Marguerite05

Wheel bearings can indeed fail in ways that don’t follow the textbook symptoms, especially if wear is uneven or the bearing preload is affected. Tire cupping or chopped tread blocks can easily mimic bearing noises and vibrations, particularly if it’s a rhythmic, droning sound. Rotating the tires front to back can help isolate that. The DSG transmission, especially in the 2.0 TDI models, does continue to spin some internal components even when coasting in Neutral — so internal shaft bearings or flywheel chatter can be involved, but that’s a more involved (and less common) failure mode.

It sounds like your 2016 Superb 2.0 TDI DSG Estate is experiencing a low-pitched, rhythmic noise with slight vibration, noticeable even at low speeds and unaffected by shifting loads or moving into Neutral. Although it has the characteristics of a classic wheel bearing failure, the fact that the noise doesn't change while cornering slightly complicates the diagnosis, as worn bearings typically get louder or quieter depending on load direction. Other possibilities could include an issue with the tires (such as cupping or uneven wear), driveshaft bearings, or even DSG transmission-related components still spinning while coasting. However, given the description, wheel bearings are still a strong suspect and should be carefully inspected first, especially since bearing noise can sometimes behave unpredictably depending on how worn they are.