Audi A3 3.2 - low pitch whining/droning noise from rear of car

[ceg1805]

Hi all,

I hope someone can possibly shed some light on this one for me. I have a 2005 A3 3.2 with about 48k miles on it. It has been fully and regularly serviced and so should be in good order. I have recently started noticing a low pitch (hard to describe) droning/sort of whining noise which is definitely coming from the rear of the car. At first I thought it may be a bearing on its way out but it doesn't really sound like that. Tends to be most audible at mid revs. I know its hard to diagnose from such a vague assessment but does anyone have any thoughts? There isn't any obvious wear and there is no vibration through the car. Could it be a drive shaft on the way out?

thanks in advance for any help,

Chris

 

[somchai]

Could be the tyres ? budgets usually make a noise

 

[Mike X]

Wife / Girlfriend ?
Could it be the the exhaust , mine drones in high gear , low/mid revs .

 

[ceg1805]

Haha love it Mike X and thanks for the input guys. The tyres are only about 1k in from new and are the same as the factory fitted ones so I think they should be OK unless there is a defect. They were fully balanced and tracked as well at last service.

Maybe I'll jack it up this weekend and take a look at the exhaust, if not its going to have to be one of those very expensive investigative trips to the garage....

 

[S3Alex]

The other possibility is either the rear diff or Haldex.

 

[makelja]

Mine did that and later the fuelpump failed.

 

[Jay-a3]

I have this on my s3, my thoughts were wheel bearing but usually comes and goes around corners , this noise is constant. Really annoying to!