E87 120d - hissing sound from dashboard
E87 120d - hissing sound from dashboard
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Discussion

MitchT

Original Poster:

16,850 posts

226 months

Wednesday
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A week ago my 120d (E87, 103k miles, M47 engine) started making a hissing sound, not unlike the noise you get if you start letting air out of a tyre valve, but not as loud. It comes form the dashboard area. I initially thought it was air coming through the vents but, after closing them all and then turning the system off altogether, it continued. It starts when I start the engine and continues until I turn it off. When I turn the engine off the hissing doesn't stop dead, it fades away over a couple of seconds. The sound is constant regardless of revs, speed, gear, etc. Any ideas?

rottenegg

1,034 posts

80 months

Yesterday (12:17)
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Does the hissing noise stop when pressing the brake pedal?

LastPoster

3,036 posts

200 months

Yesterday (12:20)
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Does it have AC. If it does than shut it off completely

MitchT

Original Poster:

16,850 posts

226 months

Yesterday (12:44)
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rottenegg said:
Does the hissing noise stop when pressing the brake pedal?
No. It’s there from engine on to engine off.

MitchT

Original Poster:

16,850 posts

226 months

Yesterday (12:46)
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LastPoster said:
Does it have AC. If it does than shut it off completely
Yes to AC. On/off, makes no difference.

rottenegg

1,034 posts

80 months

Yesterday (15:39)
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MitchT said:
rottenegg said:
Does the hissing noise stop when pressing the brake pedal?
No. It s there from engine on to engine off.
You said it "fades away" after engine off, so it's not quite binary is it. I've seen leaking brake servos do exactly that.

E-bmw

11,349 posts

169 months

Yesterday (16:19)
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As it is a diseasel, it could be servo/vac pump or pipework in between, that would be my best guess anyway.

Can you hear it in the engine bay?

MitchT

Original Poster:

16,850 posts

226 months

Yesterday (22:16)
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rottenegg said:
You said it "fades away" after engine off, so it's not quite binary is it. I've seen leaking brake servos do exactly that.
Well, no, but it is constant from start to the point of engine off. It doesnt get stronger or weaker or change at all with engine revs, braking or any other factor.

MitchT

Original Poster:

16,850 posts

226 months

Yesterday (22:19)
quotequote all
E-bmw said:
Can you hear it in the engine bay?
I need to check that, possibly after work tomorrow.

It's going to the garage next week anyway as the creaking noise during low speed steering inputs (separate thread) needs investigating and I've tracked that down to a possible top mount bearing... and the glow plugs probably need changing too.