Strange Whirling intermittent sound

Hella-Buggin' · 11-30-2016, 11:00 PM

My wife's 535i M Sport has developed a weird intermittent whirling sound. I drove it out to dinner tonight and she said it's been happening for the last day or so. It sounds like the fan kicking on high every 20 seconds for a bout 5 seconds. It's 45 degrees here so no need for the fan to kick on. It could also be the compressor spooling up but nothing but the heater was on. I popped the hood in the driveway when I got home but it doesn't seem to happen in park.

Any Ideas? I'll schedule a trip to the dealer but like to arrive armed with some info.

claykin · 11-30-2016, 11:40 PM

Do you have ventilated seats?

Could the sound be from the fuel pump? The lpfp is mounted on top of the fuel tank under the rear seat. The hpfp is under the hood. Most often drivers hear the lpfp while driving.

Hella-Buggin' · 11-30-2016, 11:48 PM

no ventilated seats and it's coming from under the hood.

Hella-Buggin' · 12-04-2016, 10:51 PM

It's not related to the climate control unit. It makes the sound with it completely off.

Alcenos · 12-05-2016, 08:23 AM

My wife had something similar on her X5. I believe that it was related to some heat sensor malfunction in the engine compartment.

BigKutta · 12-05-2016, 10:49 AM

I get a strange whirring sound from under the trunk area once in a while, and only when the car is stopped and shut off

vlam · 12-05-2016, 11:24 AM

Sounds like the water pump issue. Your fan is running on a full blast. It will get worse, mine is doing that now even at cold startup. Start monitoring your coolant temp with the hidden menu. My 2012 started doing that the last few weeks. Last Friday was the first time I got a high temp and car went into limp mode. I am keeping mine park except for short trip until my parts come in and I get a chance to replace the water pump, thermostats and all the hoses.

Hella-Buggin' · 12-06-2016, 12:06 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll take her car tomorrow and keep a close eye on the coolant temps.

vlam · 12-06-2016, 09:38 AM

Good luck. Let us know how it went.

Hella-Buggin' · 12-13-2016, 08:33 PM

Water pump failure as suggested.

11-30-2016, 11:00 PM	#1
Hella-Buggin' Enlisted Member 8 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 06 Porsche 997S Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Strange Whirling intermittent sound My wife's 535i M Sport has developed a weird intermittent whirling sound. I drove it out to dinner tonight and she said it's been happening for the last day or so. It sounds like the fan kicking on high every 20 seconds for a bout 5 seconds. It's 45 degrees here so no need for the fan to kick on. It could also be the compressor spooling up but nothing but the heater was on. I popped the hood in the driveway when I got home but it doesn't seem to happen in park. Any Ideas? I'll schedule a trip to the dealer but like to arrive armed with some info.
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11-30-2016, 11:40 PM	#2
claykin Brigadier General 1588 Rep 4,553 Posts Drives: various BMW Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Do you have ventilated seats? Could the sound be from the fuel pump? The lpfp is mounted on top of the fuel tank under the rear seat. The hpfp is under the hood. Most often drivers hear the lpfp while driving. __________________ 2023 840GC \| 2021 740i \| 2019 X3
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11-30-2016, 11:48 PM	#3
Hella-Buggin' Enlisted Member 8 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 06 Porsche 997S Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	no ventilated seats and it's coming from under the hood.
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12-04-2016, 10:51 PM	#4
Hella-Buggin' Enlisted Member 8 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 06 Porsche 997S Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	It's not related to the climate control unit. It makes the sound with it completely off.
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12-05-2016, 08:23 AM	#5
Alcenos Field Marshal 🔱 144 Rep 294 Posts Drives: 2019 M5 Competition (F90) Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: The Garden State iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW M5 Competi ... [0.00]	My wife had something similar on her X5. I believe that it was related to some heat sensor malfunction in the engine compartment. __________________ 2019 F90 M5 Competition - Black Sapphire Metallic 2015 F10 535i xDrive M-Sport - Jet Black (retired) 2008 E60 528i - Space Grey (retired) 2002 E46 325i - Space Grey (retired) 1999 E46 328i - Orient Blue (retired)
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12-05-2016, 10:49 AM	#6
BigKutta Brigadier General 3904 Rep 4,047 Posts Drives: 2020 M2C, 2019 330xi, 2017 Q7 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Washington DC Burbs iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 330xi [0.00] 2017 Audi Q7 3.0 [0.00] 2020 M2C [0.00]	I get a strange whirring sound from under the trunk area once in a while, and only when the car is stopped and shut off
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12-05-2016, 11:24 AM	#7
vlam Enlisted Member 13 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 535xi Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: 08054 iTrader: (0)	Sounds like the water pump issue. Your fan is running on a full blast. It will get worse, mine is doing that now even at cold startup. Start monitoring your coolant temp with the hidden menu. My 2012 started doing that the last few weeks. Last Friday was the first time I got a high temp and car went into limp mode. I am keeping mine park except for short trip until my parts come in and I get a chance to replace the water pump, thermostats and all the hoses.
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12-06-2016, 12:06 AM	#8
Hella-Buggin' Enlisted Member 8 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 06 Porsche 997S Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the suggestions. I'll take her car tomorrow and keep a close eye on the coolant temps.
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12-06-2016, 09:38 AM	#9
vlam Enlisted Member 13 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 535xi Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: 08054 iTrader: (0)	Good luck. Let us know how it went.
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12-13-2016, 08:33 PM	#10
Hella-Buggin' Enlisted Member 8 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 06 Porsche 997S Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Water pump failure as suggested.
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