I know how annoying engine whine is, and it should be removed. While the X5 can be problematic, it's not an impossible task.

After 18 years in the installation business, I have to say a couple of things:

1) The car dealer usually doesn't know anything about installation. Asking them questions doesn't usually yield accurate info, unfortunately. Often, if the dealer has work done, they don't pay for optimal pars or albor - even though they ought to with a BMW.

2) Most installations look like crap after you pull everything out.

Would I use that LOC? No. Would I wrap or cover my inductor coils? Yes. Would I want my wiring a little neater? Yes.

But I don't see any poor connections, I don't see any obvious errors in wiring that would cause noise. I see a big mess of wires that look intimidating and sloppy - a mess that I could make look fine with about 10 minutes, a bunch of wire ties and a side cutter, and some adhesive foam sheet and a pair of scissors. I suspect that the wiring wasn't originally messy, that they probably kept changing things and changing things trying to get the noise out and that was part of it.

So I guess I'm saying you can bag on these guys all you want, but I don't see any smoking guns about your noise. In FACT, it kind of looks like there are some unused component power connectors in there - so unless you removed something, I think that this guy probably went somewhere and said to them, "Pull my gear out and make it work, but don't spend too much time on it".

I can come down there and get rid of your noise if you want : ) Wasn't planning to visit SF area soon but I could make a special trip - I have friends down there. BTW, Shaka, did you used to be with the SFPD? I knew a guy that had that nickname...