X3 wind noise

I had the chance to drive my wife's X3 2.5 on the Atlantic City Expressway on Friday. It has been driven only a few hundred miles in the past two months. It handles very well and is satisfactory except for wind noise over 60 or 70 miles per hour. It has no sunroof and the windows were closed so it must be from the roof rails. I drove it at about 82 miles per hour and was disappointed with the noise as compared to my 325. It doesn't bother my wife at all. She's used to a Pathfinder and rarely drives at highway speeds. I wonder if anyone else has noticed this? Maybe removing the roof rails will alleviate the noise.--Kevan

I say if it doesn't bother your wife and you don't drive it that much, then just leave it the way it is. Mine has the Panorama Roof and it only gets unreasonably loud over 70mph with the roof open. I don't particularly mind it because it's due to the rails. If something comes in the way of air at that speed, it's going to make a sound.

I got mine up to 90mph and I have the panoramic roof. It has a god awlful whistle noise. I could hear it over the radio.

Originally Posted by dlflyboy

I got mine up to 90mph and I have the panoramic roof. It has a god awlful whistle noise. I could hear it over the radio.

I'd say that's about normal.

i have a similar qualm about this too. when i have the roof completely slid open and drive over 60mph the wind noise is almost unbearable. it actually causes the car to vibrate and it even hurts my ear drums. i can feel my head vibrating. i had my gf and my mom in my car the other day and they too said it was unbearable. we tried my moms X3 and the same problem. so i know it isnt just me. the roof actually sounds like its vibrating. the sound sounds similar to the creaking problem that was fixed using carbaflo. i live in orange county and i drive at freeway speeds over 65 mph. and its been really warm here.

open a window.

You are hearing the percussive effect of wind entering the cabin with no where to go. Other than opening the rear hatch to provide a escape path for the incoming air, the only alternative is to open a window. I'd recommend that you add a pair of weathertech deflectors.

X3 MY2004, no sunroof and same as more and more users, whistling noise from 70Mph.
Local BMW dealer tested my car, and told me this is normal and due to the design of the car. I will test another X3 within the next few weeks, with the boss of my local BMW dealer, to see if this is the same problem with an other car. Hope not...

Originally Posted by ladrstea

X3 MY2004, no sunroof and same as more and more users, whistling noise from 70Mph.
Local BMW dealer tested my car, and told me this is normal and due to the design of the car. I will test another X3 within the next few weeks, with the boss of my local BMW dealer, to see if this is the same problem with an other car. Hope not...

You might want to have 'the boss of your local BMW dealer' go along with you on a test drive of your car as well as a new one.

All of these complaints seem to stem simply from the aerodynamics of the car. Rather like the horrible thumping you get in an E46 when you roll down all four windows.

How loud is an X5? I would think unless you add a large ammount of deadening material and thicker glass, any SUV/SAV/derivitive vehicle is going to have more noise than a car due to its shape and how high it sits.