E36 Strange whistling sound at 80-90mph

[pac1982]

Strange whistling sound at 80-90mph

I have a 1998 E36 touring and when I take it above 80mph I sometimes get a high pitch whistle which sounds like its coming from the air vents on the passenger side.

Has anyone else encountered this?

At first I thought I may have been a worn window or door seal but on closer inspection it seem to be something to do with the air/heater vents.

I did think I may have a leaf or something trapped somewhere which is acting like a reed on a musical instrument but cant seem to find anything after a brief inspection on the air intake on the scuttle.

It is quite annoying and would like to get it sorted any ideas?

[snakebrain]

Is there a pollen filter or anything along those lines in there that might have ruptured?

[pac1982]

Is there a pollen filter or anything along those lines in there that might have ruptured?

I'm sure it does have one not sure where it is though ?!?

[mrLEE30]

Does operating the wipers stop it? I had a annoying rattle that after months I traced to the wiper blade(we don't have rain here) maybe yours the same?

Otherwise I hear of whistles from e46 coming from torn inlet boot at the inlet manifold.

[rrs]

Pollen filter is.in the heater unit behind the centre console, remove the panel under the steering column to get access to the side of the heater to remove it there is a twist clip then the plastic end panel pulls off exposing the filter and no doubt a whole load of debris!

My father had an e39 that had to have several replacement windscreens over the years due to chips and his insurance would always insist on autoglass or similar and everytime they would fit it incorrectly and he would have a whistling at 80-90 that seemed to come from inside the car. It always ended up then going to bmw who fixed it!

[MattTheHat325]

Does it happen all the time? You say it's coming from the vent area but noises can be deceiving, deffo not the roof rails?

[Z3I]

Have you got anything extra on the roof, like a roof rack? I know if I put bars on my Astra, over 70 they whistle.

Or, could be a passenger quietly screaming from fear?

[e30kev]

My roof bars whistle a little on my dirty6 at higher speed but it really doesnt bother me

[MattTheHat325]

Didn't bother me either really mate, but I've just smoothed mine off anyway