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Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:33 pm
by ITBarbie
Hi

I'm confused as usual. Ever since i've had my car (approx 2 yrs) I've noticed that there is a whistle from the turbo. I've noticed that it appears (can't guarantee this) louder since I've had my remap. I thought this was normal as I've had a couple of turbos before but I'm reading more and more stating that this may be a problem.

Just wanted to hear what you guys and gals think. Is it normal? Mine does it when you give it the beans.

Penny

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Re: Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:02 am
by Raj
It is normal to an extent. I've had a 330d and a 530d and both whistled. Never had a problem with the 330d but the turbo did fail on the 530d.

Re: Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:13 am
by AW8
:oops: When I saw the title of this thread I wrongly assumed the content might need moderating..........

How assumptious & inappropriate of me to think such a thing ;)

Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:09 am
by ITBarbie
Thanks Raj :-)

AW8 that's doesn't say much for me if you thought I was being smutty :-( you've got the wrong impression :-)


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Re: Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:37 am
by pvr
As a responsible Mod, I will provide a proper answer :poke:

Best way to listen to the turbo is to drive through a narrow lane or road with walls next to them. Open the window and the turbo should be clearly audible.

Re: Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 10:34 am
by x555
Yep should whistle and you can hear it quite clearly with the window down Penny.......... and yes i am taliking about the x before any smutty remarks are made :)

Re: Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:05 am
by pvr
I am sure AW8 will be along shortly describing the exact costs for the turbo replacement :poke:

Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 6:02 pm
by ITBarbie
Thank god for that my Penny paranoia was acting up again. There was just so much stuff on the net about it making a noise before dying!


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Re: Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 6:50 pm
by Sanj
Mine does it too Penny...

Re: Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:04 pm
by philip600
Hi Penny,
Mines whistles too but I can only hear it if window is down or whilst I watch my wife drive off down the road at warp speed :o
Phil.

Re: Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:45 pm
by gmc15
When I had my diesel it used to whistle, I noticed it when accelerating gently and only really heard it when I had the car window down. I actually liked the sound of the gentle whistle :)
Mind you I sold the car with 80K on the clock and on the original turbo.

Re: Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:51 pm
by storminmike
[quote=""pvr""]As a responsible Mod, I will provide a proper answer :poke:

Best way to listen to the turbo is to drive through a narrow lane or road with walls next to them. Open the window and the turbo should be clearly audible.[/quote]


That's what I said on a thread the other day......sounds errr great :)

can't help thinking that maybe a whistle should only audible when the air is escaping to atmosphere somewhere...well that's how real whistles work :?

Re: Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:23 pm
by nujon
Would a turbo whistle sound any different to an in-leaking inlet manifold - noting the reported propensity of the i/m on the 3.0d to hairline-crack?

Re: Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 7:20 am
by 535dboy
It depends on the whistle

It seems that the single turbos whistle a little more - I've never heard either my twin turbo cars whistle though

However if it gets over loud it does generally mean they are about to go pop

Re: Should my turbo whistle

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:17 am
by X5Sport
Definitely normal on our E53, but only with the window down. Can't hear it inside the car with the windows up at all.

And like 535dboy I've never heard any turbo whistle from the twin set-up. As they are of different sizes that either means the sound proofing is better or the small turbo whine is at a frequency beyond human hearing and there's too much wind noise to be able hear the larger turbo when it's running at full yell.