[hoho_leung]

Hi folks,

I just owned my 2014 x3 for a month and I hear some little 'spark' noise all over in the cabin every couple of minutes. This also happens when the car is not moving. And it doesn't happen more frequently while the car is moving. I don't know, it could be worn out issue as it happens on many low quality cars. But I am afraid this could be a circuit grounding issue.

Does it happen to you?

[Tjalle]

No.

Close to Area 51?

[hoho_leung]

Not sure what is area 51??

[hoho_leung]

My car is built in U.S. Might be a different quality.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by hoho_leung

My car is built in U.S. Might be a different quality.

All the European ones are also built in the US.

All others are sent as kits and assembled in other countries.

[nyalpine90]

Originally Posted by hoho_leung

My car is built in U.S. Might be a different quality.

Thats the issue

[Tjalle]

hoho, Area 51 is a famous testsite in Nevada, where, among other things, the BOMB was tested.

Obviously you are alone with sparks. Passing High Voltage area?

[hoho_leung]

I think I passed the low voltage area. Not very loud but worry if it is short circuit.

[sibhusz06]

make sure your radio is off to rule out static from the radio or stereo as there is a speaker in the center dash.

[MichiganMike]

Originally Posted by hoho_leung

I think I passed the low voltage area. Not very loud but worry if it is short circuit.

It seems unlikely to me you would hear a short circuit in the passenger compartment. I believe the circuits in your X3 passenger compartment are 12 volts. You will not get much sparking from 12 volts. You might hear a relay, if there was a problem with same. Take a look at the fuse boxes, if you can while hearing the noise to try to isolate the source.

While the ignition system and the xenon lights are higher voltage, the sound insulation would make it very difficult to hear any short circuit in these systems. Plus, I would expect a component failure and/or warnings, if there was a problem with these.

Another possibility is a problem in the hvac system causing the noise. Servos and vents operating may make some noise that may sound like sparking.

[hoho_leung]

I bought my car to dealership. They sit in my car and just listened the noise and said they were just expansion and condensation when the temperature changed. I owned 10 Japanese cars in the past 16 years. 4 out of 10 are newer than 2008 and didn't have this kind of issue. I thought BMW are built with quality materials. So I was surprise what they said. What do you think?

[MichiganMike]

Originally Posted by hoho_leung

I bought my car to dealership. They sit in my car and just listened the noise and said they were just expansion and condensation when the temperature changed. I owned 10 Japanese cars in the past 16 years. 4 out of 10 are newer than 2008 and didn't have this kind of issue. I thought BMW are built with quality materials. So I was surprise what they said. What do you think?

Other BMW owners have reported popping noises emanating from the dash area with a variety of explanations.

http://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9072

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...=536616&page=2

I have heard a similar noise in my 2009 Toyota. My last three BMWs have all been relatively quiet by comparison.

[hoho_leung]

Thanks.. I just can't believe this happens on bimmer when the decent Japanese cars don't have such problem.

[ba ba boosh]

Originally Posted by hoho_leung

Thanks.. I just can't believe this happens on bimmer when the decent Japanese cars don't have such problem.

So did the dealership clue you into what the problem was? I was guessing the air recirculation feature.

[hoho_leung]

No they just said that is normal. But the links provided by Mike said exactly the same things. Very helpful.