2011 X5 50i "Electric Noise"

Jerich0 · 06-08-2013, 09:08 PM

Hello Guys...

A week ago I got a 2011 X5 50i M Sport with only 2k miles on the clock and noticed that sometimes it will make an electric noise (kind like superchargers) when accelerating fully, the noise could be heard as well when driving around at low speeds like on a neighbourhood with the windows down... It sounds like an electric motor...

I saw some old posts of people that had the same problem but nothing very concrete since they fixed the noise only temporarily...

Has there been any upadtes on the noise? or is it normal?

Thanks!
JC

Jerich0 · 06-12-2013, 01:48 PM

nobody?

n3985 · 06-12-2013, 02:10 PM

Are you sure it is not just the turbos spooling?

Chio · 06-12-2013, 02:18 PM

Ppppssshhh!! Sound

Ridiculous · 06-12-2013, 10:33 PM

I noticed this on my 5.0 X6 at first too. Definitely sounds a lot more electronic than other cars. You'll get used to it!

Jerich0 · 06-14-2013, 12:00 PM

No... Its not the turbos... They whistle not whine... This sound more like an electric sound... And sometimes is there... And sometimes its just not present...

Kzang · 06-21-2013, 11:55 AM

Maybe cooling fan? Does this happen when your going uphills?

skalberti · 06-30-2013, 11:48 AM

Mine has the same noise. It sounds like a whine. I'm thinking its the transmission.

Jerich0 · 07-01-2013, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skalberti

Mine has the same noise. It sounds like a whine. I'm thinking its the transmission.

What year is your X?

skalberti · 07-14-2013, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerich0

What year is your X?

I have a 2012 with a January 2012 build date.

JDKX5 · 10-08-2013, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skalberti

I have a 2012 with a January 2012 build date.

I see you have a 3.5i M Sport. ARe you happy with the performance?

rennis · 10-08-2013, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skalberti

Mine has the same noise. It sounds like a whine. I'm thinking its the transmission.

Mine also has the same sounds. It sounds like gear whine more than anything, and as others have said, I hear it most at low speeds around town.

It's definitely not the turbos, it's a mechanical whine. I've wondered what makes the sound since I purchased the X in August, but haven't pursued it much. I figure if it's not normal, it's under warranty so I don't really care.

skalberti · 10-08-2013, 12:29 PM

JDKX5 yes I'm happy with the acceleration and handling. My wife is taking the X5 as I'm getting a 535. She drove Mercedes, infinity and Acura suv's and she love our X5 the best. She said the X5 had a lot more power and she said it handles like her old car which was a Lexus IS350. It's not as fast as a V8, but it's still faster than any other SUV out there with a 6 cylinder.

X5 Copa · 10-08-2013, 04:08 PM

I had a horrid moaning and groaning noise coming from the engine compartment of my '11 50i. Turned out it was the oil pump. Search that and you will find good information (here, Google and at Bimmerfest). These rigs have sort of noisy oil pumps anyway, but I had my oil pump replaced and I am now in good shape.

rennis · 10-08-2013, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5 Copa

I had a horrid moaning and groaning noise coming from the engine compartment of my '11 50i. Turned out it was the oil pump. Search that and you will find good information (here, Google and at Bimmerfest). These rigs have sort of noisy oil pumps anyway, but I had my oil pump replaced and I am now in good shape.

Hmmm. I would not characterize the whine from my 50i as "horrid"

Was your failing oil pump audible at idle?

fatmatt0116 · 10-09-2013, 05:55 PM

I have mine in the shop now. They just replaced all the injectors and I printed out a couple of threads about the oil pump noise and asked them to replace it. When I went to pick it up today they said "we couldn't hear it" so I took a spin with the shop foreman with the windows down (apparently they did not drive it with the windows down) and it was clearly audible, particularly when flooring it from a standstill or cruising speed. I have seen it written on other boards that the noise is louder when the car is warmed up though I have not paid attention to that. I got the standard "don't believe everything you read on the internet" response when I brought up all the information about the oil pump on the net, but they did agree to keep the car in the shop, do further testing, and call BMW to ask what to do. To be honest, I'm not optimistic because the foreman said "I will check the pressure in the pump and then ask bmw what to do," but perhaps they will at last fix this noise. Any tips for how to convince them to get it done?

fatmatt0116 · 10-11-2013, 03:31 PM

Oy. Just got a call from the dealer who wants to uninstall the Dinan software to make sure that is not causing the oil pump sound...sigh..seems like they are trying to get out of paying to replace the oil pump. At least they are looking into it, hopefully this means that it will get replaced one way or the other, just a matter of who pays, Dinan or BMW.

rennis · 10-11-2013, 03:39 PM

What a joke. It's a freaking MECHANICAL issue, software has nothing to do with it.

X5 Copa · 10-14-2013, 04:16 PM

3 More Really Good Links.

Work Order for Oil Pump:

View post on imgur.com

Viddy with "The Sound":

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r...W_X5_Whine.mp4

I watched and listened to the Viddy above, and heard exactly what I was dealing with. My problem was solved as soon as they replaced my Oil Pump. Absolutely no question about it. The work order was helpful; however, there is an easier way to replace the Oil Pump. My Tech did not have to drop the engine. The Bimmer Techs at the BMW Mothership are well aware of this problem. They just don't sing about it!
Hope this helps!

X5 Copa · 10-14-2013, 04:18 PM

Oh, and one more thing: I have Dinan Stage 2 as well. Absolutely no connection. Seriously goofy or manipulative that they would suggest a connection! As Jean Luc Picard well knows, this is clearly a mechanical issue. I mean, it's not like its coming through the speakers or something!

///SAL · 10-14-2013, 04:48 PM

You sure its not the rear suspension when it adjusts?

fatmatt0116 · 10-14-2013, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5 Copa

3 More Really Good Links.

Work Order for Oil Pump:

View post on imgur.com

Viddy with "The Sound":

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r...W_X5_Whine.mp4

I watched and listened to the Viddy above, and heard exactly what I was dealing with. My problem was solved as soon as they replaced my Oil Pump. Absolutely no question about it. The work order was helpful; however, there is an easier way to replace the Oil Pump. My Tech did not have to drop the engine. The Bimmer Techs at the BMW Mothership are well aware of this problem. They just don't sing about it!
Hope this helps!

Thanks, I actually submitted all of that stuff to them already and, like I said, I got the old "dont believe everything you hear on the internet" BS. I am not taking no for an answer though at this point. I don't care if they blame it on Dinan or whoever. If they refuse to repair it this time I'm going to tell them to make an appointment for next week and so on.

06-08-2013, 09:08 PM	#1
Jerich0 Love to Drive 197 Rep 602 Posts Drives: X4 & M4 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Around iTrader: (2)	2011 X5 50i "Electric Noise" Hello Guys... A week ago I got a 2011 X5 50i M Sport with only 2k miles on the clock and noticed that sometimes it will make an electric noise (kind like superchargers) when accelerating fully, the noise could be heard as well when driving around at low speeds like on a neighbourhood with the windows down... It sounds like an electric motor... I saw some old posts of people that had the same problem but nothing very concrete since they fixed the noise only temporarily... Has there been any upadtes on the noise? or is it normal? Thanks! JC
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06-12-2013, 01:48 PM	#2
Jerich0 Love to Drive 197 Rep 602 Posts Drives: X4 & M4 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Around iTrader: (2)	nobody?
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06-12-2013, 02:10 PM	#3
n3985 Lieutenant 138 Rep 598 Posts Drives: a car Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: North NJ iTrader: (3)	Are you sure it is not just the turbos spooling?
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06-12-2013, 02:18 PM	#4
Chio Lieutenant 106 Rep 560 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Comp Xdrive Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: STL iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 S6 [10.00]	Ppppssshhh!! Sound
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06-12-2013, 10:33 PM	#5
Ridiculous isn't it? 21 Rep 262 Posts Drives: tiag 2011 X6 5.0 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: LI iTrader: (1)	I noticed this on my 5.0 X6 at first too. Definitely sounds a lot more electronic than other cars. You'll get used to it!
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06-14-2013, 12:00 PM	#6
Jerich0 Love to Drive 197 Rep 602 Posts Drives: X4 & M4 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Around iTrader: (2)	No... Its not the turbos... They whistle not whine... This sound more like an electric sound... And sometimes is there... And sometimes its just not present...
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06-21-2013, 11:55 AM	#7
Kzang Major General 3239 Rep 5,066 Posts Drives: 2015 X5 35i Msport SG Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	Maybe cooling fan? Does this happen when your going uphills?
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06-30-2013, 11:48 AM	#8
skalberti Major 614 Rep 1,133 Posts Drives: 2017 Mineral White M3 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Mine has the same noise. It sounds like a whine. I'm thinking its the transmission. __________________ It's good to be bad
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10-08-2013, 12:29 PM	#13
skalberti Major 614 Rep 1,133 Posts Drives: 2017 Mineral White M3 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	JDKX5 yes I'm happy with the acceleration and handling. My wife is taking the X5 as I'm getting a 535. She drove Mercedes, infinity and Acura suv's and she love our X5 the best. She said the X5 had a lot more power and she said it handles like her old car which was a Lexus IS350. It's not as fast as a V8, but it's still faster than any other SUV out there with a 6 cylinder. __________________ It's good to be bad
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10-08-2013, 04:08 PM	#14
X5 Copa Enlisted Member 2 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2011 X5 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Park City iTrader: (0)	I had a horrid moaning and groaning noise coming from the engine compartment of my '11 50i. Turned out it was the oil pump. Search that and you will find good information (here, Google and at Bimmerfest). These rigs have sort of noisy oil pumps anyway, but I had my oil pump replaced and I am now in good shape.
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10-09-2013, 05:55 PM	#16
fatmatt0116 Hooligan 55 Rep 680 Posts Drives: 2014 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	I have mine in the shop now. They just replaced all the injectors and I printed out a couple of threads about the oil pump noise and asked them to replace it. When I went to pick it up today they said "we couldn't hear it" so I took a spin with the shop foreman with the windows down (apparently they did not drive it with the windows down) and it was clearly audible, particularly when flooring it from a standstill or cruising speed. I have seen it written on other boards that the noise is louder when the car is warmed up though I have not paid attention to that. I got the standard "don't believe everything you read on the internet" response when I brought up all the information about the oil pump on the net, but they did agree to keep the car in the shop, do further testing, and call BMW to ask what to do. To be honest, I'm not optimistic because the foreman said "I will check the pressure in the pump and then ask bmw what to do," but perhaps they will at last fix this noise. Any tips for how to convince them to get it done? __________________ 2014 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S 2011 X5 5.0 Dinan - SOLD 2007 Imola Red Z4 M Coupe -SOLD 2004 Navy Blue BMW 325Ci
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10-11-2013, 03:31 PM	#17
fatmatt0116 Hooligan 55 Rep 680 Posts Drives: 2014 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	Oy. Just got a call from the dealer who wants to uninstall the Dinan software to make sure that is not causing the oil pump sound...sigh..seems like they are trying to get out of paying to replace the oil pump. At least they are looking into it, hopefully this means that it will get replaced one way or the other, just a matter of who pays, Dinan or BMW. __________________ 2014 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S 2011 X5 5.0 Dinan - SOLD 2007 Imola Red Z4 M Coupe -SOLD 2004 Navy Blue BMW 325Ci
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10-11-2013, 03:39 PM	#18
rennis Captain 43 Rep 708 Posts Drives: E70 5.0 & B5 S4 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Kirkland iTrader: (2)	What a joke. It's a freaking MECHANICAL issue, software has nothing to do with it.
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10-14-2013, 04:16 PM	#19
X5 Copa Enlisted Member 2 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2011 X5 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Park City iTrader: (0)	3 More Really Good Links. Work Order for Oil Pump: View post on imgur.com Viddy with "The Sound": http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r...W_X5_Whine.mp4 I watched and listened to the Viddy above, and heard exactly what I was dealing with. My problem was solved as soon as they replaced my Oil Pump. Absolutely no question about it. The work order was helpful; however, there is an easier way to replace the Oil Pump. My Tech did not have to drop the engine. The Bimmer Techs at the BMW Mothership are well aware of this problem. They just don't sing about it! Hope this helps!
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10-14-2013, 04:18 PM	#20
X5 Copa Enlisted Member 2 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2011 X5 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Park City iTrader: (0)	Oh, and one more thing: I have Dinan Stage 2 as well. Absolutely no connection. Seriously goofy or manipulative that they would suggest a connection! As Jean Luc Picard well knows, this is clearly a mechanical issue. I mean, it's not like its coming through the speakers or something!
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10-14-2013, 04:48 PM	#21
///SAL Captain 36 Rep 846 Posts Drives: 2014 ///M5 ZCP Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: QUEENS, NY iTrader: (0)	You sure its not the rear suspension when it adjusts?
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