Bizarre droning noise

[matt21]

Hey folks. Got an annoying fault with a 2004 Cooper S. Anywhere above 30mph there is a constant drone that gets louder with speed. It does this no matter whether the car is under load, no throttle, out of gear and so on. Turning left does it, right does not!

Almost sounds wind related by nothing is loose. Not wheel bearing or suspension related either it would seem. Driving me nuts.

Any thoughts? Its not the engine before you say anything!

[sday12]

Ask the wife to get out.

[Noesph]

wife?

edit - bah, beat me.

[Eighteeteewhy]

Wheel bearing would be my guess.

[McSam]

Fast and consistent answers, I love this place

[rich_b]

How do you know it's not a wheel bearing?

[cuprabob]

Could be the tyres

[Roadrunner23]

How do you know it's not a wheel bearing? Have you jacked up the car and checked each wheel for play or noise when you spin it.

[IainW]

Definitely sounds like the bearing. I had that problem a couple of years back and it did what you said - made a noise when going round a bend in one direction, didn't in the other. And above 30mph.

Or your rear tyres could be unevenly worn. That can make a droning noise too. Another thing I've had with my cars.

[matt21]

Assumed it would be more rarararara rather than raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa if you get me!

As for wife, funny but no!

[IainW]

matt21 said:

Assumed it would be more rarararara rather than raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa if you get me!

No, that's the noise Lady Gaga makes.

[Roadrunner23]

Sounds to me it could be a wheel bearing on the offside if it is happening when you turn left as its under load.

[sebhaque]

It isn't something as simple as a large stone stuck in between tyre tread, is it? Would go along with a constant increase in pitch as you accelerate, cornering may force it between the tread more. Just an idea 'n all.

[jjones]

Eighteeteewhy said:

Wheel bearing would be my guess.

mine also

[Roadrunner23]

Only way to find out is jack up the car at each corner and spin each wheel. You will soon know which wheel is the culprit as it will either be noisy or it will not spin as freely as the others. Even better get it on a ramp if you have a mate who works in a garage, makes it easier than jacking up. I'm pretty certain it's a bearing gone as I had the exact same symptoms just last week on my car and it was the rear offside bearing.

[Tunku]

Roadrunner23 said:

Sounds to me it could be a wheel bearing on the offside if it is happening when you turn left as its under load.

Sounds like a wheel bearing to me too. OP needs to have it checked with wheel off to feel for any roughness by hand. Some wheel bearings don't seem to have play even when worn and droning.

[billzeebub]

you haven't still got an Estate Agent hiding in there have you fella?!..

[swifthobo]

yeah wheel bearing or supercharger haha

[Major Fallout]

sday12 said:

Ask the wife to get out.

Noesph said:

wife?

edit - bah, beat me.

Dam!

[matt21]

When wheels bearing was going on previous car noise was defi itely more rarararara like. Thanks for advice folks will jack it up