So, since buying my 3 year old Superb about a month ago, a noise has been growing on me. I could best describe it as a humming noise, but it is not homogenous, like wind or road noise, it had a little bit of a "wau-wau" into it (like, say, a wheel bearing having a bad spot) and it varies with speed.

I can start hearing it at about 35 km/h, which is too soon to be wind or road noise, and it is most prominent at about 60 km/h. After that it starts getting drowned out by wind and road noise.

 

Now, no one else who has been driving or riding in my car has noticed it, so I've been wondering if it is all in my head. I'm a bit pedantic, and maybe I'm just making things up?

 

Tried lifting the car and feeling the front wheels to see if there was any give to be felt, but it felt rock solid. Still thought that it might be in my head...

 

Called the dealer, and asked for them to take a look at it. Considering I have a 6 month warranty, anything that could be considered having been wrong at the time of purchase would be covered by them.

 

Left the car at the dealer yesterday, and was informed it would cost about 1500 SEK (~110£) to have it looked at, if nothing turned out to be wrong.

 

A couple of hours later I get a call... The mechanic has found that the sound originates from the gearbox, and they will replace the entire gearbox for me! They don't know exactly what is wrong, but they will hopefully find something when they tear it out.

I don't think this is the "pressure plate eating through the housing" that I've seen reported on the forums, considering that the noise is speed dependent and not related to engine revs.

 

So, all in all, I'm very pleased that I trusted my mechanical ear and my gut feeling. If the gearbox would have died outside of warranty, it would have been devastating!

 

Now, has anyone else seen, heard or read about this?

 

Also, the tranny is a 6 speed manual, which is kind of ironic considering how I avoided the DSG like the plague when I was shopping around for a car, since I'm not quite convinced about their long term longevity...

Interesting; that would tend to point to the driven shaft or final drive being at fault.

 

VAG probably want the gearbox for investigation!

Also, my clutch has felt a little "jerky" when cold this last week. When starting in first gear, it doesn't always engage smoothly. This is a bit intermittent though, and I don't really see how this could be related, since the noise isn't related to engine speed.

Anyway, I told the shop about it and they would check that too when they go through all the trouble of ripping out the tranny! 

 

Interesting; that would tend to point to the driven shaft or final drive being at fault.

 

VAG probably want the gearbox for investigation!

 

Let's just hope that I can get a good, technical explanation that I can let the internet know about!

Also, my clutch has felt a little "jerky" when cold this last week. When starting in first gear, it doesn't always engage smoothly. This is a bit intermittent though, and I don't really see how this could be related, since the noise isn't related to engine speed.

Anyway, I told the shop about it and they would check that too when they go through all the trouble of ripping out the tranny! 

 

 

Let's just hope that I can get a good, technical explanation that I can let the internet know about!

Ok, I'm guessing, but my thoughts are revolving around a mis-aligned shell bearing or faulty case-hardening on a shaft or gear.