I tool delivery of my 525d auto in May and I dont get the problems your are describing. There is no change in tone/gruffness as i go from 1500 to 2000 revs. I held it at 1500, 1700 and 2000 and it all sounded the same to me.

 

I assume it is 2993cc latest engine?

Regards,

 

sorry, yes, its an LCI 525 so has the latest engine.

 

It seems that some do it and some don't.

Regards,

 

And just because I like listening to the engine, I came up with a simple test for those with 525d LCI with auto trans. This test doesn't need you to do 75mph:

1. Find a clear road and drive along at 30 mph.
2. Put the transmission into M3 - this equates to 20mph per 1000 rpm
3. Set cruise to 30mph - this gives 1500 rpm, engine sweet as a nut
4. Click cruise back so it jumps to 35mph - this gives 1750 rpm - the noise zone
5. Click cruise again up to 40mph - this gives 2000 rpm, engine sweet again.
6. If you get no tone difference at the three speeds - celebrate. If you get noise, get onto your dealer and BMW, and just maybe they will do something for the few that seem so afflicted!

Not sure what the 3rd gear gives in the manual trans version, but you get the picture.

Regards,

 

Had my 525d SE Auto for just under a week now, no noise as you describe. Only built a few weeks ago week 41/42, supposed to be 44 but it got built early.

Have a few long trips over the next week, so will keep an ear out. The trick with holding it in 3rd is interesting, I'll try that. If it is there, I don't notice it, even with all the sound off.

 

The latest is that my car has been back to the supplying dealer and they had a BMW technical warranty guy look at it.

Conclusion is that he says that it is normal for a 525d LCI. Apparently though he accepted that the noise is there but it is just a characteristic of the engine. He said it was induction noise.

Upon hearing this I hit the roof. I then went to the dealership and met up with the service manager. Together we drove my car and then a 525d demo for comparision.

What I can report is that the demo also made a noise at 1700 rpm. It was a slightly different tone than my car so a little less noticeable. My car did seem a little smoother however around 2500 rpm. The service manager agreed with these observations.

It would therefore appear possible that all 525d's make a noise but some owners don't notice it or think it anything other than normal. The level of noise also varies between cars.

I also spoke today with the service manager from the other dealership that I took the car to, and since I saw him last he has driven 2 other 525d's. Without telling him of my experiences he said that the 2 he drove both had a noise at 1700rpm BUT it was more prominent in one of the cars.

He also said he had heard the noise to a lessor degree in a 530d LCI.

He is going to talk my complaint over with his BMW technical rep and see if he can make progress for me - so the fat lady isn't singing just yet!

If I had known this before ordering my car I wouldn't have bought a 525d LCI ! It is fantastic in many respects and the engine is very impressive - except for this noise. If it was possible to quieten it down a bit I would be satisfied.

If anyone from BMW is reading this please take note. I was thinking of updating my wife's car next year but having serious doubts about another BMW. Because of this issue, I wouldn't recommend a 525d unless you have impaired hearing!