[Bbb34]

Recently I started hearing howling/whining noise coming from the engine bay at around 2500-2700 RPMs whether in gear or neutral. Cannot hear it outside of 2200-3000 RPMs range, everything seems to be normal, no warning lights, no issues with acceleration/function of the car. It's more obvious after the car comes up to normal working temperature.

Reading a bit around forums I saw few mentions of oil pump or alternator causing this type of noise. I was wondering if anybody has first hand experience what this could be?
It’s loud enough in the cabin to be annoying as this is RPM range for most of the highway driving. I find it annoying and would like to get it fixed consider how quiet the cabin otherwise is.

I have regular service appointment next week, and will have shop foreman test drive it, just a bit concerned that this might turn into one of these "it's normal behavior" or "cannot hear that, sorry".

[SonicEndeavor]

It could be the turbocharger beginning to fail. Let us know what they find.

[dadysev]

if it sounds like a steering pump kind of whine, i have it too. been there a while. I thought maybe oil pump. When I get an oil change it disappears for a bit. It comes and goes.
who knows..

[Bbb34]

So here's the update.

Had shop foreman out for a test drive with me, nice person, seems very knowledgeable from my past dealings with him. Said he's not sure he's hearing the same thing, but will investigate. Later mentioned that he wouldn't know where to start addressing this noise until it gets worse, so, maybe he's heard something after all.

Further investigation after I left the car there led to "nothing".
Invoice states "...performed road test, no noise heard, no lose parts, no air hose issues, compared to other cars, normal noise....".

I disagree this is normal, as I've only recently started hearing it. It's very annoying to me, as I'm now focused on it. One of those things that once you hear, you always hear. As I mentioned before, this happens to be RPM range at HW cruising speed, which is what bugs me the most.

What do you guys think (3-9 sec. and 14-19 sec. into the clip is at apx. 2600 RPM)?

Not easy to hear without headphones if using phone to access forums, no issues hearing it on laptop with decent speakers.

Any suggestions on what it could be or how to address it from here?
This is just a quick video, I'm considering making few better ones, some from the cabin as well and sending them to BMW to see what they think.

[Trainwreck914]

Having the same “power steering whine”. Any ideas? What it could be? I only hear it at low speeds. Like parking lot speed.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck914

Having the same “power steering whine”. Any ideas? What it could be? I only hear it at low speeds. Like parking lot speed.

In my previous cars it was low p/s fluid.

[Trainwreck914]

I believe this car is electric steering. It's a 2011 xdrive. It does have the cf11 reservoir but I think it's for the active roll bar. Correct me if I'm wrong...

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck914

I believe this car is electric steering. It's a 2011 xdrive. It does have the cf11 reservoir but I think it's for the active roll bar. Correct me if I'm wrong...

X-Drives have hydraulic p/s. IINM, the p/s and active roll bar use the same hydraulic system.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[mrmarie]

i also have this sound, its the same as the below video

anyone have this issue?

Thanks

[Trainwreck914]

Sounds like a helicopter in that video. Not the sound mind is making. Mine sounds like a power steering pump whine. I also read that it could be the water pump.

[Jbarrer2]

Same !!! Anyone resolve this ?

[Ausf10]

Does the noise go away if you turn a/c off?