Is this a normal sound for a BMW engine?

beri486 · 08-23-2005, 02:38 PM

Hi folks. I am a new BMW convert. I have driven Jaguars for the past few years and finally decided to buy a BMW after seeing the new E90. Glad I did, I have a 325 Auto which I picked up last week.
Having been used to the roar of a Jag engine, I am not sure if my BMW sounds normal. Here is a description of the noise that bothers me:

When I am starting to go from a stop I can hear a distinct "whining" noise as I push the gas pedal. I hear the same noise when I take my foot off the gas to slow down the car in the 40-50 MPH. It seems to me I am hearing the Auto Trany do it's work but I want to know if this is normal or not?

Thank you for your time.

E90Fleet · 08-23-2005, 02:58 PM

Impossible to tell without being in the car

Can you drive another one at the dealer or someone elses to see if it sounds the same ?

beri486 · 08-23-2005, 03:53 PM

Well I can hear it everytime if there is no music playing in the car. I did not notice the sound when I had my test drive but we were talking and the radio was playing, so I can not tell.
I am going to go to the dealer for software updates and such after my breakin period is done. Just wondering if others have noticed such a sound.

E90Fleet · 08-23-2005, 04:11 PM

a soft sound that is similar to a supercharger spinning up is normal on a BMW while revving up

I wouldnt worry about it for now

F32Fleet · 08-23-2005, 04:36 PM

I remember hearing something similiar with the E46/Auto. I wonder if it's an AT thing.

E90Fleet · 08-23-2005, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socom

I remember hearing something similiar with the E46/Auto. I wonder if it's an AT thing.

With E46 Autos you usually hear the extra fan connected to the crank

Arby 330 · 08-23-2005, 07:47 PM

maybe he got the 335 concept and they ddint tell him... IMO if you have a whining sound ur one lucky mother.... what i would do for the twin turbos in my car...LOL
rb

Hunter399 · 08-23-2005, 08:24 PM

The engine in the e90 revs sooo much this sounds is 100% normal

Hunter399 · 08-23-2005, 08:25 PM

I think it almost sounds porsche like...

dnh325i · 08-23-2005, 08:27 PM

The engine is supposed to sound like: ruuuuuuummmmm babababa as you accelerate and then lift off... Does it sound like this?

That's for the gasser. Don't know what the diesel sounds like. Never heard one.

beri486 · 08-24-2005, 07:05 PM

HAHA! We got a happy bunch here :rocks:
The problem is I hear the whining noise when I get my foot off the gas to slow down, that's why I think it's the auto trany shifting down or up that makes the noise, it might be normal but I never had something like this with any of my auto cars before.
Anyway if nobody has noticed it here, it's probably a BMW feature I gotta get used to

CC 330i · 08-24-2005, 07:33 PM

Depends on the RPM. There is a distinct metallic, mechanical whine that the inline 6 puts out. Since the exhaust note in the E90 (even my 330i) is woefully subdued, you can really hear this under acceleration and sometimes deceleration if you turn off the stereo.

I would take it to the dealer and ask one of the service techs to come for a short ride with you around the block and ask their opinion. As long as they don't think there is a problem, you should be OK. Your salesperson could probably even tell you, but that might be a stretch depending on your salesperson. Most likely, as long as there is no service warning showing on the LCD between the speedo and tach, you should be fine.

jlr · 08-25-2005, 11:30 AM

My 330i auto has a mild sound to it. It is a good sound. I noticed it the day I got it. When I hit the gas I can not decied whether to listen to the 5.1 audo or the wonderfull hum of the supper sight drive train

cdheaven · 08-25-2005, 12:58 PM

my car does the exact same thing!!!!! i was actually gonna post today!
the only thing is i dont REMEMBER hearing it the first 3 days i had the car, but i also probably played music about that whole time. but i definitely hear it now. it doesnt really sound like a bad noise, but i thought one of the reasons i just spent 38k on a BMW was because it was MORE quiet in the cabin. the other weird thing, is i figured if i put the window down, i would hear it coming in more, but i dont, its coming like through the firewall. weird

beri486 · 08-25-2005, 01:54 PM

I am going to the dealer to check it out as soon as my break in period is over.
cdheaven You are right the sounds comes through from inside. I will update you as soon as I have it chekced out sometime after labor day.

billgti · 08-25-2005, 06:10 PM

first day of driving mine and i notice the whine u guys describe. it's most noticeable for me when i let off the gas but i think that it's coming form the auto tranny downshifting. perhaps you guys don't notice but i feel that the e90 auto quite frequently downshifts, so much that usually when u let off the gas, u can feel some engine braking like you do in manual cars. in other auto cars i've driven, there's no engine braking whatsoever and the car seems to move at the same speed until u hit the brakes.

odiesback · 08-25-2005, 07:20 PM

I wish the E90 cabin were not so quiet.
Now I have to put my head out of the window while
driving so I can hear the music from the engine.

08-23-2005, 02:38 PM	#1
beri486 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 39 Posts Drives: 325i/Monaco Blue Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Calabasas, Ca iTrader: (0)	Is this a normal sound for a BMW engine? Hi folks. I am a new BMW convert. I have driven Jaguars for the past few years and finally decided to buy a BMW after seeing the new E90. Glad I did, I have a 325 Auto which I picked up last week. Having been used to the roar of a Jag engine, I am not sure if my BMW sounds normal. Here is a description of the noise that bothers me: When I am starting to go from a stop I can hear a distinct "whining" noise as I push the gas pedal. I hear the same noise when I take my foot off the gas to slow down the car in the 40-50 MPH. It seems to me I am hearing the Auto Trany do it's work but I want to know if this is normal or not? Thank you for your time.
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08-23-2005, 02:58 PM	#2
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1338 Rep 10,187 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	Impossible to tell without being in the car Can you drive another one at the dealer or someone elses to see if it sounds the same ?
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08-23-2005, 03:53 PM	#3
beri486 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 39 Posts Drives: 325i/Monaco Blue Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Calabasas, Ca iTrader: (0)	Well I can hear it everytime if there is no music playing in the car. I did not notice the sound when I had my test drive but we were talking and the radio was playing, so I can not tell. I am going to go to the dealer for software updates and such after my breakin period is done. Just wondering if others have noticed such a sound.
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08-23-2005, 04:11 PM	#4
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1338 Rep 10,187 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	a soft sound that is similar to a supercharger spinning up is normal on a BMW while revving up I wouldnt worry about it for now
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08-23-2005, 04:36 PM	#5
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3906 Rep 10,605 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	I remember hearing something similiar with the E46/Auto. I wonder if it's an AT thing.
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08-23-2005, 07:47 PM	#7
Arby 330 First Lieutenant 16 Rep 310 Posts Drives: jet black 330 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ft. Myers, FLorida iTrader: (0)	maybe he got the 335 concept and they ddint tell him... IMO if you have a whining sound ur one lucky mother.... what i would do for the twin turbos in my car...LOL rb __________________ 330i- Jet Black/black leather/aluminum trim/sports/premium/nav-IDrive ....every single option available (steptronic ) 5% suntek- all the way around (15% strip on front winshield)
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08-23-2005, 08:24 PM	#8
Hunter399 Major General 335 Rep 8,088 Posts Drives: F90M5 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (33)	The engine in the e90 revs sooo much this sounds is 100% normal
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08-23-2005, 08:25 PM	#9
Hunter399 Major General 335 Rep 8,088 Posts Drives: F90M5 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (33)	I think it almost sounds porsche like...
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08-23-2005, 08:27 PM	#10
dnh325i Private 1 Rep 81 Posts Drives: '13 128i / Al Wht / Blk Lthr Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	The engine is supposed to sound like: ruuuuuuummmmm babababa as you accelerate and then lift off... Does it sound like this? That's for the gasser. Don't know what the diesel sounds like. Never heard one. __________________ 2006 E90 325i / Alpine White / Terra / Premium / Steptronic / Xenons / Fold down seats / No front license plate
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08-24-2005, 07:05 PM	#11
beri486 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 39 Posts Drives: 325i/Monaco Blue Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Calabasas, Ca iTrader: (0)	HAHA! We got a happy bunch here :rocks: The problem is I hear the whining noise when I get my foot off the gas to slow down, that's why I think it's the auto trany shifting down or up that makes the noise, it might be normal but I never had something like this with any of my auto cars before. Anyway if nobody has noticed it here, it's probably a BMW feature I gotta get used to
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08-24-2005, 07:33 PM	#12
CC 330i Captain 45 Rep 722 Posts Drives: 330i SG/Blk/Alum Join Date: May 2005 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	Depends on the RPM. There is a distinct metallic, mechanical whine that the inline 6 puts out. Since the exhaust note in the E90 (even my 330i) is woefully subdued, you can really hear this under acceleration and sometimes deceleration if you turn off the stereo. I would take it to the dealer and ask one of the service techs to come for a short ride with you around the block and ask their opinion. As long as they don't think there is a problem, you should be OK. Your salesperson could probably even tell you, but that might be a stretch depending on your salesperson. Most likely, as long as there is no service warning showing on the LCD between the speedo and tach, you should be fine.
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08-25-2005, 11:30 AM	#13
jlr Enlisted Member 1 Rep 35 Posts Drives: 2006 33i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	my 330 has some "whining" My 330i auto has a mild sound to it. It is a good sound. I noticed it the day I got it. When I hit the gas I can not decied whether to listen to the 5.1 audo or the wonderfull hum of the supper sight drive train
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08-25-2005, 12:58 PM	#14
cdheaven I'm Starving , So I Guess You Are What You Eat 244 Rep 943 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Fl iTrader: (1)	my car does the exact same thing!!!!! i was actually gonna post today! the only thing is i dont REMEMBER hearing it the first 3 days i had the car, but i also probably played music about that whole time. but i definitely hear it now. it doesnt really sound like a bad noise, but i thought one of the reasons i just spent 38k on a BMW was because it was MORE quiet in the cabin. the other weird thing, is i figured if i put the window down, i would hear it coming in more, but i dont, its coming like through the firewall. weird __________________ 2006 325i Sparkling Graphite Metallic-Black Leatherette Navigation-Bmw Assist Automatic-Xenons Carbon Fiber Front Lips-Aluminum Pedals Power/heated Front Seats 5% Tint all around 30% On windshield all the way down
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08-25-2005, 01:54 PM	#15
beri486 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 39 Posts Drives: 325i/Monaco Blue Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Calabasas, Ca iTrader: (0)	I am going to the dealer to check it out as soon as my break in period is over. cdheaven You are right the sounds comes through from inside. I will update you as soon as I have it chekced out sometime after labor day.
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08-25-2005, 06:10 PM	#16
billgti Lieutenant 28 Rep 506 Posts Drives: 06 BMW 330i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	first day of driving mine and i notice the whine u guys describe. it's most noticeable for me when i let off the gas but i think that it's coming form the auto tranny downshifting. perhaps you guys don't notice but i feel that the e90 auto quite frequently downshifts, so much that usually when u let off the gas, u can feel some engine braking like you do in manual cars. in other auto cars i've driven, there's no engine braking whatsoever and the car seems to move at the same speed until u hit the brakes.
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08-25-2005, 07:20 PM	#17
odiesback 2021 330ix 226 Rep 543 Posts Drives: 2021 330ix Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 330i xDrive [0.00]	I wish the E90 cabin were not so quiet. Now I have to put my head out of the window while driving so I can hear the music from the engine.
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