Lots of people have complained about this. Lots of others don't seem to have the problem. In any crosswind at all, mine becomes quite noticeable starting at 35 mph. By 55 mph, it is REALLY LOUD, definitely sounds like a defect.<p>Quite a few people report that dealers have fixed it by re-aligning the door. My dealer, Clair in Boston, said it is inherent to the A4 (due to mirror design) and cannot be fixed.<p>I suspect it is a door seal problem. It sounds exactly like a wind leak. The seal problem is probably marginal, so some cars are OK, others aren't. I suspect some dealers are just taking the customer complaints more seriously and taking the time to solve the problem, while other dealers just repeat the Audi line that it is "normal."<p>Jim (or anyone else): do you know the real deal?

Thanks.<br>

i am wary of re-aligning doors.<br>they are most probably perfect from the factory, and dinking around with them will probably not have positive results (doors that don't close,etc)<p>i think if u can some how get the inner door seals to be "fatter" this will solve the problem<p>1996 a4 2.8 qm

Hey Bill,<p>This is what I have experienced. Ever since I first picked up the car, I've notice the wind noise created by what seems like the driver side mirror when above 90km/h or so. I've learned to accept this as there's really not much that can be done here. It's the inherent design of the mirror.<p>However, on a recent road trip, I've noticed another wind related noise. This new noise was noticeable, like yours in heavy crosswind situations. It really scared me when I first heard it. It sounded like my B-pillar cover had come apart. It sounded like I had a wind leak coming in from the B-pillar. This noise happened on both sides of my car, depending on which direction the wind was coming from. I put my hand up by the B-pillar to see if ther was an actual leak, it was cold up there, but I couldn't tell for sure if there was wind inside.<p>I'm more concerned with this new noise at this point. It justs sounded like it was tearing off my B-pillar cover. I don't like it at all.<p>Anyone else with this wind noise?<p><br>Later,<p><br>James Wu<br>A4 Club of Vancouver<br>1998 Black/Onyx 1.8tqa<ul><li><a href="http://vancouver.a4.org">A4 Club of Vancouver</a></li></ul>

I don't think there was any redesign of the windows in the 99.5. The mirrors have been redesigned, but don't know if that had anything to do with wind noise.<p>The problem obviously has to do with door seals. Rubber tends to lose some of it's "conformability" at lower temps and I suspect those with wind noise notice it much more in the winter than in summer.<p>The only way to fix it correctly is to replace the seals.

the items recommended in your owner manual under do it your self care. They note talcum powder and a few other items to keep the seals soft and protect from frozen door/ripped seal syndrome.<p>Richard Martin in A2, MI.

Place some electrical or duct tape on the gap where the mirror attached to the door - about six inches should do. Take the car out for a spin on the highway and see if the noise goes away. Mine did.<p>My service dept said that this was indeed a design flaw and there was no known fix.<p>I've since replaced the tape with some weather caulking - the stuff comes in rolls and looks like play-do spaghetti. The only downside is that if you ever need to fold the mirror in, you need to replace the caulk.<p>If the tape solution doesn't work, then most likely it is a door alignment problem.<p>Good luck,<br>Chris

My car displayed this problem from the day I picked it up, which was in July, so cold weather is not the culprit. I will try the ideas you mentioned in the manual, but I really doubt they will do the trick. I've already tried pulling out the weatherstripping a bit by hand.

I don't know if we are having exactly the same problem(s). My noise sounds exactly like the driver's window is open a crack. I find myself constantly checking the switch! The noise never comes from the passenger side (I've chekced while riding in that seat). It only occurs during crosswinds, but they do not have to be high winds at all.

In my A4, I nailed down two sources of leaks, by opening the moonroof just a bit (say, three notches on the control to the passenger side) with all windows fully closed on a rare cool (45 F) day here in Texas recently. I immediately noticed a breeze coming from two separate places on the drivers side door. (1) Most noticable was noise and a cool draft from the very top rear of the window where the glass meets the rubber - about a 4 inch strip where air is coming in. (2) More annoying really is the leak at the console where the window controls are mounted. That plastic piece leaks air both around the buttons and where it meets the larger door panel.<p>I'm convinced that my wind noise is emanating fromt the window. I am visiting my dealer tommorrow (Park Place in Dallas - great guys) and I am sure it will be fixed once I explain it to them. I'll let everyone know how it turns out.<p>In the meantime, if you have noise, try closing your windows and cracking your moonroof, then check for breezes. If there aren't any, your seals are holding & it must be your mirror.<p>Darryl<br>98.5 1.8T qms

Hey Darryl,<p>The top rear of the front windows where the glass meets the seal is also where I thought I felt a draft in my post below. AS I explained before, this leaking noise only occured during strong winds. So it's unlikely I will be able to duplicate the problem and test the control panel as well. Tell me how your visit at your dealer goes, and if they were able to track down and fix the problem.<p>Thanks.<p>James Wu<br>A4 Club of Vancouver<br>1998 Black/Onyx 1.8tqa<ul><li><a href="http://vancouver.a4.org">A4 Club of Vancouver</a></li></ul>

Yeah, maybe my leak is worse than yours. Do you notice the leak from the window control console?<p>Darryl

your method is excellent! Cracking the moonroof did indeed evoke a defnite breeze from the driver's window, most noticeably at the very front bottom of the window, but also further back on the top. <p>I'll explain this to Clair when I bring my car in for service tomorrow morning. I'm not optimistic they'll take the trouble to solve the problem, but I'll let you know. <p>Thanks for the idea!

I just had my 1.8t services at diablo audi in<br>concord, Ca. This is what they did to alleviate<br>the air leaks...<p>R and R trim panel, reinsulated and tightened window channel, and adjusted door striker.<p>R and R trim panel, reinsulated inner skin and secured ock rod.<p>(this is from my Invoice).<br>They appeared to solve the problem with the air leak in the upper corner of the drivers window near the B pillar. The service tech also applied some silicon based grease to help soften the rubber seal and aid in sealing...<p>Doug Thue was the service advisor - VERY helpful<br>and knowledgable.....

Is it a whistling or a roaring type noise. My '99 is quiet up to 60 mph but beyond that, I hear a roaring wind noise from outside the side windows that is somewhat annoying. I can't pinpoint a specific origin or wind leak. I tried adjusting the door window frames to bring them in tighter to the body but it had no effect other than to make the doors harder to close. Has anyone had any luck curing this type of wind noise? Please don't tell me to just turn up the stereo, either!

Hey Darryl,<p>No. I didn't notice it from the window control panel. But I didn't actually check down there. The reason I checked the upper rear of the window was because that's where the sound was coming from, it sounded like the wind was ripping my B-pillar cover off. I may very well be that wind was coming in from the control panel as well. I don't know though.<p>Later,<p><br>James Wu<br>A4 Club of Vancouver<br>1998 Black/Onyx 1.8tqa<ul><li><a href="http://vancouver.a4.org">A4 Club of Vancouver</a></li></ul>

Well, I had the car in for service, and they adjusted the top of the door to fit with the seal better (not the widow to the rubber), and on the 2 hour, 70-95 mph drive (damn suburbans) home, the wind noise is basically gone. Now all I hear is external buffeting (like over the mirror & maybe the wipers). I am _very_ pleased. Interestingly, the leak I found between the glass and the rubber is still there and it doesn't seem to be a source of noise. The breeze is not enough to worry me, so I'll forget about it. <p>Also, my service guy told me that the draft from the window controls console is normal, and he cant do anything about it. Again, it isn't a source of noise, so I'll forget it.<p>Good luck,<p>Darryl <br>98.5 1.8T qms, quiet as a tomb up to 90 mph, in fact, it's quieter than an MB E 320 wagon at 85 mph (I test drove one today)!

You say the dealer "adjusted the top of the door to fit with the seal better (not the widow to the<br>rubber)." Could you explain in more detail what you mean? See my post above on what Clair told me. If there is a simple fix, they don't seem to know about it.