2015 X5: low level humming sound at highway speeds

cfm56d7b · 08-28-2018, 08:50 PM

The sound - casting a very wide net - appears to come from the drivetrain: could be from differentials, wheel bearings.

It's not very loud and is at times overshadowed by tire noise.

The vehicle: 2015 BMW X5 3.5 xDrive with 19.5K miles.

Anyone else experiencing the same symptoms?

turboawd · 08-28-2018, 08:52 PM

Probably tires.

cfm56d7b · 08-28-2018, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboawd

Probably tires.

Could be. These are OEM Pirelli run flat tires. Run flats do get noisier as the tread wears down. But at only 19K miles?

Silververtu · 08-28-2018, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboawd

Probably tires.

Could be. These are OEM Pirelli run flat tires. Run flats do get noisier as the tread wears down. But at only 19K miles?

I have mine replaced after 17k just last Friday.

yewlock · 08-28-2018, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

Could be. These are OEM Pirelli run flat tires. Run flats do get noisier as the tread wears down. But at only 19K miles?

19K is about time get noisy. Most of these tires got replace around 22-25K if lucky.

cfm56d7b · 08-29-2018, 01:31 AM

I was hoping to get 25K miles from OEM tires. Oh well.

DuSh · 08-29-2018, 03:36 AM

bearings would still hum on low speeds (when tire noise is less so you can hear it). Go to nearest free parking lot and try driving with open window turning left and right to see if noise gets louder. If there's no noise - it could be tires indeed. I doubt drivetrain on 35i with ZF8 transmission has anything to do with it on such low miles car.

alphaod · 08-29-2018, 11:44 AM

Most likely the tires.

Whenever I need to put on my donut spare with basically no thread on them, I can hear the loud hum.

cfm56d7b · 08-29-2018, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuSh

bearings would still hum on low speeds (when tire noise is less so you can hear it). Go to nearest free parking lot and try driving with open window turning left and right to see if noise gets louder. If there's no noise - it could be tires indeed. I doubt drivetrain on 35i with ZF8 transmission has anything to do with it on such low miles car.

Great advice. Will do.

efloyd · 09-24-2018, 09:34 AM

Have you been able to determine the cause?

I began hearing a roaring noise last week, especially when I take the foot off the accelerator and coast. It ended up being my front left differential. $6200 total for the differential, oil change, oil leak, and AC recharge.

turboawd · 09-24-2018, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efloyd

Have you been able to determine the cause?

I began hearing a roaring noise last week, especially when I take the foot off the accelerator and coast. It ended up being my front left differential. $6200 total for the differential, oil change, oil leak, and AC recharge.

What engine you have? Miles?
Did they say if the diff was low on fluid?

Maverik259 · 04-16-2019, 04:01 PM

Definitely tires. And just cuz they make noise doesn't mean they have to be replaced. Just check the depth. My oem RFT Bridgestone lasted about 22k. Noise for probably 4-5k of that. Replaced and noise gone 25k is solid for a heavy stiff RFT.

Clifton · 04-16-2019, 04:35 PM

I agree with others...its the tires. I have the exact Pirellis RF on my X5d and I'm just shy of 19K. The just recently started to make noise.

Mkenya · 11-26-2023, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

The sound - casting a very wide net - appears to come from the drivetrain: could be from differentials, wheel bearings.

It's not very loud and is at times overshadowed by tire noise.

The vehicle: 2015 BMW X5 3.5 xDrive with 19.5K miles.

Anyone else experiencing the same symptoms?

Me too nt wheelbearing

Tomcat_F15_STL · 11-26-2023, 08:00 PM

It's tires.

F15GorDe · 11-29-2023, 01:18 AM

Geez, and I rolled up 51k miles on my ‘15 X5ds Pirellis. Must have done something right, better than 90% of the miles were highway cruising.

Mkenya · 04-21-2024, 11:24 PM

Low fluid in the differential is tha cause of that humming top it off

1004ron · 04-22-2024, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mkenya

Low fluid in the differential is tha cause of that humming top it off

If either front or rear differential fluid was low enough to cause humming/whining wouldn't the damage be irreversible?

Mkenya · 04-22-2024, 07:26 AM

If you’re shaving, and you can see the shiny metal particles in there you done you are done

08-28-2018, 08:50 PM	#1
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5895 Rep 10,264 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	2015 X5: low level humming sound at highway speeds The sound - casting a very wide net - appears to come from the drivetrain: could be from differentials, wheel bearings. It's not very loud and is at times overshadowed by tire noise. The vehicle: 2015 BMW X5 3.5 xDrive with 19.5K miles. Anyone else experiencing the same symptoms?
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08-28-2018, 08:52 PM	#2
turboawd Banned 1641 Rep 2,995 Posts Drives: 2015 X5 35i Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Probably tires.
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08-29-2018, 01:31 AM	#6
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5895 Rep 10,264 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	I was hoping to get 25K miles from OEM tires. Oh well.
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08-29-2018, 03:36 AM	#7
DuSh Colonel 2114 Rep 2,388 Posts Drives: F15 X5 50i Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	bearings would still hum on low speeds (when tire noise is less so you can hear it). Go to nearest free parking lot and try driving with open window turning left and right to see if noise gets louder. If there's no noise - it could be tires indeed. I doubt drivetrain on 35i with ZF8 transmission has anything to do with it on such low miles car.
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08-29-2018, 11:44 AM	#8
alphaod Mmmmm… 1151 Rep 2,426 Posts Drives: F15 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: New York iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW X5 xDrive50i [10.00]	Most likely the tires. Whenever I need to put on my donut spare with basically no thread on them, I can hear the loud hum. __________________ 2015 BMW X5 xDrive50i BMW CCA 509766
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2015 X5: low level humming sound at highway speeds

09-24-2018, 09:34 AM	#10
efloyd New Member 3 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW 535xi Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	Have you been able to determine the cause? I began hearing a roaring noise last week, especially when I take the foot off the accelerator and coast. It ended up being my front left differential. $6200 total for the differential, oil change, oil leak, and AC recharge.
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04-16-2019, 04:01 PM	#12
Maverik259 Major General 4141 Rep 7,160 Posts Drives: F90 M5 / F15 50i Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Virginia iTrader: (1) Garage List 2020 BMW M5 [10.00] 2014 X5 50i [0.00]	Definitely tires. And just cuz they make noise doesn't mean they have to be replaced. Just check the depth. My oem RFT Bridgestone lasted about 22k. Noise for probably 4-5k of that. Replaced and noise gone 25k is solid for a heavy stiff RFT. __________________ '07 Yamaha R1 (sold) '06 C55 AMG (sold) ‘?20 M5, MP Carbon Pro Spoiler, MP Carbon Diffuser, MP Black grille and gills, MP Carbon Mirrors, CF side sills, 789M w/ Ti studs, eventuri, Dinan X pipe '14 X5 50i (wife’s now)
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04-16-2019, 04:35 PM	#13
Clifton Captain 223 Rep 660 Posts Drives: Cars with tires Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	I agree with others...its the tires. I have the exact Pirellis RF on my X5d and I'm just shy of 19K. The just recently started to make noise. __________________ Regards, Clifton
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11-26-2023, 08:00 PM	#15
Tomcat_F15_STL First Lieutenant 151 Rep 350 Posts Drives: BMW F15 Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: St. Louis iTrader: (0)	It's tires.
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11-29-2023, 01:18 AM	#16
F15GorDe Well versed in the care and feeding of BMWs 261 Rep 733 Posts Drives: F15d, F10 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Geez, and I rolled up 51k miles on my ‘15 X5ds Pirellis. Must have done something right, better than 90% of the miles were highway cruising. __________________ B&O, parking assistant, executive package, 3rd row seats and the manual rear shades are the ONLY items we didn't order. Having everything else makes our F15d a NICE ride.
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04-21-2024, 11:24 PM	#17
Mkenya Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2015 bmw X5 35i Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Low fluid in the differential is tha cause of that humming top it off
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04-22-2024, 07:26 AM	#19
Mkenya Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2015 bmw X5 35i Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	If you’re shaving, and you can see the shiny metal particles in there you done you are done
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