'07 "S"

My mini has developed a terrible screeching, electronic type, noise. It was awful today at about 70 mph cruising on the Interstate. It does it also occasionally at lower speeds. It almost sounds like chalk on a blackboard-

It could be computer generated. It appears to me that its coming from the dashboard area in the vicinity of the steering wheel.

The radio has no chance of drowning out this noise-

Any thoughts?? Thanks for listening--

 

Does the sound go away when clutch pedal is pushed in at 70 mph?

 

Systemlord-

I "no got" one of those things (the clutch-) that is--- Mine is the automatic/manual with paddles on the steering wheel--

I should'a told you that-- sorry-

 

Doesn't sound like it's coming from the speakers correct? It gets louder when you carry more speed?

 

Thanks PP Parts--

It could be the speakers-- But I turned off the radio and it was still there. It'll come on at 30+ mph sometimes as a short screech, but today it was roaring at 70 mph.

Almost sounds like a warning system. Like an alarm trying to go off. No panel lights. All engine instruments normal- I have a Scan Gauge II and everything appears normal. It runs like a rabbit---

 

Can you attempt to record this noise with your smart phone? I'm trying to think was failing part could make this noise you speak of. The steering is electronic and located dead center in front of the firewall. It has many electronic plug-ins, maybe...

 

Even if your radio is not on there can be engine noise that comes through your speakers/radio. I have a vehicle that does it and it gets louder with the speed/RPM traveled. It's just hard to say what it could be without hearing it or riding in the car. Might be best just to take it in and have someone take a look at what it may be.

-Luccia

 

Thanks guys-

I just studied up on how to record this noise with my older (about 4-5 years old) Samsung Nexus smart phone. I installed the app and it seems to work well.

I'll try and record the noise in the next day or two.
I'll then have to figure out on how to get the sound on to this forum so you folks can hear it. Any thoughts on how I can do that part? I'm kinda "computer nerdy"

I guess I'm kinda lucky in that an interstate leg was built a few years ago on the edge of my small town in Eastern North Carolina. I can be cruising at 70 mph is about 3 minutes after leaving the house.

 

Maybe through uploading it to YouTube (video) and sharing it with us here

 

I found that Verizon has told told me how to transfer the audio file from my smart phone in email format to myself and into "my documents".

I guess then I can move it to this forum, similar to posting a picture.

Will that work? I don't do Utube.

 

No because there is no host, that's why YouTube exists. No YouTube, mind if I ask why?

I have uploaded videos directly from my Samsung Galaxy S5 to YouTube. You can however upload a video to YouTube and make it private requiring a password to access the video. You could then PM member's the password, gives you control of how sees what. Then you can delete it at any time you please.

 

I took 'ole yellow out today. It gave me a couple squawks, one of which I recorded on my
Smart phone- It's brief but you can hear it okay.
I will get a better copy soon.

I tried to send myself the "email" three times, but I never got it. It said, before I sent it to my email address- "MP4"--- Maybe it went to utube--

I just don't deal with utube- I got enough other stuff going to keep me real busy.

 

If we can't hear it how can we help you diagnose your problem? I don't understand your refusal to use YouTube, if it's a matter of not knowing how to upload videos I'm sure there's many that would help you, me being one of them. If it's more political then that might explain you unwillingness to use it.

 

My daughter and I took the Mini out and recorded the noise- We got a good example for about 1 minute. We couldn't get it to Utube but I'm going to try to put it here by "copy and paste".

It won't work- but it's now in my "documents". Sherri will try again later today. She has a newer model of the Samsung smart phone.

We're getting closer to posting this noise problem-

She thinks it's a wind problem and it's coming out near the dashboard vent above the ignition FOB---

Max H

 

Does the sound stay constant if you turn the heater blower motor up - down - or off?

 

Hay I wonder if you're referring to the noise maker, it creates a wind type noise.

 

Following on to Metro62, if the blower motor bushings are shot, they can really squeal... especially if it's cold and the parts contract. That, or there may be something stuck in the fan.

Spridget

 

Like a mouse. I am not kidding. My neighbor had to replace the fan motor in his car because mice got into his heater box and the fan got unbalanced. Until I put a screen over the fresh air intake (behind the battery) I had a mouse that kept building a nest on top of the fresh air filter element. Yuk!

See https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...se-solved.html

 

We, my daughter and granddaughter, are trying to post this 1 minute, 14 seconds worth of the screeching noise onto utube so you can hear it.

We have gone to Christina, my grandaughter in Boston, for help with her "techie friends" there. She says we should have a posting available this weekend- None of us have had any success in accomplishing this task.

 

I think you're on to something. If there was a leak in the noise maker that allowed boost to leak through it might make a squealing noise. Easy enough to check.

See #13, http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...06&hg=13&fg=20

Then do a search for "noisemaker delete"

 

Hey everyone--

Thanks for all the inputs--

I'm waiting for Boston (the grandaughter) to put together a utube presentation.

If you folks, that are interested in this noise, would PM (private message) me on this forum with your normal email address, I'll send you an ordinary email with an attachment containing the noise so that you can hear it now. I'll be glad to do that since I have a one minute, 14 second recording of it.

Maybe it is the turbo (I guess that's the noise maker being referred to).

Thanks again for all your concerns--

Max H

 

No. The noisemaker is just that. A specially designed tube that branches off of the intake near the firewall and intake manifold with the sole purpose of adding "fake" noise to "enhance" the driving experience.

If yours is loose or if it has developed a hole or crack then it could possibly be making a nasty noise.

 

+1

 

PM sent.

I wish we had a video of the noisemaker so we know what were are hearing is fake, could it be that whirring noise when you're reaching maximum boost in first, second or third gear?

 

squawSkiBum

I found the noise generator. I got your link to the parts in the boost system. Thanks-

I can't get that "noise generator delete" to do anything.

I'm trying to remove the hose, and plug the hole and try out the "screaming" action again.
It's awfully tight in that area the clamp is located at.

Thanks,

Max