hum, crackle, pop near right rear tire
 

I would appreciate it if someone would identify the following noise that I hear when am by the right rear tire after driving to work or back home: http://www.pctii.org/Video/RearNoiseStop.mpg This video clip includes the pop sound when the humming stops. Another clip just gives more of the humming: http://www.pctii.org/Video/RearNoise.mpg

Both video clips are almost pitch dark because most of the time I was resting my hand on the back of the right tire trying to pick up the noise. I would appreciate some help since my service rep has not responded in 10 days and now I will need to appeal to the service supervisor.
Edited to say, I got a call saying my regular rep has been gone all this time including today. So another rep unknown to me has responded and may or may not be able to help.

I asked the same question a while back... it's the same sound from your videos...

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e70-forum/...fan-turns.html

I still get the sound these days but I only take notice if I park it in the garage and the sound is obvious. Someone said there's no actual fan back there - still no word on what it actually is.

Well, I was sure that I was not alone on this but I just read your thread and am not sure that there was a suggestion that led to a solution. I wasn't sure if LeMansX5 ref to a pump went anywhere.

So you never had a dealer do an inspection and you've found no impact on performance?

Like you say, I first heard the noise inside a garage. The video clips were shot in an open parking lot which was the reason I stuck the camera behind the wheel so that street and outdoors noises would not drown out what I was hearing. Also like you, these drives are 7 miles on surface ('city') streets and not interstates.

BTW, if anyone tries the links in the OP and they don't work then please go to http://www.pctii.org/E70.htm and just go with the first paragraph.

Took the 4.8 in about the racket in the right rear well and when I got there they were guessings DMTL pump. However, after listening to my video and testing the vehicle, they decided it was the air suspension.

I was told they could hear the same sound from the driver's side of the car, but I never have heard that harsh sound with the popping release of air from anywhere other than right by the right rear tire.

Another 'normal' condition that I consider a flaw.

Mine doesn't do that. Yours sounds like a gun shot. Mine just has a hissing sound about 5 minutes after shutting her down as well as when you open the door to get in and drive. Which probably is normal, as the Merc GL does the same.

In no way is that normal. IMO

Should I appeal to BMWNA?

I, too, hear some kind of hissing sound when I open the doors but when I asked a sub service rep, she told me it was just the warm-up internal checks. So I left that question alone.

I would. I'm pretty darn sure that mine doesn't do that.

like I mentioned in the linked thread, it sounds like a passing gas fart when it's stopping, there's no pop. I would question that particularly.

Well the service rep was unflinching saying we were hearing the air suspension. And this was even when I whipped out my laptop and played it for him so he could hear better than from the camera that has a poor speaker.

So I guess it will be a lesson in the inner workings of BMW to go over his head and have their judgement reviewed.

But before I do that, I wish that others who have the problem as described by rh71 would confirm that they do NOT have the popping sound in my video clip.

Is there any specific details on how I could go about reproducing it?

Like I said, mine doesn't have this.... But I also don't go sticking my head in the fender well(like in the vid) so I'm not sure if it's just something that I don't notice...

We park ours in our main garage, where I have a PC that I spend alot of time in front of... and when my GF drives it into the garage, I never hear a gun shot sound like in your vid...

Your sound actually sounds like someone hitting a keg with an alloy baseball bat...if you've ever listen to a rock band by the name of SlipKnot, you would agree...