donp@audiworld.com

My car has a distinct whirring noise from the RH turbo between 1800-2400 rpm under very light throttle (just enough to get the turbo spooled). It's most obvious in 1st or 2nd gear otherwise road noise masks it. If I drive in 2nd at around 2000 and load the engine with the emergency brake to keep the enging RPM constant I can modulate the sound with the throttle. "whirrrrrrrrrr" It's not the "swisssssss" noise; it's a lower frequency.

I stopped at the dealer during lunch yesterday. The service manager and an engine technician both listened to the noise and pronounce it normal commenting that some cars make that noise "right off the truck".

How many of you have this noise? I halfway believe the dealer... just trying to confirm that this is not a turbo bearing or something going south. The car-nut in me likes the noise, the pessimist inside is concerned.

donp@audiworld.com

Btw, LCPs car does not make the noise

quikslvrS4

i have a noise sounds like a whir also, but it seems to come from the water pump(put a long screwdriver on the pump and listened), talked to the dealer as soon as i bring it up they will check it and replace if neccesary!!!BTW its louder on startup and seems to quiet down a bit when the engine heats up!!!

Jim De Arras

Sounded "normal" to me, though.

Andy

Have exactly the same noise since a week. Will let you know what dealer says

CraigL

Yes, I can hear that noise and modulate it exactly like you described. I think it sounds quite bad-***!

I just thought it was the sound of healthy turbochargers, and haven't really been concerned by it. The other S4's I've driven have all made the same sounds, chipped and non-chipped.

-Craig
'00 S4 and loving that "whhhiiiirrr"

donp@audiworld.com

Excellent. I like the sound too... as long as it's a healthy noise. : ) Thanks.

Dion O

I have noticed the same sound in approx the same ranges as listed above. The sound I hear is a fairly high pitch sound almost as high as a siren. In fact when I first heard it I thought there was a fire truck or the like approaching. The sound I hear is not loud, but it is faitly noticable even if I have the radio on. I do not hear the sound on full throttle or while cruising. Only during parial applications of the throttle during the above rpms.

Bollinger

I have it too. Very quiet, kind of like a little chirr-rr-rr-rr-up. It didn't start until I had about 1500 miles, I have 2000 more since then and it isn't getting any worse.

Its not quite pleasant, but not disturbing.

Given the speed of turbos and how they work, I can't see how you can completely avoid some kind of resonance/interference noise between the valve "puffs" and the passing of the exhaust vanes.

Grant E.

Everyone else comments on the hissing and whooshing of the turbos, but I honestly can't hear anything but the revs of the V6 with the windows up or down, revving at a standstill or at road speeds.