The first night I brought my 550i Sport home and parked it in the garage, when I got out, there was a symphony of all sorts of machine noises that seemed to emanate from underneath the car for several seconds. If I recall, there were three distinct ones. Two of them are gone (or I just don't notice them anymore), but now everytime I open a door, any door, theres an electric motor noise from under the car.

What the heck is all the fuss about under there??

 

The noises you are hearing when you exit the car after parking it is the car getting ready to go into sleep mode. The noises you hear when you open the door/Trunk or unlock the car is the car getting ready for operation.

 

I believe when you unlock the car via the FOB, the I drive begins to boot as well... So when you open the doors you are hearing all your electronics whirring and spinning...

I could be mistaken, but seemed logical to me

 

My car does the same thing. I, too, have thought to ask this question.

I usually notice it in the morning, when the car is in the garage. As soon as I open the driver's door, it happens. The sound is definitely *not* inside the car. Even if it was, it doesn't sound like a CD or DVD spinning up, not even close. Its more like a hydralic motor. It cycles on for about 1 second, and I think there is a light click or maybe something else. It sounds like it is coming from under the chassis, toward the rear. Something to do with dynamic drive? Maybe a fuel pump?

Maybe I should throw a microphone under the car and post the sound bite. Won't happen until I get the car back from the dealer, though. Ah, yes, and I'll need to buy a microphone.

 

I spent 5 hours detailing my car a few weeks back and I swore it was talking like R2D2 the whole time These cars are highly computerized and very self monitoring, so this "stuff" is going on a lot , I'm sure Rudy will give us the technical details but rest assured it is all normal ..... or as normal as new BMWs get .....Good Luck

Cheers

 

Agreed. These noises are DEFINITELY not coming from inside the car. I, too, thought maybe it was the fuel pump priming itself, but it sure is loud if that is it. Ah! I wonder if it has anything to do with the ARS? The sound is definitely coming from under the chassis, and my guess on ARS operation is that it connects/disconnects the stabilizer bars as needed while driving. Maybe they disconnect when you park and reconnect when you open a door or vice versa. I can't recall hearing a click, but that might be the click you are hearing, schwim.

 

I can figure out that much for myself! This isn't my first car with all sorts of electronic gadgets. But it is the first one that makes all kinds of body noises on its own. BMW really takes it seriously when they call it a "Machine!" With all those noises, I wonder if it won't convert into a Battle Mech and post sentry in front of my house! How cool would that be?!

 

I dont lock my car all the time, so how does all this stuff initiate if I dont use the FOB until I insert it into the dash and am ready to go (non-comfort access)?

 

So your car is ever-ready

 

SO it doesnt go to sleep unless it is locked?