[Efthreeoh]

Often times, the shock boot comes lose from the shock body and will make that noise.

[Meeni]

Normal as far as I know.

[chris82]

Yea normal

[335idrive]

WOW, it's been a long time since I've been here. Quick update-- my 2007 Montego Blue 335i is no more-- 2 16 year old girls driving daddy's Hyundai SUV blew through a red light and totaled my baby. In the meantime I went back to my Ex-- a VW Jetta GLI. BUT through some random divine intervention I finally have a Bimmer parked outside once again. Decided to NOT go with something so sporty as I spent thousands on tires in the 3 years I had my 335i, and the roads in Philadelphia are not exactly compatible with 40 series run flats anyway. SO I got a nice little black X3 and have been loving it actually. SUV/SAV or not-- it runs, drives, and HANDLES like a BMW.

Now down to brass tax--The reason I'm here is to talk about this hissing sound that's coming from the driver's side front of my X3. What is it???????

I took my car to the stealership to have it checked out since it's still under a CPO warranty. They heard the noise, which they called a "rattle" (not sure if they were hearing the same thing I was talking about because it's obviously a hissing sound) and ended up replacing the lower ball joint. Luckily it was free under warranty because it did not fix the issue at all. The hissing noise is still there exactly how it was. No better and no worse.
I have taken the liberty of making a video of the sound so that we are all on the same page here. I have seen that most of your responses here state that the noise is "normal," but I still have my doubts and I want to know for sure while I'm still under warranty, which isn't for much longer at all. Take a look and listen to the video and someone please confirm that this is the same noise that you are hearing that is "normal"

THANKS!

Link:

[ThugzZ BunnY]

did it in my xi. if i had friends in the car i would just tell them im on air.

[ThugzZ BunnY]

oh yeah, and its normal.

[Banana Clipper]

Originally Posted by 335idrive

...Take a look and listen to the video and someone please confirm that this is the same noise that you are hearing that is "normal"

THANKS!

Link:

Thats the sound both my fronts make... annoying and TBH a bit embarrassing since a BMW should = quality, not saying theyre not but the sound insinuates something is wrong.

[fazman]

Originally Posted by Drivaar

When I go over bumps, I hear a little bit of a hissing noise from the front-left wheel area...

Do you think it could be a busted shock?

I find that the car handles great on smooth roads, but is jittery on rough ones... which makes me think it could be a problem with a shock...

Any advice?

Thanks!

This is normal, however... two major improvements to your car and the way it drives are going to be:

1) get rid of the stock RFT tires, get normal go flat tires (It's a HUGE improvement).
2) Stock shocks really suck on the XI's, get some nice bilsteins b6's or KW's

I wish that was my very first mod rather than my last mod on my car. It really makes a HUGE improvement over the shitty stock stuff which is the weakest link in this car.

[frenchi]

i got the same noise on my stock XI suspesnsion,now on Bilstein B6 it's dead silent....should be because they are brand new or old ones was completely shot.

[Pauloxxi]

I have this hiss noise in my 2009 328i, similar as shown on X3 from "335idrive" video. As far as I remember it started last year. So I'm leaving with this for 6 months already. I can hear with closed windows even on not so bumpy roads.
My wife has a 328 2014, and the front suspension doesn't make this hiss noise.
It can be normal, but it is annoying.
It wasn't there before, so is it a old car thing, since mine is getting to 80,000miles and 9 years old?
Is it a early sign of suspension, still functional and normal, but giving up or aging?

[gT-BMW]

i love that hissing noise. mine makes that noise too. hiss all day i dont care!! just dont make any clunking, knocking, shimming, squeeaking noise. seems like bmw has spoiled some of you

[Pauloxxi]

Originally Posted by gT-BMW

i love that hissing noise. mine makes that noise too. hiss all day i dont care!! just dont make any clunking, knocking, shimming, squeeaking noise. seems like bmw has spoiled some of you

We pay a lot for this spoiling.

[Louee_90]

i will input my response in this thread as well and say it is perfectly normal and I have 2007 e90. However I have just noticed my rear shocks now leaking fluid from each rear shock and will consider some nice Billsteins. But yes hissing sound is normal.