Louder road noise?

[barnyg]

So recently the road noise from inside the cabin seems to be getting louder on my coupe. This was something I've mentioned to TWG for when the car gets serviced in a few weeks but it's becoming a bit worrying to just leave til then.

Have booked in at my local indie to check wheel bearings on Monday just to be safe but wondered if anyone else has experienced the same? It's a bit of a 'whirring' and am fairly sure it is road noise as opposed to engine noise. Engine temp and revs normal.

Cheers

Barny

 

[Bertz4]

Can sometimes be due to uneavan tyre tread block wear. Usually visible as light and dark patches on adjacent tread blocks on the inside or outside edge of the tyre.

 

[MACK]

It's hard to say without being able to hear it, but could it simply be tyre noise? Tyres, especially cheaper brands do tend to get noisier as they wear.

 

[barnyg]

Thanks guys. I'm going to get my indie to check over multiple things to try and diagnose the issue. Just don't want the worst case to happen and have something like a seized bearing. I'm a safety engineer by trade and I'm not satisfied that this is safe enough at the moment :|

Tyre wise, I've got Goodyear F1 as2 on the fronts and vredesteins on the rear (can't remember type). Could be the rears are on the way out but the fronts have only seen a few thousand miles.

 

[Silverzedtom]

Could be a number of things.

Does it happen even when coasting, under load, worse when turning either way etc?

When checking the tyres be sure to check the inner edges.

Could jack and try spinning the wheels by hand to see how they feel. Could be a loose brake rotor guard. Could even be tyre pressure?

 

[ph001]

You would also notice this if the windows have stopped sealing as well as they used to. Check for small gaps against the rubbers.

 

[Crazy Harry]

If you really want to think doom and gloom you might be listening to a developing diff problem but I really hope not!

 

[Zeld4]

Does the whirring sound happen at all speeds or do you notice it more at higher speeds? I wouldn’t bother getting it looked at until you’ve done your rear tyres and had a wheel alignment.. I have vreds, they are not the quietest tyre and when they are low they make a lot more noise at motorway speeds

 

[grumps]

So recently the road noise from inside the cabin seems to be getting louder on my coupe. This was something I've mentioned to TWG for when the car gets serviced in a few weeks but it's becoming a bit worrying to just leave til then.

My Z4C was exactly like this. It was a speed-related droning noise which was steadily getting worse. The noise disappeared completely when I put the winter wheels on. I'm going to replace the rears on the summer wheels before I put them back on (the fronts were replaced last year).

 

[AlexP]

Did you take it to your garage?
I have the same problem on my Z4 and had initially thought it was the bearings or the differential.
I fail to see how it can be the tyres given how mechanical the sound actually is but i might be wrong.

 

[barnyg]

So update for you guys. Took it to my indie for a checkover; bearings were fine, differential was fine, tyres had plenty of tred and no issues. Possibly slight corrosion on brake discs but likely.due to the fact the cars been sitting unused in the snow for the best part of a week before this.

Ultimately seems like it'll.be safe to drive until it's service and mot through a BMW specialist that may be able to find other issues. Still very confusing....

 

[R60BBA]

If it was one of your wheel bearings you would hear a humming noise at around 40 mph (getting louder the faster you drive).

If you don’t get this I would rule out wheel bearings.

You may have a lose rubber somewhere or perhaps it’s your tyres. I wouldn’t worry about it and let your mechanic handle it during your service.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Not taken the bungs out of the hood drain tubes have you? Increases road noise a lot in the cabin

 

[barnyg]

Not taken the bungs out of the hood drain tubes have you? Increases road noise a lot in the cabin

Where abouts are they? Any chance you've got a picture? Guess it could be something that's fallen out suddenly. Is this something that would affect coupes too like mine?

I'm thinking more now that is could be some 'castling' wear on the tyres. Colleagues have suggested it and seems to be fairly prolific. They still have 4-5mm of wear on them so I really hope it's not...

 

[cj10jeeper]

No picture and don’t have the Zed
At front bottom edge of the rear arches behind the wheel liner. The tubes should have a 1 way valve on the end to let water out but not road noise in.

 

[AlexP]

Hi Barnyg,

Did you eventually take it to your garage?
Did they diagnose the problem?

 

[barnyg]

Hi Alex. So it went to my local indie who couldn't find any issues and it may have been just me hearing things. Cars in for MOT and service tomorrow at TWG Camberley so if there's anything wrong I've told them to keep a look out.