x35i engine noise at idle

I have a 2011 x35i and my engine noise is high especially with the air conditioner on. This is especially worse in D and stopped at a light. It can be heard inside the car with a slight virbration. I drove like this for a year and thought thinking that this is normal for a turbo charged engine. But people have been commenting that how can a BMW engine sound more louder and rougher than a hyundai? Anyone with a 35i have the similiar problem? Are X35i engines known to be noisy?

Have you checked youtube videos on x35i sounds and try to compare it to yours?
Or compare with another X5 35i side by side?

X5 35i exhaust sounds







X6 35i sound

I don't mean the sound when accelrating. That is fine. It is just at idle at a stop, the engine sound inside the cabin is loud and a bit annoying. I think a BMW should be smooth and queit at standstill when idling. My RPM is about 700rpm at idle.

Why is BMW supposed to be smooth and quiet? I do not get it. Why does the valve train has to be silent? I like it to stay busy and noisy. Well, a 5 series is definitely silky smooth and dead silent.

noise is kinda loud for a gas motor.
I just picked up a new 2012 35d because the 35i was louder than a diesel.......

BMW's I've owned have definitely been louder than your typical Japanese car. I think it's not so much the engine as the radiator fan and a/c compressor. And maybe the belts. Ok it's the whole damn engine. And BMW a/c's are freaking loud for how poorly they perform.

If you want a quiet engine, buy a hybrid or electric car....

Guess What, I have disabled the vale at the passenger side tail pipe to stay open all the time. Now it is louder and sounds have beautiful race engine harmonics. Noticed an increase in HP but Torque is the same.
Try it.

One has to assume with the roadfeel of BMW ( at least with the E70 ) that a certain amount of vibration will be felt in the wheel at idle whether it is the gas or diesel, I would expect less in the gas verse the diesel, I know in my diesel I can feel a slight vibration in the wheel while idling whether the ac is on or not, by the way my ac works great even in 90 + days.

Originally Posted by iceman2002benz

noise is kinda loud for a gas motor.
I just picked up a new 2012 35d because the 35i was louder than a diesel.......

This is very hard to believe as my 35i and other 35i I've drove are quiet as any other car I have had.. perhaps the one you experienced has a problem with the engine?

Also I only have 2,000 miles on my new X5 but my steering wheel only vibrates slightly at start up and then during regular idle it is quiet and no vibration on the wheels can be felt..
maybe this will change as my car accumulates more miles??