[2019X4RH]

Hi everyone,

I have a 2019 X4 30i, got it new Nov 2019. Ever since I’ve had it I have notice a humming helicopter sound when idling from start, stopped at traffic lights, idling before turning off car. Obviously notice it when aircon isn’t running. Sometimes it is noticeable, sometimes it isn’t. Or it goes away eg. when I leave car on for a bit before turning off.

Is this normal for bmws? Or is something wrong?

First bmw owner here

Please give me some insight, I will bring up on first service vehicle inspection in Nov

Sorry if there is already a thread about this, just link me

Thank you!

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by 2019X4RH

Hi everyone,

I have a 2019 X4 30i, got it new Nov 2019. Ever since I’ve had it I have notice a humming helicopter sound when idling from start, stopped at traffic lights, idling before turning off car. Obviously notice it when aircon isn’t running. Sometimes it is noticeable, sometimes it isn’t. Or it goes away eg. when I leave car on for a bit before turning off.

Is this normal for bmws? Or is something wrong?

First bmw owner here

Please give me some insight, I will bring up on first service vehicle inspection in Nov

Sorry if there is already a thread about this, just link me

Thank you!

Where do you hear the noise?

[Alias1431]

My guess? From the rotors.




I'll be here all week, folks.

[2019X4RH]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

Where do you hear the noise?

Hear it when inside the car. Don’t think it can be heard outside. Or maybe the engine noise is louder and drowns it?

I’ll attach videos, not sure if the sound is picked up properly. Aircon is off, engine running

https://youtu.be/TlY2pBNSLnA

https://youtu.be/JvKktOroXnw

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by 2019X4RH

Hear it when inside the car. Don’t think it can be heard outside. Or maybe the engine noise is louder and drowns it?

I’ll attach videos, not sure if the sound is picked up properly. Aircon is off, engine running

https://youtu.be/TlY2pBNSLnA

https://youtu.be/JvKktOroXnw

Where in particular inside the vehicle? At the front? At the rear? Under the seat? At the roof?

[suby01]

Originally Posted by Alias1431

My guess? From the rotors.




I'll be here all week, folks.

HA. I think your comment should take off.

[2019X4RH]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

Where in particular inside the vehicle? At the front? At the rear? Under the seat? At the roof?

I listened carefully this time. Can hear and feel vibration under rear passenger seat/middle.
Can hear it outside when close to rear wheels

Video when leaving phone on top of rear passenger seat and I close the door half way: https://youtu.be/Kj-GK079VNI

Video at rear wheel: https://youtu.be/9nWIOMQAHK4

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by 2019X4RH

I listened carefully this time. Can hear and feel vibration under rear passenger seat/middle.
Can hear it outside when close to rear wheels

Video when leaving phone on top of rear passenger seat and I close the door half way: https://youtu.be/Kj-GK079VNI

Video at rear wheel: https://youtu.be/9nWIOMQAHK4

What you're hearing is the fuel tank vent valve noise resonating into the fuel tank. You can specifically only hear this noise at very low fuel level (I noticed your fuel level was maybe 50 miles or so).

Put your ear to the rear seat and you should be able to hear it very clearly. Open the fuel cap while the engine is running and then put your ear to the rear seat again and the noise should be gone. There is an SIB for this and the dealer needs to program your vehicle.

Easiest fix is to fill the car up with fuel again. This noise was most common on F30 330i with 4 cylinder engine but I assume you may also have an X3 30i.

[2019X4RH]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

What you're hearing is the fuel tank vent valve noise resonating into the fuel tank. You can specifically only hear this noise at very low fuel level (I noticed your fuel level was maybe 50 miles or so).

Put your ear to the rear seat and you should be able to hear it very clearly. Open the fuel cap while the engine is running and then put your ear to the rear seat again and the noise should be gone. There is an SIB for this and the dealer needs to program your vehicle.

Easiest fix is to fill the car up with fuel again. This noise was most common on F30 330i with 4 cylinder engine but I assume you may also have an X3 30i.

Thank you so much! I have a X4 30i. Yes, fuel level is quite low and hear it clearly when I put ear to rear seat. Explains why I am noticing it more now/getting louder. I’ll test opening the fuel cap with engine running and I’ll fill up with fuel later as well.

So the sound is in a sense normal? It’s not any harm?

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by 2019X4RH

Thank you so much! I have a X4 30i. Yes, fuel level is quite low and hear it clearly when I put ear to rear seat. Explains why I am noticing it more now/getting louder. I’ll test opening the fuel cap with engine running and I’ll fill up with fuel later as well.

So the sound is in a sense normal? It’s not any harm?

No harm to the vehicle. It's just a noise. Programming fix helps with the noise and gets rid of it completely. I guess it was an oversight on design with resonating noise

[erawamai]

Originally Posted by 2019X4RH

Thank you so much! I have a X4 30i. Yes, fuel level is quite low and hear it clearly when I put ear to rear seat. Explains why I am noticing it more now/getting louder. I’ll test opening the fuel cap with engine running and I’ll fill up with fuel later as well.

So the sound is in a sense normal? It’s not any harm?

Hi - my G20 3 series - 330 i has the exact same noise.

Did you find a resolution?

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by erawamai

Hi - my G20 3 series - 330 i has the exact same noise.

Did you find a resolution?

Literally 1 post up is the fix. Software update from the dealer fixes this.

[erawamai]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

Literally 1 post up is the fix. Software update from the dealer fixes this.

Yep - thanks saw this.

It's more about convincing the service dept that this is the problem and not being fobbed off and seeing how he went with his dealer (because he is also from Australia).

In, Sydney Australia there are 4 major dealers so if my local (which is a pretty big one) fob me off then I'll have to try the others.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by erawamai

Yep - thanks saw this.

It's more about convincing the service dept that this is the problem and not being fobbed off and seeing how he went with his dealer (because he is also from Australia).

In, Sydney Australia there are 4 major dealers so if my local (which is a pretty big one) fob me off then I'll have to try the others.

There's an SIB for this issue. It's a programming fix.

[2019X4RH]

Originally Posted by erawamai

Yep - thanks saw this.

It's more about convincing the service dept that this is the problem and not being fobbed off and seeing how he went with his dealer (because he is also from Australia).

In, Sydney Australia there are 4 major dealers so if my local (which is a pretty big one) fob me off then I'll have to try the others.

Didn't get it fixed, just told it was normal. I just don't let the tank go too empty to avoid the noise. I know what you mean about convincing the service centre to get the problem solved. I also have another issue and was just told it's normal. So I gave up. I'm in Aus as well

[Razel]

Originally Posted by 2019X4RH

Didn't get it fixed, just told it was normal. I just don't let the tank go too empty to avoid the noise. I know what you mean about convincing the service centre to get the problem solved. I also have another issue and was just told it's normal. So I gave up. I'm in Aus as well

But, it's not normal. Otherwise they wouldn't have spent the programming resources to resolve it.

[erawamai]

Originally Posted by 2019X4RH

Didn't get it fixed, just told it was normal. I just don't let the tank go too empty to avoid the noise. I know what you mean about convincing the service centre to get the problem solved. I also have another issue and was just told it's normal. So I gave up. I'm in Aus as well

Bleh, thats pretty annoying.

I'm going to have to push hard because I know what the issue is and express my disappointment and how much of a pain it will be to try another dealer or go to an independent to pay money during the warranty period for a diagnostic.

Was it a major dealer?

[erawamai]

Originally Posted by 2019X4RH

Didn't get it fixed, just told it was normal. I just don't let the tank go too empty to avoid the noise. I know what you mean about convincing the service centre to get the problem solved. I also have another issue and was just told it's normal. So I gave up. I'm in Aus as well

Anyways, my dealer could not replicate noise. They did update the i levels of the relevant modules.

I still hear the noise sometimes. I guess i will monitor. But thats pretty much the end for me. Will be looking to trade in for something else. Pretty disappointing.

[pock3trock3t]

Originally Posted by erawamai

Anyways, my dealer could not replicate noise. They did update the i levels of the relevant modules.

I still hear the noise sometimes. I guess i will monitor. But thats pretty much the end for me. Will be looking to trade in for something else. Pretty disappointing.

I’m in Sydney as well. Do you know what the module is called so I can get them to update it for me?

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by pock3trock3t

I’m in Sydney as well. Do you know what the module is called so I can get them to update it for me?

Just have them program the car. There’s an SIB on this issue. You must have old software.