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Thread: Mechanical whine sound behind dash?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
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    Southern NJ
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    157
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    2000 BMW 540i/6

    Mechanical whine sound behind dash?

    Hello all.

    I have a 2000 BMW 540i, and when I drive there is a mechanical whine sound coming somewhere behind the dash. The sound is only heard inside the cabin, when I am driving the vehicle. When the vehicle is stopped the sound goes away. I thought maybe it was the fan in the IHKA going bad, but I unplugged the MID and IHKA and the sound still is heard.

    I took a video to show what the sound is. The sound is heard a few seconds into the video. The way I would describe the sound is an old broken harddrive sound.

    Please let me know what you think. Thanks.

    https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6...0NTOVVPQzhzMm8

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    Oregon/Ukraine
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    4,881
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    E39 M-Sport F30 M-Sport
    Probably the fan blower?
    E39 WhatsApp Chat Gruppe

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    San Jose, CA
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    1997 BMW 540i 6 speed
    Need a password to see the video.


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
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    Southern NJ
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    2000 BMW 540i/6
    Quote Originally Posted by RuskiE39 View Post
    Probably the fan blower?
    That's what I was thinking when I first started hearing it, but the sound goes away when I turn the HVAC off and turn the fan off.

    Quote Originally Posted by edjack View Post
    Need a password to see the video.
    Should be fixed now.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Southern NJ
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    2000 BMW 540i/6
    Bump.

    Any ideas on what it could be ? Could the blower motor make noise when the blower isn't on ? I hear the noise only when driving and it increases when turning.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    3,566
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    1998 528i; 2000 540i;
    Increases when turning? Have you checked your ATF in the power steering reservoir?
    gmak: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. A journey with my new-to-me 2000 540i

    "Working on a BMW E39 is the best way to run out of time."

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Southern NJ
    Posts
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    2000 BMW 540i/6
    Quote Originally Posted by gmak View Post
    Increases when turning? Have you checked your ATF in the power steering reservoir?
    All fluids in the engine bay are fine. ATF in the power steering fluid is great with no leaks. It's definitely coming from inside the cabin area.

    I was reading somewhere online that when the blower motor is bad when turning it can cause the bearings to rub against each other causing sound. But if my blower motor was going bad it wouldn't make sound with the blower off correct?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Lansdale, Pa
    Posts
    7,043
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    98 540 6, SC'ed, 16psi
    Perhaps the blower spins by air pressure while the car is moving? Not sure on this, but maybe.

    You take off air intake snorkels from under the hood and put something into the fan blades to stop them from turning. Maybe a rag or piece of rubber vac line or something.
    98 540i 6, 525 whp, 120 mph 1/4, V3 Si S/C'er @16 psi, W/A I/C, Water/Meth, Supersprint Headers, HJS Cats, 3" Custom Exhaust, UUC Twin Disc, Wavetrac LSD, GC Coil Overs, Monoball TA, AEM FP, Aeromotive FPR, AEM Failsafe AFR/Boost, Style 65's w/275's, M5 Steering Box, Eibach Sways, M3 Shifter, Evans Coolant, 85 Deg Stat, PWM Fan, 10" Subs, B.A. speakers, Grom Aux/BT, Still Rolling as my DD!

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