Mystery Mechanical Noise in 335i

SAM67 · 12-12-2008, 01:51 PM

The other day I was sitting at a stoplight with the stereo off and noticed a faint mechanical noise, almost like a beep, that repeated every 15-20 seconds. I couldn't tell where the sound was coming from and it happened whether I had the clutch pedal engaged or not. Sounded like something was cycling on for an instant -- maybe a pump? I assume it's normal - car is running fine with no codes. I mainly just curious -- any ideas? I usually have the stereo on so I've never noticed it before. Thanks.

MSPORTWORLD · 12-12-2008, 01:56 PM

I have heard similar mechanical sounds while sitting in my BMW after it has shut off for a while. I just assumed that the car keeps certain features on stand-by for a certain time unless triggered by the door opening.

noro · 12-12-2008, 01:57 PM

I have that too.. very subtle though, I can only hear with radio completely off. I have heard many others refer to it that sound too. So it's nothing to worry about IMO.

smallseafishie · 12-12-2008, 05:15 PM

Its my navi disc spinning.

It also seems to radiate the noise to the speakers. Poor noise isolation on the electronics side.

JO3 · 12-12-2008, 06:49 PM

+1 on the nav disk. That disk motor is pretty loud.

Try ejecting the DVD and see if you are still hearing it.

SAM67 · 12-12-2008, 06:57 PM

I don't have Nav and my stereo was turned off, so that's not the source of the noise in my car at least.

Like hkyplaynazn, I hear different mechancial noises after I shut off the car. I assume it's my turbos winding down and the cooling fan running. The noise I'm hearing occurs when the car is running. I agree with Noro that it's normal -- just curious as to it's source.

Thanks.

z4mber · 12-15-2008, 07:03 PM

I hear it too when i am on a stop sign or on a red light. It is like a dial tone but in a very quiet way. Beep beep beep

JunkStory · 12-15-2008, 07:10 PM

I'm assuming that this is not the beeping sound coming from the speakers when the cellphone emits a signal?? Otherwise its' normal.

Moderato · 12-15-2008, 08:15 PM

I've noticed this also, my car doesn't have nav BTW. It's a very faint, low pitched, beep-like tone that occurs every few moments or so. You can only hear it inside the car, I don't hear it when I pop the hood and it's hard to locate, if I could guess I'd say it's coming from behind the dash somewhere. It's one of those things that if someone doesn't point it out to you, you might never notice. I might bring it up the next time my car is in for service, then again, I have a new SA and I speculate he already thinks I'm OCD so I don't want to reinforce that notion.

dlbrooks18 · 12-24-2008, 03:14 PM

I hear this sound too, it's like a faint dial tone beeping or something, only notice it when the radio is off and car is running.. So what exactly is it?

12-12-2008, 01:51 PM	#1
SAM67 Cars & Guitars 5 Rep 97 Posts Drives: 2008 335i E90 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO iTrader: (0)	Mystery Mechanical Noise in 335i The other day I was sitting at a stoplight with the stereo off and noticed a faint mechanical noise, almost like a beep, that repeated every 15-20 seconds. I couldn't tell where the sound was coming from and it happened whether I had the clutch pedal engaged or not. Sounded like something was cycling on for an instant -- maybe a pump? I assume it's normal - car is running fine with no codes. I mainly just curious -- any ideas? I usually have the stereo on so I've never noticed it before. Thanks. __________________ 2008 E90 335i >Blue Monaco, Lemon/Aluminum, 6MT, Sport, Prem, Cold, iPod, CA, Sirius >European Delivery in April 2008
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

12-12-2008, 01:56 PM	#2
MSPORTWORLD Major 232 Rep 1,481 Posts Drives: '11 M3 MW/FR - '12 M3 FO/SC Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California iTrader: (6) Garage List 2004 Honda Hornet [0.00] 2003 Chevrolet 2500 ... [0.00] 2011 BMW S1000RR [0.00] 2011 BMW E92 M3 [0.00] 2012 BMW E92 M3 [0.00]	I have heard similar mechanical sounds while sitting in my BMW after it has shut off for a while. I just assumed that the car keeps certain features on stand-by for a certain time unless triggered by the door opening. __________________ IG: @msportworld MSPORTWORLD YouTube Channel 2012 M3 ED Thread 2011 M3 ED Thread
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-12-2008, 01:57 PM	#3
noro Colonel 90 Rep 2,707 Posts Drives: '91 M3, '04 E46 ZHP, '72 2002 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	I have that too.. very subtle though, I can only hear with radio completely off. I have heard many others refer to it that sound too. So it's nothing to worry about IMO. __________________ zhpregistry.net - ZHP stats and free classifieds.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-12-2008, 05:15 PM	#4
smallseafishie Colonel 110 Rep 2,017 Posts Drives: AW 07 e92 335i + AW 11 X5 35d Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Atlanta GA iTrader: (13) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [0.00]	Its my navi disc spinning. It also seems to radiate the noise to the speakers. Poor noise isolation on the electronics side.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-12-2008, 06:49 PM	#5
JO3 Lieutenant 12 Rep 566 Posts Drives: a lot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CA iTrader: (8)	+1 on the nav disk. That disk motor is pretty loud. Try ejecting the DVD and see if you are still hearing it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-12-2008, 06:57 PM	#6
SAM67 Cars & Guitars 5 Rep 97 Posts Drives: 2008 335i E90 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO iTrader: (0)	I don't have Nav and my stereo was turned off, so that's not the source of the noise in my car at least. Like hkyplaynazn, I hear different mechancial noises after I shut off the car. I assume it's my turbos winding down and the cooling fan running. The noise I'm hearing occurs when the car is running. I agree with Noro that it's normal -- just curious as to it's source. Thanks. __________________ 2008 E90 335i >Blue Monaco, Lemon/Aluminum, 6MT, Sport, Prem, Cold, iPod, CA, Sirius >European Delivery in April 2008
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-15-2008, 07:03 PM	#7
z4mber Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 217 Posts Drives: BMW Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (4)	I hear it too when i am on a stop sign or on a red light. It is like a dial tone but in a very quiet way. Beep beep beep
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-15-2008, 07:10 PM	#8
JunkStory Major 160 Rep 1,307 Posts Drives: E92 M3, 8V RS3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: 98230 iTrader: (3)	I'm assuming that this is not the beeping sound coming from the speakers when the cellphone emits a signal?? Otherwise its' normal.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-15-2008, 08:15 PM	#9
Moderato First Lieutenant 9 Rep 327 Posts Drives: 07 E92 335 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I've noticed this also, my car doesn't have nav BTW. It's a very faint, low pitched, beep-like tone that occurs every few moments or so. You can only hear it inside the car, I don't hear it when I pop the hood and it's hard to locate, if I could guess I'd say it's coming from behind the dash somewhere. It's one of those things that if someone doesn't point it out to you, you might never notice. I might bring it up the next time my car is in for service, then again, I have a new SA and I speculate he already thinks I'm OCD so I don't want to reinforce that notion. __________________ 07 E92 335i Saph/Black 6MT 06 E46 M3 CB/Cinn ZCP 6MT - Sold 04 E46 330i Saph/NatBrn ZSP 6MT - Sold
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-24-2008, 03:14 PM	#10
dlbrooks18 Brigadier General 161 Rep 3,736 Posts Drives: e90 335i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	I hear this sound too, it's like a faint dial tone beeping or something, only notice it when the radio is off and car is running.. So what exactly is it?
	Appreciate 0 Quote