Updated: M140i - Gearbox whine/leaks and a roof rattle - Ombudsman rule in my favour!

[enthusiastowned]

Hello All,

I have a suspect gearbox issue with my M140i. September 2016 Build with approx 4,000 miles - The cars been doing this for a few thousand miles now. Any drive mode, any gearbox mode - Gets worse as the car gets warmer... Is this normal?



This video is shot with an iPhone so the Mic isn't the best at picking the sound up, in the car it sounds like a supercharger (or a cake mixer as my Mrs puts it).

Need your input please!

[moulin12]

No idea what it is, but it isn't normal! Off to the dealers!

[OrtonM135i]

My Dealer told me BMW intentionally build them all with a whine to replicate touring cars sound the usual bollocks you expect from most dealers... come up wth an excuse that sounds like a benefit! It should whine to some extent but only really in reverse or low speed/gears

Worth taking to a dealer as some that whine can end up leaking and failing at worst


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[Octavius]

Who makes the auto box for VW. They are silent.

[enthusiastowned]

Glad it's not normal! It's already been into my local BMW who said they couldn't hear anything so asked for a video. I wanted a 2nd opinion for my sanity!

All gearboxes whine but I've never had anything like this before - When pushing on in the car, it's seriously loud when in the cabin and ruining the enjoyment.

Touring car.. It's not a bloody touring car, I hoped you laughed at them!

[JohnnyPeanuts]

I can't help with what's wrong but it sounds nothing like my AT - so I'm going with not normal

[EB135]

Does it happen in every gear?

There was some reports of the gearbox oil leaking from the heat exchange and causing this issue. Gets worse over time as the level goes down. Definitely push the dealers to fix

[Fathiantaki]

Are you sure its the gearbox and not the twinscroll turbo?

I wouldnt worry, doesn't sound "not normal" to me especially that (as per your video) you are in the higher revs...had a few BMWs who made a similar noise (including my current m140), never thought of it as an issue, rather than "a bit too loud"...

[chester]

The noise is not normal at all so I would be having it out with the dealer if playing silly beggars. Could be the gearbox or turbo waistgate solenoid valve but needs investigating.

[Plantjuk]

Took mine in for a whistling box and exhaust rattle the other day. Told the tech I knew the exhaust was the butterfly valve rattling and it's a common problem, I also told him that the whistle is a known problem and that ZF had updated the box because of this. They still treated me like I was stupid and told me the whistle is the turbo spooling up and the exhaust noise was a characteristic of the car so good luck getting it fixed. BMW customer services were useless too! I'll not buy another BMW after owning 3 now and I told customer services this. They didn't give a sh*t.

[OrtonM135i]

Took mine in for a whistling box and exhaust rattle the other day. Told the tech I knew the exhaust was the butterfly valve rattling and it's a common problem, I also told him that the whistle is a known problem and that ZF had updated the box because of this. They still treated me like I was stupid and told me the whistle is the turbo spooling up and the exhaust noise was a characteristic of the car so good luck getting it fixed. BMW customer services were useless too! I'll not buy another BMW after owning 3 now and I told customer services this. They didn't give a sh*t.

Totally agree, cars are great but BMW themselves and most of their dealerships are appalling!

They tried telling me that just because I bought my car privately it would be very hard to get the gearbox or fan issue repaired under warranty even though it was still within its 3 years!!!

Only thing you can really outside of things like sale of goods act is to lay into them on any of their social media sites and kick up enough fuss they have to do something about the issue


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[chester]

If you think BMW are bad try Ford/Vauxhall/Peugeot reason why I changed to BMW after years of dealer strife, its down to the dealer end of the day. I've just bought a new Hyundai so will see how they fare, buying experience has been just as good as BMW except they have Nescafe instead of Costa in the showroom.

[OneTwenty]

If you think BMW are bad try Ford/Vauxhall/Peugeot reason why I changed to BMW after years of dealer strife, its down to the dealer end of the day. I've just bought a new Hyundai so will see how they fare, buying experience has been just as good as BMW except they have Nescafe instead of Costa in the showroom.

+1 to this, buying and owning a Ford is something I don't want to do in a hurry again! My experience with BMW has always been good in ten plus years.

[Harmlu]

Definitely not normal. If they try to fob it off as normal, ask to take a 140 demonstrator out to prove it is normal


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[Crafty]

Yeah, so thats not right at all. Do the video again with the phone in the footwell, it should make it louder.

As for making it sound like a touring car - the shiny suited BMW sales people might believe their bullshit, but we don't!

Don't take no for an answer. Use a different dealer if need be.

Little experience myself, but to be honest BMW dealers are no different to any other - just because you buy a "premium" brand don't think that they are any different to a Ford/Vauxhall/whatever dealer. They're in it for the money and the hapless punter is the cash cow.