[DanMZe90]

I should post a hello in the newbie section but my introduction to BMW ownership has not started very well

I recently purchased an E90 2005 330D SE at what I though was a very good price from a private seller. The last car (mazda) that I've just sold had a Garrett turbo pack in at 90k which started with a whining sound, so reading up on the failing turbos on the 320/330 made me all the more wary about listening out for the tell tale signs.

No such sound was present on the test drive so it came as a bit of an annoyance that a few weeks later I've noticed a whistling/whining sound that goes up and down with the revs both at idle and in transit. I got someone to rev it while I listened in the engine bay and can definitely hear something coming from the turbo area. I'm going to have it checked out by my local BMW indie but I'm wondering if there's anything else it could possibly be apart from the turbo?

I'm also non too pleased as I have a cracked fuel breather pipe which needs sorting and I know that can potentially be an expensive fix.

So, not a good start with BMW ownership I'm afraid! Apart from those two (potentially expensive) things the car is great!

Dan

[TMP]

Hello and welcome

How many miles has the 330d done mate?

[MEGA]

Is it suddenly louder? The turbo's whistle quite a bit stock. The police siren sound is very distinctively different from the normal whistle

[DanMZe90]

Thanks, it's done 93k.

I've only had it about four weeks and in that time it's been in for an oil change at an indie BMW specialist.

I can't quite work out when the whistling noise came into my consciousness but I thought it might be something to do with the cold weather. It seems to be very obvious now though. It is more like a siren but I see quite varying posts on what it could mean.

Thanks

Dan

[phil200tdi]

Turbos whistle! could be producing more boost in colder weather.

Provided its not like a siren I wouldnt worry too much!

[DanMZe90]

Hmmm, I recorded it, you might need to turn your sound up as the quality isn't great but you can hear the whine when my foot comes off the throttle.

I'm going to take it in but making speculative enquiries about a new turbo as the £1100 plus VAT for a new one and fitting is quite high.

Thanks, Dan.

[TMP]

I can hear the whine when you are off throttle. Tbh, I don't know if mine makes the noise as never really done that test. Certainy whistles a lot when on boost.

[bm330dw]

Could be anything have you considered the pulleys, tensioner, water pump, compressor, alternator etc?

[Dr Dave]

I'd say that was turbo noise, thats not right at all. Mine sounds nothing like that.

[bm330dw]

Take off the aux belt, if the noise goes its something being driven by the belt.
If so check for any excessive play / damaged rollers.

Cheers

[Danny.B.]

Did you get to the bottom of this mate?

[Danny.B.]

Would the red boost pipe leak so common on the 335d cause an audible squeel if theres a boost leak?

Such as that on the video posted above?

Might be worth a look Dan

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=281232

[DanMZe90]

Thanks for the replies.

Haven't had it looked at yet just a lengthy discussion with my indie about what it might be! Upshot is that I need to bring it in to be looked at to be sure. I'll ask about the boost pipe, thanks for the link to the thread Danny.

One thing I wanted to ask is, at what point does the turbo officially spool up? The reason I ask is that when I start the car from cold, I can get it to make this noise revving from only 500-1000, a point that I was thinking the impeller might not even be spinning. Thought I saw 1500 bandied around but not sure where I saw that....

Thanks

Dan

[mistryn]

I know this is an old thread but long shot Dan did you ever resolve this issue? as I have the same noise?

[Mustard3]

I also have the same noise. Maybe not so loud as video from the cabin.

My car at the moment, although mapped is down on performance recently, right across the rev range - like it's loosing boost. barely quicker than standard (measured with RaceLogic GPS device).

Maybe no connection, maybe it's normal. Can anyone confirm their 335d does not make this sound?

[mistryn]

Mine seems to be intermittent sometime I can hear the noise sometimes I cant?
I dont think it can be the turbo but cant be certain

[E90330DMSPORT]

Any update on this would be greatly appreciated, I have "exactly" the same noise. New turbo fitted and still exactly the same, so very keen to know what the outcome was on this.

[sirbadger]

Holy thread resurrection batman!

Thought I would revive this thread as I have anidentical noise on my 330d
touring. Did anyone get to the bottom of what was causing the sound?

[elbutio]

Air con on? My compressor makes a bit of a whine when turned on

[sirbadger]

It is yes. is it likely to be something like that when it only starts making the noise at 1300rpm?

[tmarshall57]

Very similar sound on my ex 330D was caused by worn idler. I replaced the serpentine belt, idler and tensioner. Mileage was 150,000 at the time.

[Aragorn30d]

The sound in that video is almost certainly the turbo, though its not necessarily indicating impending doom, it might be. I've had other turbo cars make that sorta noise for tens of thousands of miles without issue.

Its not an idler or similar, as the noise pitch remains high for a short time as the engine revs fall, exactly as the turbo would and doesnt climb linearly with RPM as an idler would.

Pretty sure mine does the same when the engines cold. Once warmed up the only time i really notice the turbo is at full throttle.