[strohw]

I'm having a problem that I feel is going to be a bigger issue to get corrected. So I wanted to make sure no one else is currently having the same issue.

I got my base X3M delivered to me in the first couple days of April. A few weeks ago I started having an issue which I believe is related to the muffler or exhaust system. The vehicle now has a loud droning noise at certain RPM. The easiest way to hear it is to let the vehicle idle and wait to it hits the 900rpm ish high idle. It produces a loud droning noise that almost sounds like WAHH WAHH WAHH. Loud enough that I can park outside my building and hear it inside. It does it regardless of exhaust valve position.

This drone is so loud that when I pull pull into something like a bank drive through you can hear it echoing off the other vehicles and brick exterior. I also know it's a actual problem because you can simply rest your foot on the gas peddle, just rest it on it and it is enough change in RPM to cause it to stop completely. From loud drone to quite exhaust just by grazing the peddle. It does it at specific RPM ranges and it's easy to reproduce.

So I took it to the BMW dealer on Wednesday last week. The guy who took my vehicle around back and looked at it was the shop foreman. He looks things over and nothing...until he lets it sit and it hits high idle then he hears it. He made sure the muffler was secure, he grabbed difference parts of the exhaust system to make sure it wasn't a vibration issue, he took various pictures and multiple videos. He showed me the videos and they displayed the issue that I noted. He said he was going to send these videos to some specialist and have them help diagnose the issue. He was very intent that this was not right and I absolutely agreed.

Now here's why I think this is going to be a headache to fix. The dealership just called me back earlier today and said that after contacting the outside department AND after pulling in one of their X3M inside and listening....that's it's normal behavior and that nothing is wrong.

I asked the individual who called to tell me this if I could schedule an appointment and if they would pull both my vehicle and the X3M they tested into the shop at the same time and wait to the both high idle to compare. She seemed to have no issue with this. But their outside support is telling them nothing is wrong so even if mine is way louder are they going to change their mind?

[Macanakey]

Here's to hoping that your dealer is willing to go to bat for you against Corporate. If your service guy pushes hard enough, you may be able to get some satisfaction. If you continue to get push-back from corporate, escalate to the regional rep. It helps to have the actual rep come & see the issue first-hand, vs. dealing with sound clips & videos.

We've done that with an issue with a different brand. Once the regional rep got involved, our issue got fixed under warranty.

[spta97]

There was another post on here with an exhaust issue. See if you can find in a search.

Not sure if it was the same but it was loud and the dealer fixed it for him.

Edit - here's the thread:

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...=exhaust+issue

[robopp]

Post the video

[strohw]

Originally Posted by spta97

There was another post on here with an exhaust issue. See if you can find in a search.

Not sure if it was the same but it was loud and the dealer fixed it for him.

Edit - here's the thread:

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...=exhaust+issue

Thanks for posting that. The hum that is in that video sounds similar. In real life it's loud and you can hear this WAHH or HMMM that kind of goes in and out like that video when it's sitting there.

I'll try to get a video of a normal idle vs the noise that occurs at high idle tomorrow.

[to_riffic]

Does opening or closing the valves help at all? I know on initial startup it can be a brutal drone. My wife gets a headache from it and closing the valves help, but if neither position helps, then curious to hear it also

[strohw]

Neither position changes the sound unfortunately.

[strohw]

Here is the video of the noise. Got the car to high idle which shows off the WAHH WAHH noise that happens at certain RPM ranges. As of right now I noticed it happens around roughly 900, 1300, 1600 and 2100. It may happen higher up but it's harder to test. It's much louder in real life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpcNoRYhuHY

Here is a second video from the inside. It's harder to hear the noise in the video. The points in time when the noise stops and starts again is just me gently resting my foot on the gas peddle. Not even enough to change visible RPM on the gauge but it's enough that it goes from noise to zero noise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1aGAeYLfJI

[robopp]

Originally Posted by strohw

Here is the video of the noise. Got the car to high idle which shows off the WAHH WAHH noise that happens at certain RPM ranges. As of right now I noticed it happens around roughly 900, 1300, 1600 and 2100. It may happen higher up but it's harder to test. It's much louder in real life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpcNoRYhuHY

Here is a second video from the inside. It's harder to hear the noise in the video. The points in time when the noise stops and starts again is just me gently resting my foot on the gas peddle. Not even enough to change visible RPM on the gauge but it's enough that it goes from noise to zero noise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1aGAeYLfJI

Videos are private

[strohw]

Fixed

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by strohw

Fixed

What was the solution?

[strohw]

Sorry, I meant I fixed the videos so they weren't set to private.

[drexplode]

Definitely not normal and appears to be NVH issue. I don't know much about exhaust systems but first guess is some type of resonant frequency at a specific air flow. Have you noticed the severity of the problem getting worse since you first noticed it?

[strohw]

It did actually. At first it was very rare but then 2 weeks later it did it most of the time. Now it does it all of the time and is easy to reproduce.

I'm curious what they'll say next week at the dealership.

[Will Pwr]

Definitely not normal. Inherently M cars have louder than normal exhaust noise/tone than other cars, but this sound is more towards an abnormal resonance or vibration.

As you showcased the sound is during idling, does it also still make the vibration when in gear?

At idle/not in gear and you rev and let it drop back to idle, does the vibration come back once the RPM has settled? every time?

You mentioned that that tech grabbed different parts of the exhaust to make sure it was secure, did he do this when the car was idling or was the engine off?

If when the car was idling, do you know if the used a tool/bar to put tension on any part of the exhaust or hangers to see if the noice is from a vibration against something on the chassis? The reason why I ask this, is that it can potentially help isolate to see if the vibration/resonance is an external muffler system issue or if it's an internal muffler issue. Not saying this is might be the case by any means, but if a chamber/component internally in the muffler/piping is faulty, it could produce resonance and vibration. I also believe that you mentioned that its getting worse/more often/easier to replicate?

Sorry, I don't have anything definite to help you with, but hopefully this might give some additional touch points to ponder on.

[Influence]

Originally Posted by strohw

Here is the video of the noise. Got the car to high idle which shows off the WAHH WAHH noise that happens at certain RPM ranges. As of right now I noticed it happens around roughly 900, 1300, 1600 and 2100. It may happen higher up but it's harder to test. It's much louder in real life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpcNoRYhuHY

Here is a second video from the inside. It's harder to hear the noise in the video. The points in time when the noise stops and starts again is just me gently resting my foot on the gas peddle. Not even enough to change visible RPM on the gauge but it's enough that it goes from noise to zero noise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1aGAeYLfJI

I am also experiencing this exact same issue. It is consistent at idle as well. as soon as I put the car into gear or touch the accelerator, the drone disappears. It then comes back once the car drops back to idle RPMs.

Inside the car, you can really "feel" the vibration/drone as well as hear it. It is dramatically louder inside the car when it is occurring. Frankly, it is a bit obnoxious (my wife has started complaining). I've only got 550 miles on my car so far, so will add this to the list of things to do at the RIS service (on top of the recalls and a chunked rim that they did prior to delivery).

Has anyone with a Competition model experienced this or just those of us with Base models?

I was thinking of buying someone's Comp model exhaust (for those jumping to aftermarket exhausts) but I'd still rather get this fixed if possible.

[GT500R]

I have the same issue but happens rarely....

Sound about right?

[Influence]

Originally Posted by GT500R

I have the same issue but happens rarely....

Sound about right?

Sounds like you have the drone PLUS a pretty nasty rattle. I'll have to try and record mine making the noise too. I don't think I have the rattle sound you've got.

So from the other thread on this, looks like a new muffler solved the issue. Looks like I'll be pushing for a replacement, though I'm not thrilled about having to get clamps to attach the new muffler.

[Will Pwr]

Originally Posted by Influence

Sounds like you have the drone PLUS a pretty nasty rattle. I'll have to try and record mine making the noise too. I don't think I have the rattle sound you've got.

So from the other thread on this, looks like a new muffler solved the issue. Looks like I'll be pushing for a replacement, though I'm not thrilled about having to get clamps to attach the new muffler.

Yeah, that rattle sounds like something hitting a heat shield or another thing piece of metal...or it could be something inside the muffler that is dislodged and rattling inside....hence the sound reduces or goes away as exhaust flow increases.

[strohw]

My second appointment for this is tomorrow morning. I'll see what they say when I press for the muffler to be changed out.

[BMWZ4]

Def not normal. Probably a new muffler as others have suggested.

[robopp]

Originally Posted by GT500R

I have the same issue but happens rarely....

Sound about right?

It's like that OutKast song The Way you Move - 'Speakerboxxx vibrate the tag
Make it sound like aluminum cans in the bag
But I know y'all wanted that 808'