"Whirring/Humming" Noise from Back of Car

Matticus91 · 02-14-2019, 11:38 AM

I'm getting an odd sound that's slowly been getting louder, it almost sounds like I have a really aggressive truck tire on the car. Sort of a fluctuating whirring noise that you hear when a jeep with big tires passes you. I thought it may have been my old tires but after replacing them the noise persists. It doesn't seem like you can "feel" it if that makes sense, no vibrations that I can tell for sure are related.

Changes with speed (increases in loudness and frequency of whirring), does not seem to change when brakes are applied, does not seem related to clutch use.

Other thoughts are hub(s) or brakes. Has anyone experienced a similar thing? I am bringing the car in for an alignment tomorrow morning so if I can't figure it out before then I'll see if they can take a look.

iminhell1 · 02-14-2019, 01:06 PM

Check dif fluid.

Matticus91 · 02-14-2019, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iminhell1

Check dif fluid.

Good call and will do but I changed the fluid about 6mo ago and there aren't any leaks that I can tell. Will report back later today.

1and1 · 02-14-2019, 01:42 PM

yeah- diff or hub bearings most likely. Worn bearings can often be verified by change in pitch/tone while turning- if change is noticed then likely the loaded side is going south.

Also, just might be ebrake- try lifting the handle just enough to feel a touch of drag and see if the sound changes.

If your garage is quiet, often just getting the back end up in the air and spinning the tires is enough to find the noisy bit. Sometimes you'll feel it more than hear it, but get the butt in the air and have fun... Bring the wife and the butt grinding jokes are almost endless

Seriously tho, a second set of ears could be helpful

Artdnj · 02-14-2019, 01:47 PM

Wheel bearings?

Gangplank · 02-14-2019, 05:50 PM

Fluctuating rhythmically? Prolly a tire, lose lugnut?

MightyMouseTech · 02-14-2019, 05:57 PM

Wheel bearing or diff.

Gotta lift up the back and have a listen with the wheels spinning.

Matticus91 · 02-14-2019, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1and1

yeah- diff or hub bearings most likely. Worn bearings can often be verified by change in pitch/tone while turning- if change is noticed then likely the loaded side is going south.

Also, just might be ebrake- try lifting the handle just enough to feel a touch of drag and see if the sound changes.

If your garage is quiet, often just getting the back end up in the air and spinning the tires is enough to find the noisy bit. Sometimes you'll feel it more than hear it, but get the butt in the air and have fun... Bring the wife and the butt grinding jokes are almost endless

Seriously tho, a second set of ears could be helpful

LOL man

And good call on the ebrake I'll definitely check that out, it has been squeaking occasionally when just released for a long time so might be grabbing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gangplank

Fluctuating rhythmically? Prolly a tire, lose lugnut?

Nah not those, new tires and I've had the wheels off/on quite a few times, always check seating and torque to spec.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Wheel bearing or diff.

Gotta lift up the back and have a listen with the wheels spinning.

Will try it tomorrow thanks!

bmw1racer · 02-14-2019, 10:42 PM

That sounds familiar.

I had that sound in my E36... A couple of months later, my diff blew, with one of the half shafts dangling outside of my diff.

$4500 replacement.

Rmtt · 02-15-2019, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1and1

yeah- diff or hub bearings most likely. Worn bearings can often be verified by change in pitch/tone while turning- if change is noticed then likely the loaded side is going south.

Also, just might be ebrake- try lifting the handle just enough to feel a touch of drag and see if the sound changes.

If your garage is quiet, often just getting the back end up in the air and spinning the tires is enough to find the noisy bit. Sometimes you'll feel it more than hear it, but get the butt in the air and have fun... Bring the wife and the butt grinding jokes are almost endless

Seriously tho, a second set of ears could be helpful

Agree......sounds like a wheel bearing, but I have seen some adjustment of the e-brake solve the issue....but those were on other car models....not sure about BMW's though. But it's a place to start and let's hope for the best!

chris_flies · 02-15-2019, 08:46 AM

Is it a constant humming, or a oscillating wop-wop-wop sorta sound? Wop-wop-wop ended-up being a wheel bearing for me (not fun, but fairly cheap), and I got a loud shhh-ing after installing stiffer differential bushings (makes be regret not replacing the bearings). No exploding diff, so far...

Matticus91 · 02-19-2019, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1and1

yeah- diff or hub bearings most likely. Worn bearings can often be verified by change in pitch/tone while turning- if change is noticed then likely the loaded side is going south.

Also, just might be ebrake- try lifting the handle just enough to feel a touch of drag and see if the sound changes.

If your garage is quiet, often just getting the back end up in the air and spinning the tires is enough to find the noisy bit. Sometimes you'll feel it more than hear it, but get the butt in the air and have fun... Bring the wife and the butt grinding jokes are almost endless

Seriously tho, a second set of ears could be helpful

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artdnj

Wheel bearings?

Quote:

Originally Posted by iminhell1

Check dif fluid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gangplank

Fluctuating rhythmically? Prolly a tire, lose lugnut?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Wheel bearing or diff.

Gotta lift up the back and have a listen with the wheels spinning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

That sounds familiar.

I had that sound in my E36... A couple of months later, my diff blew, with one of the half shafts dangling outside of my diff.

$4500 replacement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rmtt

Agree......sounds like a wheel bearing, but I have seen some adjustment of the e-brake solve the issue....but those were on other car models....not sure about BMW's though. But it's a place to start and let's hope for the best!

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_flies

Is it a constant humming, or a oscillating wop-wop-wop sorta sound? Wop-wop-wop ended-up being a wheel bearing for me (not fun, but fairly cheap), and I got a loud shhh-ing after installing stiffer differential bushings (makes be regret not replacing the bearings). No exploding diff, so far...

Ended up being a wheel bearing, getting it fixed under warranty this week hopefully!

02-14-2019, 11:38 AM	#1
Matticus91 Brigadier General 3475 Rep 3,722 Posts Drives: 2013 135i Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (6)	"Whirring/Humming" Noise from Back of Car I'm getting an odd sound that's slowly been getting louder, it almost sounds like I have a really aggressive truck tire on the car. Sort of a fluctuating whirring noise that you hear when a jeep with big tires passes you. I thought it may have been my old tires but after replacing them the noise persists. It doesn't seem like you can "feel" it if that makes sense, no vibrations that I can tell for sure are related. Changes with speed (increases in loudness and frequency of whirring), does not seem to change when brakes are applied, does not seem related to clutch use. Other thoughts are hub(s) or brakes. Has anyone experienced a similar thing? I am bringing the car in for an alignment tomorrow morning so if I can't figure it out before then I'll see if they can take a look. __________________ "Tobias" 2013 135i ///M-Sport 6MT • Pure Stage 1 • XDI 35 HPFP • 404whp/440wtq IG: msteelio91
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02-14-2019, 01:06 PM	#2
iminhell1 C2H5OH 3915 Rep 2,144 Posts Drives: 2010 SG 135i auto Join Date: May 2015 Location: Darwin, MN iTrader: (1)	Check dif fluid.
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02-14-2019, 01:42 PM	#4
1and1 Loves me some MHD! 1857 Rep 1,718 Posts Drives: faster than he should... Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Tally, FL iTrader: (2) Garage List '09 135i [10.00]	yeah- diff or hub bearings most likely. Worn bearings can often be verified by change in pitch/tone while turning- if change is noticed then likely the loaded side is going south. Also, just might be ebrake- try lifting the handle just enough to feel a touch of drag and see if the sound changes. If your garage is quiet, often just getting the back end up in the air and spinning the tires is enough to find the noisy bit. Sometimes you'll feel it more than hear it, but get the butt in the air and have fun... Bring the wife and the butt grinding jokes are almost endless Seriously tho, a second set of ears could be helpful __________________ 1and1 135i - E82.N54 2009 BSM - MHD / xHP / DCI, PR CP & 7.5" Race IC / N55 mid & Borla . . WL RSFI, Koni, Eibach & Dinan CP's, M3 CA's / EBC Red's & Firehawk 500's X1 - E84.N20 2013 MGM - JB4 - The Wife's, now with new turbo & ewg
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02-14-2019, 01:47 PM	#5
Artdnj Captain 394 Rep 706 Posts Drives: 2023 X3 X30i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Garden State iTrader: (0)	Wheel bearings?
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02-14-2019, 05:50 PM	#6
Gangplank Brigadier General 1540 Rep 3,071 Posts Drives: 2011 e82 135i n55 Sport w/ DCT Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Vero Beach, FL iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 135i [0.00]	Fluctuating rhythmically? Prolly a tire, lose lugnut? __________________ 2011 135i w/ DCT \| ZSP Sport Pkg \| PPK \| Ohlins R
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02-14-2019, 05:57 PM	#7
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	Wheel bearing or diff. Gotta lift up the back and have a listen with the wheels spinning.
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02-14-2019, 10:42 PM	#9
bmw1racer bimmerphile, technogeek 998 Rep 3,784 Posts Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 128i Coupe [0.00]	That sounds familiar. I had that sound in my E36... A couple of months later, my diff blew, with one of the half shafts dangling outside of my diff. $4500 replacement. __________________
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02-15-2019, 08:46 AM	#11
chris_flies Sideways and Smiling 3027 Rep 2,860 Posts Drives: In Exuberance Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Rosamond, CA USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW E91 328i [0.00]	Is it a constant humming, or a oscillating wop-wop-wop sorta sound? Wop-wop-wop ended-up being a wheel bearing for me (not fun, but fairly cheap), and I got a loud shhh-ing after installing stiffer differential bushings (makes be regret not replacing the bearings). No exploding diff, so far... __________________ 2012 BMW 328i 6-Speed Wagon \| Deep Sea Blue with Grey Dakota Leather \| Manual Swap, 330i Intake + Tune, 3.15 Helical LSD, Öhlins R&T (SOLD) 2009 BMW 128i 6-Speed Coupé \| Monaco Blue with Black Sensatec \| chris_flies' 128i thread
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