Strange 'wind whistling' noise from back of car...

[cgt]

I thought it may have been a blowing exhaust but it looks like it's something else. It only happens above 20mph and increases with speed. Touching the brakes makes no difference, so can rule out pads.

It almost sounds like wind noise from a door seal or something but it's not that. Very confusing..any ideas guys?

Oh, car is a 316i Auto, 1990

[Nikhil]

I'm getting that same type of noise, but mine's a convertible and has a new roof so i'm not sure what it is.

[Z3I]

Often caused by items "sticking out" from your your, likes aerials, roof racks, spoilers, wing mirrors, body kits.

Check to see if you have anything like that.

[Nikhil]

Checked all that, any other ideas

[realboss7669]

I thought it may have been a blowing exhaust but it looks like it's something else. It only happens above 20mph and increases with speed. Touching the brakes makes no difference, so can rule out pads.

It almost sounds like wind noise from a door seal or something but it's not that. Very confusing..any ideas guys?

Oh, car is a 316i Auto, 1990

You sure it isnt a wheel bearing or something? Other than that I get that noise, but only because my soft top is torn to shreads New one being fitted soon!!!

[Nikhil]

i think it may be the shims that sit under the roof i dont tink they have been put in right.

[cgt]

Hmmmmmmmmmm I have an aerial and a towbar. The aerial only stands semi-erect about six inches but the Towbar could be a suspect. It's annoying!

[punko]

iv had the same noise with every e30 iv owned i put it down to transmission noise not nececeraly a problem

[leeparkes]

Check your inner arches for holes

[cgt]

No rust I can see anywhere, car is surprisingly rot-free including arches. One garage I took it to was no help, they 'thought' it was the exhaust but it definitely is not. What a puzzle...

[cgt]

Old thread but the noise is still there...! Not the exhaust, no rot under car (car as a whole is very rust free) and nothing obviously wrong?! Baffling. Car is a 2 door coupe by the way and it sounds like it's coming from the right rear corner.

The way I would describe the noise is if anyone remembers Jackie Chan's hotted up Mitsubishi in The Cannonball Run, it sounds exactly like that!

[JJ26]

I remember that noise and my 316i started doing it in its final miles. Sounded very much like a noisy pinion bearing to me. It was exceptionally noticeable when the car was first driven from cold on smooth roads. Couldnt rule out it wasnt the center prop bearing either. I never investigated further as i knew its end was nigh! lol

[JJ26]

If the noise is definatly one sided then the only rotating part is the wheel bearing. Youve said touching the brakes makes no difference so id jack it up and have a good play with the wheel on the suspect side and see if it feels rough on rotation.

[cgt]

Car is an auto, don't think they have pinion bearings and car has been checked over thoroughly by mechanic, meant to be in rude health (certainly runs very well).

Yes, I'm also suspecting a wheel bearing by eliminating other possibilities..,

[mabz]

i had this problem and it turned out to be the handbrake retainer clips which clip through the backing plates behind the discs,mine made a whirring noise.the backing plates are quite weak and the clips just pull straight through.hope this helps i knew mine used to bug me

[JJ26]

The pinion bearings are part of the differential, auto or manual makes no difference.

[cgt]

i had this problem and it turned out to be the handbrake retainer clips which clip through the backing plates behind the discs,mine made a whirring noise.the backing plates are quite weak and the clips just pull straight through.hope this helps i knew mine used to bug me

Thanks this might be the answer. Still dont think it's the pinion as I had a new diff and the noise was there both before and after.

[xavier]

Let your wife out of the boot. then she will stop whistling

[hezicar]

I found that by changing the rear bushes the big large ones eliminated a lot of transmission noise etc

[cgt]

Looks like it's worn and rusty brake shoes on the back.

[scrapdrifter86]

its called transmission noise, most rwd cars have this noise, it may sound different in other e30z due to mileage, condition, or somebody like me or my mate punko abusing it before u owned it, i must say that yes the e30 is the loudest rwd car i have driven (transmission noise)

i hate sierras by the way

[lukescott]

The "wind whistling" sound you mention could well be the aerial . I was out recently in the convertible and noticed a wind / whistle sound from the rear........ turned off the radio & the aerial went down ....... guess what ? The sound stopped. Put your aerial down and listen.