Body - Wind Noise Troubleshooting Guide
SI B 51 54 02Body Equipment
January 2003
Service Engineering
SUBJECT
Wind Noise Troubleshooting Guide
MODEL
E53 X5
PROCEDURE
In case of a customer complaint, the following wind noise troubleshooting guide may be followed:
1) Wind noise from sunroof area:
a) The sunroof glass (see illustration point 1) may be set too high or too low.
^ Verify by inspecting the glass setting: Front 0 - 1mm and Rear 0 +1mm.
^ Repair by adjusting the glass per Repair Instruction 54 12 003.
b) The sunroof glass panel (see illustration point 1) may be slightly undersized.
^ Verify by inspecting for any gap between sunroof seal and glass panel, and by driving with seal and glass taped over. See SI B 54 50 02
^ Repair by replacing the seal per Repair Instruction 54 12 120.
Part Number: 54 13 7 064 664 Sunroof Seal
2) Buzzing noise at highway speed (65+ mph) from upper windshield area:
^ Windshield cover (see illustration point 2) may be improperly installed.
^ Verify by driving with windshield cover taped over or by pressing on upper windshield from inside the vehicle when the noise occurs.
^ Repair by replacing windshield cover per Repair Instruction 51 31 021.
Part Number: 51 31 8 402 457 Windshield Cover
3) Whistling noise at highway speed from vehicle left front area, especially with side winds:
^ Left wiper arm (see illustration point 3) may have varied from part to part.
^ Verify by driving without left front wiper arm.
^ Repair by replacing the left wiper arm per Repair Instruction 61 61 100
Part Number: 61 61 8 403 031 Left Wiper Arm
4) Wind noise from A-pillar area:
^ There may be a slight gap between the door and A-pillar seal (see illustration point 4).
^ Verify by inspecting A-pillar for any visible gap between door and seal, and by driving with A-Pillar seal taped over.
^ Repair by adjusting the door to dose the gap per Repair Instruction 41 51 004 and Body Gap Dimensions 41 00.
5) Wind noise from lower A-pillar or rear view mirror area:
^ There may be a slight gap in rear view mirror triangle seal (see illustration point 5).
^ Verify by inspecting rear view mirror seal for any gap or by driving with the triangle seal taped over.
^ Repair by adjusting the rear view mirror triangle seal per Repair Instruction 51 16 000.
6) Whistling noise at highway speed from rear view mirror area:
^ There may be an offset between mirror housing and black supporting ring (see illustration point 6).
^ Verify by driving with rear view mirror black supporting ring taped over.
^ Repair by replacing the mirror supporting ring per Repair Instruction 51 16 040.
Part Numbers: 51 16 8 254 903 Left Mirror Ring
51 16 8 254 904 Right Mirror Ring
7) Wind noise from rear door window or C-pillar area:
^ C-Pillar finisher (see illustration point 7) may be improperly mounted.
^ Verify by inspecting C-pillar finisher for any visible gap or by driving with the finisher taped over.
^ Repair by pressing on the finisher to engage further or, as necessary, by replacing the finisher per Repair Instruction 51 34 425.
Part Numbers: 51 34 7 041 435 Left C-pillar Finisher
51 34 7 041 436 Right C-pillar Finisher
51 34 7 041 437 Left C-pillar Finisher, Sport Package (5A330)
51 34 7 041 438 Right C-pillar Finisher, Sport Package (5A330)
8) Rushing noise during acceleration with opened sunroof headliner:
^ Sunroof bottom water valve (see illustration point 8) may be damaged or missing.
^ Verify by inspecting water valve for any visible damage or by driving with the water valve taped over.
^ Repair by replacing the water valve.
Part Number: 64 11 8 368 356 Water Valve
9) Buffeting noise with fully opened sunroof and all windows closed:
^ Sunroof opening may not be properly set.
^ Verify by driving with dosed sunroof.
^ Repair by resetting the sunroof opening using DISplus or GTI per SI B 54 51 02
10) Howling or droning noise with AC on and in fresh air mode:
^ Fresh air flap position may not be properly set.
^ Verify by driving with AC off.
^ Repair by replacing the IHKA Control Module per SI B 64 50 02
Part Number: 64 11 6 926 882 With Rear Blower
64 11 6 926 880 Without Rear Blower
ILLUSTRATIONS
The above illustration shows some possible wind noise areas.
The above illustration shows the left front tire with the location of the left sunroof bottom water valve. The right sunroof bottom water valve is located on the opposite side.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Information only.