F15 2014 X550i Xdrive M Sport excessive road noise

[Andyc0n]

Hi everyone, looking for some opinions and to see if anyone else has experienced similar issue. Based in Dubai just bought 2014 X5 as had previously owned F15 3l diesel 2016 in UK. Wife loved it so thought I go for similar here. Long story short car was bought from auto mall not main dealer but has main dealer extended warranty. The car has  excessive road noise which increases in volume with speed. It’s running on continentals but comes new with Dunlops. Mail dealer have looked at it and said uneven tyre wear all 4 tyres to be replaced at nearly 10000 AED for the set. The set of tyres I got with the car all seem fine and I’m used to people trying to fleece me here all the time so I have no trust in BMW given other issues I have had with them here.

just wanted to get some feedback from other members who have this model to see what tyres they are running and what difference in road noise they have experienced with different brands.

to be honest not convinced it is the tyres as it’s more like a droning rubbing noise but BMW are adamant and the balance and alignment have all been checked.

 

any guidance greatly appreciated

[Bimmer Owners Club]

Hi Andrew....welcome to the Forum

There is a thread on this forum that has been running for the past two to three weeks with very similar issues on a 3 series I believe....worth searching for this one as it had very similar information.

In respect of the steering / suspension geometry being misaligned - uneven tyre wear....I would find out why this is as opposed to allowing them to just adjust settings, as this may be the cause for the excess noise (wheel bearings, worn suspension joints, etc).

Let us know how it is all going 

Cheers, Trevor

Greydog - maybe one for you as you are the X5 specialist

[Greydog]

Morning Andrew

I take it your X5 is running 20" staggered set up (fatter rear tyres) ? First a common complaint across the BMW range is road noise and ride. Run flat tyres combined with the bigger the wheel the aspect ratio decreases making the ride harder and noise louder. 

These cars are sensitive to tyre pressure and alignment as well as the need to run BMW * marked tyres to protect the X drive system from wind up (especially if you have the staggered set up) I did read that 20" staggered set up should be 36psi Front 41 psi Rear also run flats get noisier as they wear particularly if the alignment is suspect. A good independent garage with 4 wheel alignment equipment plus new tyres should sort it. You can go to non run flats just make sure they are * marked and correct pressures.

Talk to the The Dunlop Pro Shop at the Ibn Battuta petrol station ask them about 4 wheel alignment plus tyres I used them some years back on an AMG 

Good Luck 

Dave

 

[Andyc0n]

Thanks a lot for your responses.

 

@greydog yep it’s the 20 inch staggered setup running Bridgestones which I checked are for this model. I’ll take your advice though and speak to the Dunlop guys.

 

but you know the biggest issue I have is you never know 100% until you’ve opened the check book. Would make me feel more comfortable if someone would prove what they are telling me up front then I would not mind paying the cash. 

[Greydog]

I know what you mean Andrew 

It was a few years back when I used the Dunlop boys they were very knowledgeable and sorted a wayward AMG I was running out there first they took readings of the set up and you could see where it was out (way out) they made all the adjustments to bring it back to spec supported by a print of both readouts, the cost was around the same as I would pay here in the UK £100 or so about $450 AED.

Runflats are notorious for getting noisier as they wear plus if pressures are down wearing oddly (shoulders etc) hope you get it sorted they are awesome cars when all four wheels point the same way!!

Good Luck

Dave