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      10-30-2007, 10:38 AM   #1
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Exhaust squeal on 2003 Z4 3.0i

Was wondering if anyone has this problem?

When I have the top down and I am going down a street, to maintain my speed, obviously I need to add a little gas. When I do this, I can hear a high-pitch whistle/squeal coming out the exhaust, as if there's just the right amount of exhaust "wind" coming out of it to hit a noise pitch, if that makes any sense.

Add lots of gas and it goes away, get off the gas or add less gas than when the whistling starts and it goes away. It's more of a minor annoyance than anything, but I'd like to know what the source of the problem could be and if there are any quick fixes without replacing the exhaust tip.
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      01-30-2008, 07:08 PM   #2
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/shameless_bump

anyone?
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      01-31-2008, 03:11 PM   #3
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You sure its the exhaust!?

Sounds very strange.

And you say it only happens with the top down, or can you hear it with the windows down?
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      01-31-2008, 07:03 PM   #4
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I can hear it with the windows down too. I'm pretty confident it's coming from the muffler. Just wanted to know if anyone else has this problem.
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      01-31-2008, 09:13 PM   #5
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I have the same symptoms also but I'm certain its coming from the engine bay. A bird chirp noise is best to describe it..
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      01-31-2008, 10:12 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nyczyang27 View Post
I have the same symptoms also but I'm certain its coming from the engine bay. A bird chirp noise is best to describe it..
same. It def. comes from the engine bay, I think next I stop by the dealership, I'll have a tech take a look at it.
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      06-22-2008, 07:58 PM   #7
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I have the exact problem on my 2003 z4 3.0i. I have tested this while driving to see what conditions cause it and it seems that only while the engine is in gear under light (and usually very light) load. you can hear it coming from the engine bay. It can also be produced by feathering the gas lightly at any speed.

Just thought I would throw in my 2 cents to see if anyone else is experiencing the exact same problem or slightly different.

Anyone know what this might be? power seems unaffected by it.
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      06-22-2008, 10:10 PM   #8
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I get this around 2200 RPMs. I was assuming it was the fuel pump since it's the same RPM in every gear. Mine definitely comes from the back end of the car.

I used to hear what I assumed was an intake whistle, but it went away when I removed all the airbox parts and reassembled them.
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      06-22-2008, 11:27 PM   #9
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sounds terrible , you better check it ASAP .
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      06-22-2008, 11:47 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Yal View Post
I get this around 2200 RPMs. I was assuming it was the fuel pump since it's the same RPM in every gear. Mine definitely comes from the back end of the car.

I used to hear what I assumed was an intake whistle, but it went away when I removed all the airbox parts and reassembled them.
Mine does sound like its an intake sound. I have an afe airbox. I'm going to change it back to stock and see if thats it. Now that I thing about it, the Z4 3.0i has that intake sound into the cabin device right? Could that have something to do with it? I have never heard of this happening in other model BMW only on the Z4.

Update coming on stock vs AFE airbox
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      06-30-2008, 10:33 AM   #11
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I get the same sound out of the engine bay on my car.

What was the conclusion that you guys came up with for this issue?
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      06-30-2008, 11:15 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JHastings0826 View Post
I get the same sound out of the engine bay on my car.

What was the conclusion that you guys came up with for this issue?
If you get a squeel from under the hood it's likely a belt that's either bad or needs tightening. Or it could be even worse. On my old mazda the water pump was leeking onto the timing belt...
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      06-30-2008, 01:45 PM   #13
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SQUEAL???
Hmmm, never heard a squeal... my exhaust sounds very nice, and I have removed all the foam from my sound generator and I LOVE all the rumbles and growls that come of this little beast!
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      06-30-2008, 02:50 PM   #14
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I have the same problem in my '03 3.0i. It seems to be coming from the engine bay in the mid 2k rpm range. Whatever the noise is, it must be some small part that's spinning very quickly... maybe the water pump like Dammmittt is suggesting?

If someone figures out what this is, please let us know. This high pitched whine has been bothering me for months!
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      09-05-2008, 08:27 PM   #15
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whistle

my 2004 2.5 has the same whistle symptom. I figure it's the fuel pump.

hope someone is closer to a dealer than I am to get it checked out.

please post and thanks!
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      09-05-2008, 09:40 PM   #16
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mine turned out to be part of the air intake. There is one duct consisting of two pieces coming off the airbox. The second one connects to the engine in two places. There is a "corrugated" looking section at the top of the second section that frequently breaks down and cracks and can cause this whistle. Mine sounded to everyone like it was coming from the rear of the car, but replacing that duct fixed it right up.
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      09-08-2008, 09:44 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Yal View Post
mine turned out to be part of the air intake. There is one duct consisting of two pieces coming off the airbox. The second one connects to the engine in two places. There is a "corrugated" looking section at the top of the second section that frequently breaks down and cracks and can cause this whistle. Mine sounded to everyone like it was coming from the rear of the car, but replacing that duct fixed it right up.



Thanks Yal !!

Will check it out
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      09-22-2010, 12:55 AM   #18
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I have the whistle also on my 2004 z4 2.5i. It happens at low load ~2000rpm and goes away at anything higher or lower.

I checked my air intake and noticed it had a hole in the crinkle section. I was so happy to find that hole because I thought that would solve the problem. I fixed it and the noise is still there. Any other suggestions?

Did you guys fix yours?
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      09-22-2010, 03:26 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewn80 View Post
I have the whistle also on my 2004 z4 2.5i. It happens at low load ~2000rpm and goes away at anything higher or lower.

I checked my air intake and noticed it had a hole in the crinkle section. I was so happy to find that hole because I thought that would solve the problem. I fixed it and the noise is still there. Any other suggestions?

Did you guys fix yours?
I had a crack in the same spot and thought I fixed it as well but turns out it didn't. My mechanic seems to know what it is but I forgot the name of the part. All I remember is the part and labour is around $600. Some type of diaphragm part that has a crack in it.

I'll ask when I drop by today.
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      09-22-2010, 04:18 PM   #20
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I had a similar sound in the engine bay that I had to decipher. Intake boot was fine so it wasn't that. Ended up being a squeaky belt tensioner. Had to buy an aftermarket one as BMW no longer made the mechanical tensioner and only makes the hydrolic one
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      09-23-2010, 09:31 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewn80 View Post
I have the whistle also on my 2004 z4 2.5i. It happens at low load ~2000rpm and goes away at anything higher or lower.

I checked my air intake and noticed it had a hole in the crinkle section. I was so happy to find that hole because I thought that would solve the problem. I fixed it and the noise is still there. Any other suggestions?

Did you guys fix yours?
Hi Andrewn

Mine was the intake - i taped it up with electrical tape, as i remember, and it worked until the part came in. no more whistles since. Is your noise constant?
Mine only whistled when I exerted the accelerator, thus it was intake related. Try to narrow down when the whistle starts... stops... good luck... try tape in a few places to see if there are air leakages along the intake...
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      09-23-2010, 11:05 PM   #22
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Vanos rattle?
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