High Pitched Frequency Noise

I've taken my 2011 528i to the BMW dealer several times to try and find out what is causing a high pitched frequency noise that you can only hear from inside the car, but they can't figure it out. They thought it might be coming from the A/C system and replaced the blower motor and upper air distribution box, but the noise was still there. They recently replaced the computer that operates the audio system, but the noise was still there. When the noise does occur, it happens at any speed and goes away when I press the breaks and come to a stop. Has anyone experienced this or have any suggestions on what it could be? Thanks.

Originally Posted by bmw2012

I've taken my 2011 528i to the BMW dealer several times to try and find out what is causing a high pitched frequency noise that is coming from the front end of my car, but they can't figure it out. Has anyone experienced this or have any suggestions on what it could be? Thanks.

Does it come in high speeds? It's most likely cracked windshield seal, most dealerships won't take enough time to figure this out, there is not much you can do. Try lowering your windows just a tiny bit to have some air circulation (or open up the sunroof if you have one) and see if the noise goes (it most likely will). If that's the case, then it's the cracked windshield seal.

We used to have a stone driveway and I reversed out a little two fast and ended up with a stone behind a brake rotor that made a high pitched squel when I drove at any speed.

is it possible that it is coming from the speakers from something like a bad ground? I had that on my last 3 series..increased w/ speed (engine speed) not mph

The noise occurs at any speed and sometimes even at a stop. The noise stops when I use the brakes. The dealer thought it was something with the air vent system and replaced the upper air distribution box and blower motor.

The noise definitely seems to be electronic in nature.

yes..same thing..bad ground or fault in your audio

had the same exact issue, stevens creek bmw in san jose could not fix the issue, they tried to clean the ground but the noise is still there.

If it stops when you use the brakes and can happen even when stopped - it makes me think it's associated with the power brake booster which is classically a vacuum servo. So it might be a leak in that system or hose (assuming that the F10 booster runs on vacuum).

Good luck!

Thanks for your response. The noise primarily happens when the car is in motion. When I press the breaks or slow down and come to a stop it usually goes away. It's been to the dealer 10 times and they can't find the problem. They recently took out the computer that runs the audio system and put it in a new one, but the noise was still there. They've replaced parts of the A/C system, the noise is still there. I'll suggest the power break booster. thanks.

Originally Posted by bmw2012

Thanks for your response. The noise primarily happens when the car is in motion. When I press the breaks or slow down and come to a stop it usually goes away. It's been to the dealer 10 times and they can't find the problem. They recently took out the computer that runs the audio system and put it in a new one, but the noise was still there. They've replaced parts of the A/C system, the noise is still there. I'll suggest the power break booster. thanks.

is it like that http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=455691 ???

if so replacing alternator fixed the problem... let me know if it'll fix yours

I watched the video and that is the same exact noise I'm hearing. Which model do you have? How did the noise change after the alternator was replaced? Does the dealer know why it didn't completely eliminate it?

Originally Posted by bmw2012

I watched the video and that is the same exact noise I'm hearing. Which model do you have? How did the noise change after the alternator was replaced? Does the dealer know why it didn't completely eliminate it?

528, I mean noise is gone now

Thanks for your reply. I will suggest this to my dealer and keep my fingers crossed that this fixes it!

I am hearing the same noise. Does not change based on speed and is not present all the time. I have a 2011 528. Did your dealer fix the problem? If yes, what did they do? Replace alternator?

I experienced the exact same phenomenon in my '10 M5. It happened once and wouldn't go away until I realized the error of my ways - the high pitched sound came through my speakers and varied in tone with engine revs. Turns out my iPhone wasn't plugged in properly in my center console (USB all the way in, I think, but the audio connector wasn't). Once the IPhone was properly plugged in, the noise disappeared completely. Not sure if your issue is one and the same, but I'd check that iPhone plug - assuming such a thing also exists in the F10....

Originally Posted by bmw2012

I watched the video and that is the same exact noise I'm hearing. Which model do you have? How did the noise change after the alternator was replaced? Does the dealer know why it didn't completely eliminate it?

Ignore my previous post. The noise I experienced varied in pitch with engine revs, the one in the video does not -just sounds like an irritating but subdued high pitched bell ringing!

Originally Posted by bmw2012

Thanks for your reply. I will suggest this to my dealer and keep my fingers crossed that this fixes it!

noise is back, so alternator is not the solution :/ it's weird it was gone for like few months, yetsreday I started to hear it again, anyone has any type of solutions?

could there be any possibility of the intergrated sound system i.e the subwofer/amplifier that is emitting these noises...Just a thought

And you don't have your iPod/aux plugged in right?

Ha, I have this exact same noise in my car sometimes...seems to go away after a few minutes of driving. Thought I was crazy at first. I think this might actually have something to do with the fan. A few weeks ago I had parked the car in my garage and stepped out and heard the high pitched noise as I was walking away. I went back and listened closer and the noise was coming from under the hood...and the fan was still on. So maybe that's the culprit? The car was stopped so nothing like radio, engine, etc, was running. I think the fan was the only thing.

Did anyone ever find the exact cause of this? I have had this annoying sound since I bought my 2011 528i as well. Over the past few months, the sound has gotten worse. Leith BMW says they can't replicate(of course), but the videos are the exact same thing going on. This has to be an issue with 2011 it appears. I hope someone found something out. Look forward to replies!

I have an 2011 and I think I have the same high frequency noise. It's like a beeping of some sorts. I can't replicate it either but it comes and goes. Still looking for a solution too.

Ok, I had a similar issue with my E46 that drove me crazy for months before resolved it. It sounded like a a very faint whiny dental drill and I really thought it was electronic interference or something for sure. It didn't change with revs or anything just that high pitched noise. I finally tracked it down to a leaky air intake elbow. I highly doubt it's cracked from age already on an F10 like it would on a well flogged E46 but perhaps it's loose enough to make the noise but not enough to kick off an error code with the MAF sensor. Just something to consider.

Must be really annoying.