Sudden Whine in 1st & 2nd Gear (BMW Z4 E89 23i, Manual) – Need Expert Input

invalid@example.com (TonyKTony), TonyKTony
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:45:33 +0000

Hi everyone,

I need some help diagnosing a sudden whining noise on my BMW Z4 E89 sDrive23i (N52, manual gearbox).

Symptoms:

The noise only happens in 1st and 2nd gear

Only between 1,000–2,000 rpm

Only under acceleration / load

Completely disappears above ~2000 rpm

Cannot be heard revving the engine in neutral

Appeared suddenly and has slowly gotten worse

Work already done:

Auxiliary belt replaced

Tensioner replaced

Gearbox oil change

...

Sudden Whine in 1st & 2nd Gear (BMW Z4 E89 23i, Manual) – Need Expert Input