Comming back from New Hampshire today I noticed a strange bumble bee sound buzzing from the center dash on my '89 535I. It only seemed to happen when I was going over 70 MPH but didn't hear anything below that. I thought it was comming from the center dash speaker but with the radio off I still got it. Any ideas???

Perhaps your beemer is just trying to fit in with your b body...making a buzzing sound is a start

center dash speaker

:confused

No such thing that I'm aware of...

I had a buzzing that turned out to be something wrong with my port wiper blade, that would cause it to be slightly bounced around by the wind at higher speeds. I have no idea why or what caused it to start coming loose, but that's what it was. It would only happen if the wipers were at rest, and would stop if I stopped, got out, pushed them down a bit, and went again.

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No such thing that I'm aware of...

I had a buzzing that turned out to be something wrong with my port wiper blade, that would cause it to be slightly bounced around by the wind at higher speeds. I have no idea why or what caused it to start coming loose, but that's what it was. It would only happen if the wipers were at rest, and would stop if I stopped, got out, pushed them down a bit, and went again.[/quote]

Interesting. It seemed to happen when the wind blew across the windshield. I will have to try the wipers the next time and see if it goes away.

Interesting. It seemed to happen when the wind blew across the windshield. I will have to try the wipers the next time and see if it goes away.

That's precisely how I determined what it was - passing semis, mostly. Good luck, and check back with results. I've a few suggestions if it turns out to be elsewhat.

My blower motor makes a noise when it's on... just a suggestion.

I had a damn leaf stuck in the intake vent of mine. As I drove faster the "buzzing" got louder.

I will also check the blower motor and the leaves. I don't believe it was the blower motor because it happend at high speed only but I will check that. I guess anything is possible although it sounds like a leaf in the blower motor.

I have a metal carabiner on my keyring that buzzes at certain rpm. It's loud enough to be really annoying.

Check the plastic cowl covers at the base of the wiper blade arms. They basically cover the wiper motor. Make sure all the clips are in good shape and nothing is broken. They should fit flush and snug against the windshield.

I had a broken clip on one of mine, and that in turn made one of the covers crack. It wasn't sitting flush against the windshield, so it sounded like I was getting attacked by a giant bumblebee at interstate speeds.

Ive got the bumble bee too, 89 535!

Hmm, does yours sound mechanical or electrical?

Ditto my '89 535i, starts around 70 mph

Ive got the bumble bee too, 89 535!

Hmm, does yours sound mechanical or electrical?

It sounds more electrical than mechanical but who knows. It only happends above say 65-70 mph. I think we may be onto something hopefully here!

WINDOW MOLDING!!!!
i thought mine was the wipers too, until i remebered the same sound had come from the back window earlier this year. they start humming around a buck to start with and when it starts getting down to 55-60, its getting close to coming off. hasn't happened on my 93' and it has more miles than my 89'. so it was more of deterioration than milage.

Check the plastic cowl covers at the base of the wiper blade arms. They basically cover the wiper motor. Make sure all the clips are in good shape and nothing is broken. They should fit flush and snug against the windshield.

I had a broken clip on one of mine, and that in turn made one of the covers crack. It wasn't sitting flush against the windshield, so it sounded like I was getting attacked by a giant bumblebee at interstate speeds.

Well it turns out that the cowl cover over the wiper blades that has 8 square clips is missing one under the drivers side wiper and of the 2 clips that hold the cowl on the ends, one of those on the drivers side is lose and is not holding the end of the cowl snugly. The next problem is that I am looking for the part numbers and the illustration on BMWFans and RealOem websites and I can't find the illustration. Can anyone help out on this?

Try this: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD23&mospid=47408&btnr=51_0900&hg=51&fg=20. The part needed is # 16

It also needs to be glued, the clips alone aren't enough to hold it down. I used clear silicone as it acts as a brace and stabilizes the cowell moulding between the body and the clips. It took some trial and error when I deleted my ADV system.

It also needs to be glued, the clips alone aren't enough to hold it down. I used clear silicone as it acts as a brace and stabilizes the cowell moulding between the body and the clips. It took some trial and error when I deleted my ADV system.


Thanks for the help everyone especially Tom and TWN!

The clips will hold them down fine, if they are in proper condition.

Go to the dealer, and order a whole bunch of them. They are cheap enough.

The clips will hold them down fine, if they are in proper condition.

Go to the dealer, and order a whole bunch of them. They are cheap enough.

The dealer actually had 5 in stock and it cost me a grand total of $1.44 for all five.