RHD V6 Cars, air noise behind your right ear

[MiamiBlue]

Maybe only applies to right hand drive cars.

Behind my head to the right (and more pronounced if I push my head further back), I can hear what sounds like wind noise/air rushing/fan sound. At first I thought it was wind noise from the vehicle, but it doesn't increase with vehicle speed. It seems more connected with engine speed.

Is this normal? I'm assuming it's an air induction noise? Or some other engine part making the noise.

Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[Tomwa]

On the right side? I don't think it's induction noise, but there is an engine fan in there which blows across the exhaust against the firewall

 

[MiamiBlue]

On the right side? I don't think it's induction noise, but there is an engine fan in there which blows across the exhaust against the firewall

Yes right side. If you're LHD it would probably be your passenger that can hear it.

 

[shin73]

I have this on my car too (RHD). Just got my car back from paint blistering repair so thought it might have something to do with the installation of the door panels and the air seals weren’t right, but then noticed that the hissing only comes when the clutch is in gear. I am pretty sure that the hissing wasn’t there prior to repair, but I drive around with the windows down most of the time so maybe just didn’t notice (it was raining today so had the windows up)

 

[Bimmernate]

It’s air rushing into the engine compartment, completely normal. It threw me off too because I’ve never had a mid engined car before and didn’t expect it

 

[Jinba ittai]

On the right side? I don't think it's induction noise, but there is an engine fan in there which blows across the exhaust against the firewall

Agreed. The intake is on the left hand side. The right hand side is cooling the engine bay.

 

[MiamiBlue]

I have this on my car too (RHD). Just got my car back from paint blistering repair so thought it might have something to do with the installation of the door panels and the air seals weren’t right, but then noticed that the hissing only comes when the clutch is in gear. I am pretty sure that the hissing wasn’t there prior to repair, but I drive around with the windows down most of the time so maybe just didn’t notice (it was raining today so had the windows up)

I think this is it. It's not related to vehicle speed, but the engine somehow. It's there at lower speeds.

If it makes any difference mine has also had the doors replaced for paint blistering.

 

[MiamiBlue]

but then noticed that the hissing only comes when the clutch is in gear.

I checked today and confirmed the same. Push the clutch down and the air noise stops.

Question is, is this normal? Or do both of our cars have a fault?

 

[shin73]

Hopefully some others can chime in. Can’t say if it’s normal or not, if not, then another trip to the dealer…