High speed wail/whistle.
 

This noise is very loud and sounds like an old kettle with a whistle blowing steam off, it's deffo speed related not revs related and it sounds like it's coming from high up under the bonnet (Intercooler area).

It starts at around 110 mph and comes on at full volume immediately, as I slow down it goes away abruptly as opposed to 'fading out'.

Car is 2002 standard WRX with 24K miles, it's under warranty but I'm a bit iffy about admitting the speed to the dealer.

Any ideas? TIA.

Simon.

BMW Rallying.com

Does it do it every time you hit 110?

The door seals have been a bit dodgy on some of the new age cars.

Yes,every time at around 110, not a door seal, this is mega loud from in front of me somewhere and the noise goes on and off like a switch.
If it was revs related I would suspect a turbo fault, it's deffo speed related.

Simon.

BMW Rallying.com

Used to do it on mine too.

Like blowing across the top of a bottle.

I reckon it's the wind across the intercooler scoop.

Unless it's a recognised fault i doubt you'll get a lot of help from your dealer as they're not going to be able to take the car out and run it at that speed to be able to see the problem.

It might be worth getting a passenger to go for a ride with you to get a 2nd opinion on where it's coming from.

Other than that just check the scoop is fitted on properly, then polish and wax it.

I get it in mine aswell, but not until around 130, but do get a lot of wind noise from the drivers side of the car from somewhere, thought it was the air going through the gap between the mirror and the a piller. But as M3 says most probably a dodgy door seal.

Thanks guys.

I wondered about the scoop not sitting 'just right' and allowing a whistle through.

It is like very fast wind (jet speed) across a bottle top.

Haven't been 130.(Yet)




I've Just been looking, and I'm suspicous about the wiper spoiler.

Anyone got non original wiper blades/spoiler and still get the noise?

BTW, this is seriously loud, as in can't talk to a passenger without shouting, same noise?

Me too when I'm well into 3 figures, sounds like it's from the passenger side.

Me too in a MY03 WRX. 110% definitely door seal related.
Do the dealers recognise this as a warranty issue and replace them.?

Nige.

had a similar noise on my MY99, turns on like a switch at 100mph + i think its the seal round the windscreen. Mines more like a vibration that a whistle, been told theres not enough sealent to grip the rail.

This sounds more like it but I've no vibration, I'm pretty sure it's not a door seal, they could be sh*gged too but you'd not notice due to this other sound.:)

Warrantied?

Simon.

BMW Rallying.com

Hi speed Wail- is that an ocean based mammal that travels faster than a speed boat?:norty:

No mate, that's James Whale, Talk Sport, 1053 & 1089.:D

Mine howls like a banshee above 120. Since I'm not there very often ;) I haven't quite figured out where its coming from but it sounds like more from the rear. I thought it was noise from the spoiler (MY03 Sti PPP).

Heard that for the first time the other day in my MY05 WRX. Started at 120 pretty much on the nose, died away about 125. Then again on the way down from 125 to 120. Frightened the life out of me! Did sound like it was coming from the front of the car, kind of like a very loud wheel bearing whine.

Two thoughts
If it's the wipers or wiper spoiler, using the windscreen wipers should remove or change the noise until they go back to rest.
Second one is that it might be the i/c shroud parting company with the back of the i/c at high speed. Dunno if this is even possible on newage cars though.

J.

My thought is that its the rubber seal on the bonnet scoop splitter.
It seals around the inside lip of the IC.
I reckon that at high speed, the airflow through the scoop is too much to pass through the IC and "bursts" the rubber seal, squirting the air sideways and making the noise.
If I lift my bonnet after this, the seal looks distorted, usually on the front RHS.
Nick

Mine sometimes makes a vibrating whistle but at a lot lower speed, between 85 and 100. It stops after that though. Nothings lose or flapping about, any ideas?

its the black edging strip around the door frame, just in front of the door mirror.
i had the problem on the passanger side, try some tape over it to locate the spot it whistles................

Tried again.

Not the wipers.

The scoop/intercooler rubber seal sounds feasible.

My noise is deffo not from door mirrors/seals.

Simon.

BMW Rallying.com

I had this last tuesday at around 130 (indicated) seemed to come from drivers mirror area and sounded like a circular saw cutting plywood, ie very loud, med-high pitched. Started very suddenly and stopped as soon as i ****e myself and backed off..!

strange as I thought about posting about it but changed my mind until i could (safely) try again (on my private runway). Today I tried again and it didn't do it..? Now on tuesday it was quite a windy day and a bit of a cross wind...?

However from this post, which I've only just seen, it would seem there is an inherrant fault..? (poss with door seal).

WRX 05

Again, my noise is deffo not a door seal. (I'm used to crap door seals, common fault on E36 BMWs)

Simon.

BMW Rallying.com

Mine does this when on a private runway. Only started since the driver's door mirror was replaced though.

Suspect it's some peculiarity in the moulding on the mirror 'arm', though parts labels vibrating like a reed under the fold-in body of the mirror have been mentioned elsewhere.

My blob STi does this at 70 (into a 40mph headwind). First time thought the car was going to blow ?

Bang on Nick, that's the badger etc.:notworthy

I've just stuffed some sponges in the scoop to block the airflow and tried it, not a peep, sorted.

I've just got to work out a permanent remedy now. The rubber seal has a manufacturing 'unsealed/open joint' in it that I suspect is flapping/whistling at high speed.

Simon.

BMW Rallying.com

I thinkit maybe the carpet unfer the bonnet where the wind is getting trapped at speed.

Had the same problem with my 02 sti and dealer said they cant do anything because there was no where to test the car at that speed.....

Interesting I was sure this was the iner door seals... i.e. the plastic film behind the panel... mine never did it and then when i had the speaker replaced it started... so was sure this is what it was... same with other we had a thread on this last year...
But if its the scoop seal then cool... i'll get the gaffer tape out...

damn things propper annoying when i'm blasting it down my drive...:) always miss my braking point for the house as it puts me off!:eek2:


Dazza:norty:

Just one for those who still think it my be door mirror related, try folding mirror back to see if that makes any diff..?

I'll take a look at the ic rubber if mine appears again... fingers crossed..!

Anyone else tried this fix and found that it works? Secondly was this gap in the rubber seal left like this by the manufacturer for a reason, will closing it up cause any damage or a massive build up of pressure?!

I wonder why it happens to the newage cars and not classics?
Is it that the air flow through the newer style scoops is now much greater at high speed than the classics, to avoid engines going pop on fast motorway runs?

Nick