I have owned a 3 RWD for a year. Since i was thinking about trading it in for a 3 AWD, I took a test drive today. My 3 has a pleasant whir at all speeds, but while driving the AWD, I noticed a high-pitched whine at various speeds and during regenerative braking. I asked the salesperson who was in the car with me about it. At first, he sort of claimed he couldn't hear it. Then, after a while, he admitted he could hear it and questioned whether it was that particular 3 making the noise. Then, as I drove around more, he said he was noticing it more since I had drawn his attention to it.
I do have good hearing, but higher-pitched sounds naturally cut through all other sounds and so they are more audible. Honestly, I'm not sure I could accept it, esp. after having been driving my current 3 which is much quieter. I will test drive another 3 to see if it's any better, but I hope that I get a salesperson who could offer better information.
One thing he did bring up as a possibility and that is that the sound might be coming from only the rear wheels in the RWD in which case it's harder to hear.
I'm curious to find out from you all....are your vehicles AWD or RWD?
I do have good hearing, but higher-pitched sounds naturally cut through all other sounds and so they are more audible. Honestly, I'm not sure I could accept it, esp. after having been driving my current 3 which is much quieter. I will test drive another 3 to see if it's any better, but I hope that I get a salesperson who could offer better information.
One thing he did bring up as a possibility and that is that the sound might be coming from only the rear wheels in the RWD in which case it's harder to hear.
I'm curious to find out from you all....are your vehicles AWD or RWD?