loud wind whistling at driver A-pillar after minor dent repair

[tom_h]

I'm at a loss .... My wife's 2001 E53 X5 has an extremely loud, higher pitched, wind whistle noise at the driver side A-pillar or window's front edge. Starts at 35 mph, and by 50 mph it's unbearable.

The noise is like the sound when a window is cracked open 1/8 inch, but window seems to be firmly & all the way up.
Lowering the window 1/2" makes the whistle stop, but of course then you get "normal" wind noise.

The noise started after a repair of a minor dent on the driver door, at a local independent body shop (superb repair work, BTW).

Most of the door's exterior rubber seals, mirror, and maybe some other parts, were removed & replaced , during the paint & body work.

We were driving the car after it had been dented, and the noise definitely started after the repair.

Car's been back at the body shop for a couple days while they try to figure the wind whistle, no fix yet.

Any ideas what could be wrong?

Is it possible for a window to "seem" up, but Not really be all the way up?

[jsoto]

Check weathstripping and make sure it's snugged and aligned

[tom_h]

All weatherstripping seems to be correctly in place & not loose.

[tom_h]

ok, body shop thinks they've fixed noise by re-seating the various rubber strips and a gasket behind the driver's exterior mirror.

I'll test drive car on freeway & listen. If I still hear any whistling, I'll try temporary masking tape over various parts of door & window, to try to isolate the whistling noise.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by tom_h

ok, body shop thinks they've fixed noise by re-seating the various rubber strips and a gasket behind the driver's exterior mirror.

I'll test drive car on freeway & listen. If I still hear any whistling, I'll try temporary masking tape over various parts of door & window, to try to isolate the whistling noise.

Sounds like a missing jack stand cover. Under the front doors, near the wheel.

[tom_h]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

Sounds like a missing jack stand cover. Under the front doors, near the wheel.

I read some of those posts, but I can't conceive how that could be the problem ??
The high pitched whistling is definitely localized to the A-pillar region, and disappears when I lower the driver window about 1/2"

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by tom_h

I read some of those posts, but I can't conceive how that could be the problem ??
The high pitched whistling is definitely localized to the A-pillar region, and disappears when I lower the driver window about 1/2"

If it's the jackstand cover, the noise is still there. You just don't hear it.

[tom_h]

I'm picking up car this afternoon. If the cover is missing, I'll test with & without some tape over it, EZ enough to try!

[Qsilver7]

In regards to a missing jack pad...this has been a verified BMW "wind noise" issue for decades. BMW issued a TIS bulletin about it back in the 90s when owners started having complaints. For an example, think of what happens when you hold a bottle or jug up to your lips and blow across it...if you're younger than 30...this may not be in your mental paradigm since pop bottles are all made of plastic in your experience...and you would have been to young to drink beer from a glass bottle, too.

This TIS bulletin is older than the e53 (that's why it's not listed)...but the e53 has the same jack pad design as the BMW models listed and would be prone to the same issue if a pad was missing or wasn't inserted correctly and air is passing over an opening into a body cavity.

[tom_h]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

In regards to a missing jack pad...this has been a verified BMW "wind noise" issue for decades. BMW issued a TIS bulletin about it back in the 90s when owners started having complaints. ...
This TIS bulletin is older than the e53 (that's why it's not listed)...but the e53 has the same jack pad design as the BMW models listed and would be prone to the same issue if a pad was missing or wasn't inserted correctly and air is passing over an opening into a body cavity.

I havent picked up car yet to check, but would the correct "Cap" or "plug" be:

RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog
Item # 09
SUPPORT LIFTING PLATFORM
Part # 51717001650

There's an aftermarket part at Amazon for about $14,
URO Parts # 51 71 7 001 650 , Jack Pad

Else I'd have to order genuine BMW for about $22 from one of the online mechants.

I still have to check whether this cover is actually missing