[Nad]

Hi all

I need some advice. I've got a 2012 F25 2.0D and seem to have a droning noise that starts around 40 mph and increases in pitch as I go faster. Its not overly loud but it's enough to make it noticeable. The sounds seems to be coming from the rear, towards the left.

I had new tyres (Michelin Primacy 3) fitted a few months ago and wonder if it could be related to that.

Could it be a wheel bearing?

I'm out of warranty so any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Iowa X3]

Sounds like a wheel bearing/hub assembly to me. I had one go out on the rear of my 2013 at about 30k miles. Replaced under warranty but it should still be a fairly simple, straight forward job if you're mechanically inclined at all.

[DBU]

My money is on the exhaust. Is your exhaust pipe in the rear on the left in the UK?

[Nad]

Originally Posted by DBU

My money is on the exhaust. Is your exhaust pipe in the rear on the left in the UK?

Hi, yes the exhaust is on the left. Why would that cause the droning noise?

The car has just passed its MOT (emissions and safety checks) so any defects or holes in the exhaust system would have been identified.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by Nad

Hi all

I need some advice. I've got a 2012 F25 2.0D and seem to have a droning noise that starts around 40 mph and increases in pitch as I go faster. Its not overly loud but it's enough to make it noticeable. The sounds seems to be coming from the rear, towards the left.

I had new tyres (Michelin Primacy 3) fitted a few months ago and wonder if it could be related to that.

Could it be a wheel bearing?

I'm out of warranty so any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks

Have you got a square set up or staggered? If you have a square set up and you have not driven many miles, try swapping the wheels around and seeing if it eliminates the drone or shifts it to another corner.
Also try setting tyre pressures to lower limits and seeing what happens and then set higher limit.

[lawdude]

When you let off accelerator does the drone stop? If not, probably not the exhaust. Probability that it is wheel bearing or tire.

[Scout10]

Any vibration in steering wheel . . . . . even slight that follows drone,
and is it more pronounced left or right turn.
Is steering maintaining straight on level road or is it drifting slight left or right,
and does drone seem more front or rear, or can't tell.
Is drone only during straight driving, or does it change when around a slight curve
at drone speed (highway) left or right. ( loading the suspension left or right )

[Nad]

Originally Posted by Scout10

Any vibration in steering wheel . . . . . even slight that follows drone,
and is it more pronounced left or right turn.
Is steering maintaining straight on level road or is it drifting slight left or right,
and does drone seem more front or rear, or can't tell.
Is drone only during straight driving, or does it change when around a slight curve
at drone speed (highway) left or right. ( loading the suspension left or right )

Hi

The sound is definitely coming from the rear, left side. It's there on normal roads and motorways, turning left or right doesn't change anything. I've tried it with the car empty and fully laden.

It's not linked to the revs (engine speed), just the actual car speed. It's noticeable at around 40 mph and gets louder with speed. It started about 3 months ago and is getter louder. I've had the front wheels rebalanced to not getting any vibration. I've not had the rear wheels rebalanced.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by Peter_R

Have you got a square set up or staggered? If you have a square set up and you have not driven many miles, try swapping the wheels around and seeing if it eliminates the drone or shifts it to another corner.
Also try setting tyre pressures to lower limits and seeing what happens and then set higher limit.

Have you tried these options? It's a process of elimination. If you have and the drone is from the same place/area at the same speeds, then it could be (nothing is certain) a wheel bearing.

[Scout10]

SWAP the tires front to rear. (if the same sizes)

Bad tire ?

Have someone drive it and YOU get in the back !
Vibration ? noise ? feel the floor

BMW service centers do have a gadget that they can attach under the car to pick up noise and vibrations.
If it all gets that far or as a last resort.
They used it recently on mine to finally pick up a strut noise.

AND just got the wifes car back from an 18K checkup. One of the things done . . .rotate tires.
Now it has a slight buzz in left front. Swapped left to right on front . . . . . buzz gone. ? ? maybe alignment check time.
as she recently backed into a tree ? ? ? ( don't ask )

[Redev]

It might sound crazy but do you drive with the air con on? I noticed a strange drone which was similar but turned out to be the fan for the air con. Try switching it off and see what happens. It’s worth a try..

[Troppo]

Sure it isn't the wife?