Howling X3
 

I have an 07 X3 w/ 55k that developed a howl when the drive train is unloaded, decelerating (it started at about 52k). You only need to lift the throttle ever so slightly to have the noise. Driving in city traffic and using the throttle lightly just allows the howl to come in and out. The howl starts at about 38 mph and continues down to about 30 mph and seems to be coming from the center of the drive train, and it decreases in intensity as the vehicle slows. It also howls at 76 mph (speed multiple) , but the wind noise mediates the volume some what. I replaced the Pirelli tires with much quieter Michelins, because the first time I had it in for the noise they suggested new tires. No change in the howl, but a much nicer ride and much less tire noise.

The head troubleshooter for the dealer has ridden with me and hears the noise. They replaced the center bearing and the howl was still there. Next they replaced the rear differential and it still howls. We then took a ride in another 07 X3 they had there w/ 56k on the clock and guess what, it howled at 38 mph and 76 mph.

BMW have this now as a special case via the dealer and I have yet to hear of a solution.

Has anyone else had the howl? If you do, how was it resolved? I'd hate to think I paid as much as I did for a BMW and have it sound like the 53 Chevy pickup truck my buddy had in high school.

i just bought 07 X3 with 46K and have an appointment on friday to check out the howl/whine that seems like transfer case whining, also 4x4 light came on yesterday briefly.
noise increases gradually from ~30 to 39 and then goes away right after that, also slight hum at higher speeds.

i just had my final drive replaced under warranty, no more howling when accelerating but there is still some faint howl when coasting to a stop

Hello! 1st post here.

We recently bought an 07 X3 with 42K and its now doing exactly the same thing. Between 35 and 45mph is the worst, especially declerating, but also accelerating and maintaining constant speed. Shame because otherwise its a great sav/suv.

Did you have any trouble convicing the dealer to acknowledge the problem and change the parts? I'm taking it in next week for them to listen, will be my first experience with BMW service.

Thanks!

not really it was surprisingly painless, i dropped the car on Friday for them to inspect it, technician drove it and said everything was normal, then when i came back i took a service adviser in the back seat and he immediately acknowledged the problem, left the car on Tuesday and it was ready Wednesday afternoon. But at first technician was suspecting some rubber pad or something like that, but after i got the paperwork it said they replaced final drive. but there is still howling when decelerating/coasting so I'll talk to them about it when i do next oil change in 2500 miles according to the computer, also will get oil sample for analysis from Blackstone Labs

Thanks for the info. Just dropped ours off, took the head tech for a ride, he also acknowledged there was too much driveline noise but says its the 3rd one he's seen doing this. On the first one they saw with this problem they replaced the rear diff, but apparently after 100 or so miles the sound was back, so he wasnt very optimistic about fixing the problem. We drove their loaner x3 which did the same thing (not as loud) and one of the other CPOs on the lot that didn't do it at all. Both similar miles, around 40-45k.

He did say that he would try (again) to present a case to BMW about this problem because he is seeing more and more. Although previously he says they told him that it was normal because so many do it. I'm not so pleased really, not sure what the best thing to do is. This is my wife's car and I don't want her and the baby to have to put up with the whine but for now it is what it is... even so he said he would take a look at it and see if there is anything missing (i think he meant the rubber isolation mounting). I'll post up if he finds anything.

I suspect this issue needs to be taken higher up the chain, somehow persuade BMW to come up with a solution. I'm not sure how this is done though. It really isn't on, a CPO car with a noisy driveline is unacceptable, certainly not what i expect from a BMW, i've had several which i've driven to over 100k miles without serious problems of this nature.

Mine howls too.
 

Bricks:

I have CPO 07 with 32K miles that I bought 2 weeks ago. I dismissed the noise on my test drive as everything else was perfect including color, condition and options.

Now the noise although not overly loud is getting annoying only because I don't think it should be there.

Please let us know your outcome as soon as possible.

Thanks.

Sure, the car came back the same as it was before, they said they checked around the diffs/transfer box and everything was as it should be.

However the dealer is presenting another case to BMW so will see how that goes.

Thanks

I'm still fighting the dealer on this noise. Keep being told it's normal. According to the tech that's what BMWNA is telling him. I have one other dealer nearby that I will try.

Anyone else having any luck?

No luck either
 

I took my 07 X3 in a couple of weeks ago with the same complaint as you. I also was told that it was normal. The tech said it was the just the sound of the differential loading and unloading......and normal.