Varied linearly with RPM too, can't see what else it could have been.

04-30-2017, 10:26 AM	#1
RumanAmin Enlisted Member 5 Rep 47 Posts Drives: BMW 325d M Sport (E92) Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Car making strange noises Hi all, I have an E92 3 Series with around 70k miles on the clock. I've not had any previous issues bar the usual cracked wheels and DPF lights (although that's not been an issue for last 15 months). Recently I've noticed a strange tractor like sound particularly when driving on dual carriageways/motorways, pretty much anywhere above 30 mph. I've attached a sound clip. Any ideas what might be causing this?
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05-01-2017, 06:21 AM	#2
allanv Enlisted Member 4 Rep 42 Posts Drives: E92 330ci Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: South West iTrader: (0)	From the clip and from a distant memory of my old 1 series that made a similar sound and it turned out to be a wheel bearing. Does it get louder that faster you go?
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05-02-2017, 04:26 AM	#3
djgandy Colonel 146 Rep 2,337 Posts Drives: E93 M3 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: London iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 M3 [0.00]	My 335 used to make that noise. I suspected wheel bearing. BMW did the usual BS of tyre pressures are slightly out (?!**&!?!) After enough pushing they investigated and replaced the diff!? The noise was still there with the new diff, I traded the car in the end anyway. It was definitely a rear bearing as putting some beans in the rear axle would cause the noise to start. Varied linearly with RPM too, can't see what else it could have been.
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