I never noticed a low pitch whistle sound coming from the engine when at idle on my former 2008 MCSa and lightly pressing on the gas pedal while in park probably because I usually had the a/c on and windows up here in South Florida at the time.But recently I notice the low pitched whistle sound on my 2009 MCSa since I rarely use the a/c because the weather has been cool of late and my windows are open.

I am guessing the low pitch whistle noise is coming from either the turbocharger or possibly the BOV and wonder if this is just a normal sound from the engine or should I take it in and have it looked at?

Thanks.

 

There are a few threads about this issue. I had the same problem at 10,000 miles, take it to the dealer, it's either the water pump or a belt pulley. They changed my water pump and haven't heard the whine at idle since.

 

^^Oh okay and thank you saturn for your reply.

I will make an appointment with my service dept. to have it fixed.

 

Unless it's really loud (sounds like an air leak), it's likely just the turbocharger and perfectly normal. We have tiny turbos that spool really quickly.

 

I've had the same issue since mile zero. It sounds like turbo whistle, but at idle!

 

Minor update

I haven't heard the low pitch whistle sound from the engine while at idle recently so either the noise probably has subsided or gone away.So I will wait if the noise returns to take it in.

Thank you all for your replies.

 

Same here. Our Clubman sounds like it's turbocharged. The whistle has been there from day one.

The sound reminds me of the whistle that I had in my E46 BMW. That turned out to be a crack in the rubber intake tube. Replacing it fixed the problem.

I'm going to try and pinpoint the issue.

 

I have the whistle as well. Mine increases with RPM and changes tone with the AC compressor on. Took it to the dealer and he started 3 others that were new and they all had it as well. Says it is normal. Sounds to me like a bearing going out but what do I know...besides if it grenades it is under warranty. Never thought I would have a car that whistled all the time...well for the 1 week out of the first month it has not been in the shop.

 

I have started to notice it on my mcs that now has about 5k miles. It is a very loud squeel/wistle when at idle. It sounds to me like the sounds I have heard in the past from PS belts but this goes away just as soon as I touch the gas to come off idle. I am going to take it to the dealer when I get a chance to make sure it's nothing major and just have it looked at when I go in for normal service.

 

Weird.. my car always whistles, but I thought it was coming from the turbocharger. Sounds similar to my old A3 1.8T.

 

I had one almost from the beginning (3 years and 60K miles ago)! Turned out to be the power steering fan. Not sure if the steering is the same on a Gen 2. I guess p/s fans are unusual!

 

Gen2s have electric power steering, so not sure that they'd need a fan.

 

Water pump!!!!!

 

+1

Mine started to do this noise after 1200 miles. Turned out to be the water pump AND the pulley. Got it fixed and it has not come back (yet?). I can't drive my 2008 MCSa a lot, so who knows. I'm still at 2500 miles...

 

I just noticed my car whistles when I'm shifting and letting go of the gas. I wonder if it's the turbo pressure venting off somewhere.

 

Yes that is normal. It has to vent the presure since the turbo is still spinning and you have the throtle closed. My sound is only when the engine is at idle and the throttle is closed. I am not sure how that could be a water pump since it should be running all the time not just at idle.

 

My 09 MC whistles very softly at idle speeds as well... I assumed it was normal since it's happened since day one.
Was I incorrect? I haven't noticed any issues with performance or anything. A friend of mine who has an S just mentioned how there could be something wrong when I said something about it... it got me worried. Haha.

 

The water pump inyour N14 is a friction plate type clutch, which engages only when water temp reaches preset for pump to start recirculation. At slower engine speed, and if the plate is slightly glazed, there will be a very noticable whine that will even turns some heads stopping at lights. Once engine speed picks up the the clutch engages, whine will then go away.

 

Which I am assuming is 'normal', even right out of the showroom floor? Are the water pumps being replaced for being faulty or just because of the noise? Was there an official recall?

 

The shop manager at my dealer took a listen and his first thought was a belt tensioner. He said no harm to the car so I am just going to wait till I bring the car in for the first service as possible water pump replacement sound like a long time with out my car.

 

Had the same problem (pretty loud squealing when engine was hot and idle) at ~3000 miles. Water pump was replaced with a remanufactured one.

 

Turns out my whistle was the water pump and pulley. Darn. I'll see if they can fix it right the first time around.

 

Mine has stopped doing it durning the last few weeks so I will wait and see.

 

So I think there are two different sounds going on here... one that only occurs at idle then goes away and the other is RPM related.. it seems that the one at idle is the water and the one at RPM could be normal or something else..

I'm going to the dealer on Friday regarding the latter issue. Will keep everyone posted; I hope I don't hear it's normal. My friends S with 4k miles doesn't make that noise.

 

Mine was at idle only, and it was the water pump and a pulley.