How common is front motor whine on newer D models?

[Magellan55]

So i picked up my June 2018 build 100D 3 months ago, and hear a mild gear whine coming from the front motor that I don't recall hearing on several other cars test driving, nor the P85DL loaner I got a few weeks ago. It reminds me of the fake motor sound that Jaguar pumps out of their iPace. It goes up and down in pitch with speed, and volume with load (both accelerating and decelerating). Others can hear it from outside the car, and say my car sounds like a space ship when I drive by (low speed - parking lot). That's not really how I want my car.

Is this common? I did a search on the forum and see lots of different posts, but tough to tell what's common, and what's unique. I need to take my car in for the front strut replacement anyway, so a DU replacement would be good too if that's what it is.

 

[Jan Fiala]

I'm starting to hear the gear whine from the rear motor. Most noticeable around 90 kmh. S 100D, 55k km, April 2017 build.

I'll mention this to the SC during the annuall checkup. It could be just me.

 

[Brettski]

I have a May build 100D, and I hear a whine from about 37-42MPH; it’s subtle, but I think it’s a beautiful sound.

 

[Magellan55]

I have a May build 100D, and I hear a whine from about 37-42MPH; it’s subtle, but I think it’s a beautiful sound.

You're right It's not a bad sound inside the car, but apparently it's pretty loud outside the car. Sort of defeats the "silent EV" image. Though maybe it passes for making the kind of noise the feds are mandating EV's make starting in 2020?

 

[Joelgjr]

I have had it from day one (although day one for me was 3k miles because I got a service loaner).

I like the sound - makes it sound futuristic. I've actually never been in a completely silent tesla

 

[BrokerDon]

I don't recall hearing on several other cars test driving, nor the P85DL loaner I got a few weeks ago

Our 2015 P85DL has had the front motor "jet engine" whine for 38,000+ miles. Love it.

 

[Holo]

June 2018 MS100D. Have had the whine from day 1. My wife commented about it first. I know I am loosing my ability to hear high frequency sounds so even though I hear it, it sounds pretty subdued to me. Probably sounds louder to others. Doesn't bother me though.

 

[st50maint]

Interesting that many people like the sound.
I hate it.
I have been tolerating it for 3 years.
At least it is not noticeable at highway speeds.

 

[whitex]

Interesting that many people like the sound.
I hate it.
I have been tolerating it for 3 years.
At least it is not noticeable at highway speeds.

Many people like loud ICE car sound too, but some hate it. Some like to blast their stereo's with sub-woofers you can feel when next to them at the traffic lights, others hate it. Different people like different things. Personally I prefer silent operating machinery, but judging by the number of unnecessarily loud vehicles on the roads today, I'm going to guess I am in the minority.

 

[Snowstorm]

My 100D always had such a whine. It isn’t very loud nor did I found it to be an issue. I had always thought that is the way it is supposed to be. It is not loud, but noticeable.

 

[Magellan55]

So it sounds like this is pretty common, and maybe not a defective DU. Normally I play my music loud enough I don't hear it, but my wife hates my music so whenever we're out as a family, music is off and I hear it. But at least we're keeping her gas guzzler SUV in the garage more, as my S handles a family of 5 easy so it's our go-out-to-dinner car now. And I'm racking up way more miles than my old hybrid.