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[STEMO]

Wifey's astra, 1.6 devil juice auto, three years old, 21000 miles, has a 'drone' which starts at around 25mph ans gets louder and slightly higher pitched as speed increases. It is more noticeable when first driving off and becomes slightly less noisy after 10 miles or so. It is constant throughout the gears and the auto box changes smoothly. This morning I noticed that it increases slightly when going around a roundabout and decreases for the two or three seconds when you turn left to come off the roundabout.
I'm thinking wheel bearing. Agree? Disagree? TIA.

[b4ndit]

I would agree wheel bearing

[Doctor Gollum]

Front or rear?

If rear, it could also be an indication of a binding caliper (handbrake mechanism) which eventually cooks the wheel bearing...

But yes, does sound like a wheel bearing 

[dave the builder]

wheel bearing possibly
thing about wheel bearings is they can pass an MOT ,you can't feel any play,no noticeable noise when rotating by hand BUT make an annoying "drone"
but worth checking the wheel bolts are tight PDQ

can also be a sticking brake pad or caliper
as it is low miles and probably not had any form of brake service yet ,that may be more likely than a wheel bearing 
 or CV joint can also drone but at such low miles and age ,unlikely
also loose trim or road debris trapped can vibrate /resonate

[STEMO]

Thank you all. Just been to Argos to pick up a new microwave (old one works fine, but we've had it so long it's gone rusty inside  ) and had a chance to act like a hooligan in a near-empty car park. I reckon it's a wheel bearing.
Now...will Vx see that as a warranty item?  Doubt it.

[dave the builder]

has it had an MOT yet ?
they check wheel bearings and brakes for basic function
if it's a wheel bearing ,you could say it should last longer and should be covered by warranty
the  55 plate I MOTed friday has 86k and has all it's original wheel bearings , as does Mrs Builders 54 plate petrol 112k (astra H estates but the moving bits are the same)
but then I insist they don't ram it up the curb every day when parking 

there is a TIS bulletin about the output shafts /inner CV joints which needed LUBE  on assembly and did not get it and is a known issue , the wear /lash is not fixable and requires new output shafts and CVs  £££££ 

[Doctor Gollum]

Thank you all. Just been to Argos to pick up a new microwave (old one works fine, but we've had it so long it's gone rusty inside  ) and had a chance to act like a hooligan in a near-empty car park. I reckon it's a wheel bearing.
Now...will Vx see that as a warranty item?  Doubt it.

They did my Vectra C one under warranty, took some convincing that there was an issue as by the time it got to a ramp, it was cold enough for the wheel to spin freely

Got a new rear hub and two rear callipers under warranty. Network Q car used as a taxi... So there's hope

[STEMO]

has it had an MOT yet ?
they check wheel bearings and brakes for basic function
if it's a wheel bearing ,you could say it should last longer and should be covered by warranty
the  55 plate I MOTed friday has 86k and has all it's original wheel bearings , as does Mrs Builders 54 plate petrol 112k (astra H estates but the moving bits are the same)
but then I insist they don't ram it up the curb every day when parking 

there is a TIS bulletin about the output shafts /inner CV joints which needed LUBE  on assembly and did not get it and is a known issue , the wear /lash is not fixable and requires new output shafts and CVs  £££££ 

We bounce our cars on to the kerb every time we park...no alternative. Having said that, my 5 year old 55000 mile astra, which is back and forth all day, has no problems with wheel bearings.

Al: After me thinking I was going to have to fight them over the auto box, a wheel bearing seems almost trivial.

[STEMO]

My new microwave works, anyway. 

[Andy H]

Seems low mileage for wheel bearing

My father had a mysterious drone in his last Vauxhall. Turned out to be the (rear) tyres.

If they are going to need replacing in the near future then wait and see whether that makes a difference. If the rear tyres are original and have lots of tread then get them swapped to the front and see if that makes a difference.

[dave the builder]

My new microwave works, anyway. 

I thought the  "meals on wheels" meals got delivered warm anyway 

[STEMO]

My new microwave works, anyway. 

I thought the  "meals on wheels" meals got delivered warm anyway 

Not around here. The local deliveroo driver gets mugged a lot.

[Viral_Jim]

Stupid question time...

Have you checked the tyres for even wear? My first 9-5 had exactly the problem you describe, but at 12yo and 90k, I thought wheel bearing was more likely. Turned out that a new pair of boots sorted it out - and they weren't even that worn.

Just a thought...

[STEMO]

Stupid question time...

Have you checked the tyres for even wear? My first 9-5 had exactly the problem you describe, but at 12yo and 90k, I thought wheel bearing was more likely. Turned out that a new pair of boots sorted it out - and they weren't even that worn.

Just a thought...

I could try, Jimmy, but I'm loathe to bin a couple of perfectly good tyres just to prove a point.

[STEMO]

Right, I've bit the bullet. Four new tyres on Tuesday.