Open sunroof gives my ear drums a womp womp sound!

[expidia]

I've had this with other cars too. But with most cars usually the pop up spoiler in the front, when I open the sunroof breaks up the air, so it doesn't do it.

But this X5 does it every time more so at highway speeds. Unless I crack one of the rear windows which reduces the air pressure in the cabin when the sunroof is open. But this also tends to raise the wind noise with a window cracked open.

A search here does not turn up much if others have found a solution.

I could replicate this womp womp when we owned our Saabs by holding the sunroof spoiler down but it went away as soon as it popped back up.

Problem seems to be this spoiler is made of some type of net material that allows the air to pass through it.

Is this something the dealer can adjust or replace?
Any other ideas

[iconoclast]

Helmholtz resonance aka "Air Buffetting". Same effect just now at highway speeds. The more aerodynamic the vehicle the worse the sound.

[expidia]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

Helmholtz resonance aka "Air Buffetting". Same effect just now at highway speeds. The more aerodynamic the vehicle the worse the sound.

So we have the physics down here, but no solution. Seems strange as most other car brands I rent that have a sun roof dont do it.

Someone should tell "Heimlich" that this shouldn't be with a 65k car

Maybe its that high gloss detailing I've given the paint causing it to be too aerodynamic and I should rough it up a bit

[iconoclast]

your Q5 has this effect as well, i know from experience... price has nothing to do with it... all marques at various price points on various models do this. "rain guards" are the only way to stop this from happening but to me those are so gross and "ghetto" that i'd rather just tilt the sunroof.

[expidia]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

your Q5 has this effect as well, i know from experience... price has nothing to do with it... all marques at various price points on various models do this. "rain guards" are the only way to stop this from happening but to me those are so gross and "ghetto" that i'd rather just tilt the sunroof.

One would think someone would have come up with a way to improve on how that foil in the front of the sun roof would be more effective in breaking up that air buffeting effect?

[iconoclast]

i believe they have... having the hvac system on and operating at a desired temperature with fresh or filtered air is the solution in addition to aiding in increased efficiency and fuel savings.

[Kdawg1966]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

your Q5 has this effect as well, i know from experience... price has nothing to do with it... all marques at various price points on various models do this. "rain guards" are the only way to stop this from happening but to me those are so gross and "ghetto" that i'd rather just tilt the sunroof.

Our 2014 Q5 does not do this. Nor does my A5. I'm currently shopping for a X5 and am very surprised to hear there's a buffeting problem with the X5's.

[DuSh]

I have roof racks and maybe that's why I don't have this sound - another plus for roof rack

[F15GorDe]

Aw c’mon!

Duct tape, carefully applied.

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by Kdawg1966

Our 2014 Q5 does not do this. Nor does my A5. I'm currently shopping for a X5 and am very surprised to hear there's a buffeting problem with the X5's.

A5 is a coupe and has a sunroof that does not open, only tilts. I had an S5 back in 2009 shortly after it debuted. Awesome car. The Q5 has this effect as well but not if you open the roof all the way same with the X5. If you click the sunroof switch once it will open to the point that the engineers thought was the most suitable. If you hold the switch it will open further. A feature I like on LR/RR products I own(ed) is the multi-stage opening windows. You click once and it opens slightly to a set point then if you click again it will go down automatically to the fullest opening.

[Kdawg1966]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

A5 is a coupe and has a sunroof that does not open, only tilts. I had an S5 back in 2009 shortly after it debuted. Awesome car. The Q5 has this effect as well but not if you open the roof all the way same with the X5.

I realized shortly after posting that my A5 don't open all the way like my wife's Q5 (should have corrected post but was too lazy at the time), however the fact remains that we've never had buffeting in the Q5 and my wife drives with it open all summer.

I'm still shopping for the perfect used X5 and will now be sure to open the roof the next time I take one out.

[ronmexico385]

I usually just crack the window an inch and it goes away

[iconoclast]

^exactly. problem solved. air has several exits and isn't entering and exiting the same opening creating that effect. this is a nifty feature the LR/RR vehicles have and it's for several uses or at least has several uses for me.

Originally Posted by Kdawg1966

however the fact remains that we've never had buffeting in the Q5 and my wife drives with it open all summer.

you must have a very rare one off Q5... many others have experienced this on their Q5 as well myself.

https://www.audiworld.com/forums/q5-...-open-2792663/

[NOVA99]

My X5 M-Sport does not buffet at all and I have had 3. Either wth the roof all the way open or just vented. 35, 75, 105, 125 mph...no buffeting. Wind noise of course.

[IndyJer]

This issue isn’t limited to open sunroofs or a particular make/model of vehicle. It will happen when just one window is open to a certain point. Easiest solution is to just crack another window somewhere so air has another way out. Not that big of a deal, engineers can’t change physics.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/explain...ne-car-window/

[Wardman]

An option I wish we could eliminate in the US.... My opinion, give us taller guys more headroom without having to lower seat. That would be for all BMW's...

[expidia]

Originally Posted by Wardman

An option I wish we could eliminate in the US.... My opinion, give us taller guys more headroom without having to lower seat. That would be for all BMW's...

You want all U.S. to cars to eliminate "sunroofs" even though most of the buying public loves their new cars with the full panoramic moon roof


Because you're tall . Did you know that taller people on average are more successful in life? So now you want us vertically challenged people to give up our sunroofs too.

I did notice on my 1.5 hr highway drive back home last night as others have noted that if I only open the sunroof partially (kinda defeats a panoramic roof) once it goes back far enough for the spoiler (mines more of a bug catcher) to pop up then the air buffeting starts. I found out years ago with most of my older cars i had to crack a rear window, but that also serves to increase cabin wind noise. Looks like MB will have to solve it and then others will copy the fix!

[iconoclast]

My S212 MB E63 AMG-S Wagon has this effect as well.
I am not sure what you think MB can do to defy physics but their vehicles are not immune.

[Wardman]

Originally Posted by expidia

You want all U.S. to cars to eliminate "sunroofs" even though most of the buying public loves their new cars with the full panoramic moon roof


Because you're tall . Did you know that taller people on average are more successful in life? So now you want us vertically challenged people to give up our sunroofs too.

I did notice on my 1.5 hr highway drive back home last night as others have noted that if I only open the sunroof partially (kinda defeats a panoramic roof) once it goes back far enough for the spoiler (mines more of a bug catcher) to pop up then the air buffeting starts. I found out years ago with most of my older cars i had to crack a rear window, but that also serves to increase cabin wind noise. Looks like MB will have to solve it and then others will copy the fix!

Yes - it should be an option. I HATE them. Never use them, and they bake the car. My last BMW has a roll away internal cover that was practically useless (535GT). At least the X5 is a solid slide cover. MB has slats that allow you to open the sunroof and gain airflow only without sliding the cover (at least my 2001 E430 did), BMW not so much/smart. Panoramic is the worst!!! Any questions

[iconoclast]

Audi offered sunroof delete for a very long time and then between 2010-2015 it was not an option but they have brought it back now on some of the new models. I agree that it should at least be an option for the customer to decide if they want one or not despite the fact that I love sun/moonroof and always use them.

[newtlicious]

I crack the rear windows just a tiny bit when that happens. Clears right up.

- Patrick