How to Combat Rattles

[CSanto]

Hey All,

I didn't want to come in here and complain about having rattles. Instead I'm looking for some information as to how users have combated rattles.

Maybe someone who has had success removing a certain rattle he can write up a DYI for it.

Or we can get a list of dealers and vendors who know that they are doing when it comes to rattles.
I'm currently out of warranty so let's keep that in mind.

Thanks all.

Regards,
Chris

[ES_TRADER]

The most annoying one i have seems to be coming from the passenger dash area inside the vents...sounds like a metallic rattle/buzzing...i took it to the dealer to see what they can find but they blamed the noise on my full akra exhaust...they told me to remove me exhaust then have them fix it...im still learning to live with it.

I also have a rattling that sounds like the windshield is loose...on cold mornings and bumpy roads i hear some kind of creaking noise from the center in front of the nav hump

the other rattles ive tried to fix with felt tape lining and stuff but really no luck...i hear the back seats rattle, rear deck...sucks...my e92 328i is dead quiet

[CSanto]

Originally Posted by ES_TRADER

The most annoying one i have seems to be coming from the passenger dash area inside the vents...sounds like a metallic rattle/buzzing...i took it to the dealer to see what they can find but they blamed the noise on my full akra exhaust...they told me to remove me exhaust then have them fix it...im still learning to live with it.

I also have a rattling that sounds like the windshield is loose...on cold mornings and bumpy roads i hear some kind of creaking noise from the center in front of the nav hump

the other rattles ive tried to fix with felt tape lining and stuff but really no luck...i hear the back seats rattle, rear deck...sucks...my e92 328i is dead quiet

Maybe I should be thankful then. My passenger door rattles and occasionally I hear something from the backseats.

[CarbonFoot]

Buy yourself a roll of foam backed tape and go to town. Rattles drive me absolutely crazy and I've had great success with applying this stuff in key areas of my car. The hardest part is isolating the areas that are causing the problem. It helps if you have a bassy exhaust and helper touching and applying pressure in rattling areas as you blip the throttle or drive.

[Transfer]

No rattles in my E90 although I've tried to fix other car rattles with foam backed tape and I could never get it in the tight spaces well enough.

[besiktas]

Passenger side rear seatbelt are, rattles and annoys me all the time


and of-course the dealer "cannot replicate the rattle owner mentioned"

[RBB]

My passenger side front seat rattles from time to time when no one is sitting in it. I can place my hand on the seatback and apply some pressure and it'll stop, but come right back once I release. Very annoying.

[Totti]

x2 passenger door rattle.

[W///]

Originally Posted by besiktas

Passenger side rear seatbelt are, rattles and annoys me all the time


and of-course the dealer "cannot replicate the rattle owner mentioned"

That's actually the B-pillar trim. Haven't gotten around to fixing it yet, but at first I thought it was Jeeves that was causing the rattle.

I had a BAD rattle on colder morning from my instrument cluster. I could hear it over my music and my somewhat loud exhaust.

The Fix: Take the cluster out (there's only 2 screwdrivers at the top). Saw that main part of the cluster to the lens was pretty loose, meaning the clips weren't doing their jobs.... wait for it... wait for it. I used duct tape to have the pieces tight so that it doesn't rattle. Job done

[Super Sic]

I'm having the hardest time locating the source of a rattle in my E90. It seems to be coming from directly in front of me while driving - sometimes it sounds like it's coming from somewhere around the headlier, sometimes it sounds like it's coming from the top of dash. I'm already armed with felt tape, just can't seem to locate the source. Its driving me crazy lol

[kscarrol]

I have one bad rattle in my E90, A pillar driver's side. Sounds like it is close to where the A pillar meets the roof but have not been able to isolate. Frankly the streets are so bad here in New Orleans that I have simply resigned myself to a lifetime of rattles...

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by Super Sic

I'm having the hardest time locating the source of a rattle in my E90. It seems to be coming from directly in front of me while driving - sometimes it sounds like it's coming from somewhere around the headlier, sometimes it sounds like it's coming from the top of dash. I'm already armed with felt tape, just can't seem to locate the source. Its driving me crazy lol

Yes, sounds like one of mine. I know the feeling. I'm armed with all the proper tools...felt tapes, foam tapes, wearher stripping, an assortment of lubrixants and professional trim pullers. The whole nine yards. Problem is I can Effin locate them or have someone patience enough to sit around in my car and probe here and there while I drive to duplicate the noises. Argh. Winter time coming and that's not gonna help. These threads will also surface during this time of year.

[mofbb]

i have rattling noise from the rear seat when i am on bumpy road but i just cant find the exact source.

[Dellirium]

Dynamat //

[Radiation Joe]

Originally Posted by Super Sic

I'm having the hardest time locating the source of a rattle in my E90. It seems to be coming from directly in front of me while driving - sometimes it sounds like it's coming from somewhere around the headlier, sometimes it sounds like it's coming from the top of dash. I'm already armed with felt tape, just can't seem to locate the source. Its driving me crazy lol

Originally Posted by kscarrol

I have one bad rattle in my E90, A pillar driver's side. Sounds like it is close to where the A pillar meets the roof but have not been able to isolate. Frankly the streets are so bad here in New Orleans that I have simply resigned myself to a lifetime of rattles...

I recently used silicone lubricant on the door and window weatherstripping. Cured damn near every rattle in the car.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by Radiation Joe

I recently used silicone lubricant on the door and window weatherstripping. Cured damn near every rattle in the car.

Yes, had the "creaking" doors in the M3, the 545 and 550. This is different and definitely something inside the pillar...

[Super Sic]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Yes, had the "creaking" doors in the M3, the 545 and 550. This is different and definitely something inside the pillar...

Agreed - I've fixed the creaky door seals with a good cleaning and application of carbaflo. This is definitely coming from inside.

[CarbonFoot]

If all else fails, this always works:

[Xanadu]

Im glad I am not the only one who think this car rattles alot

[CSanto]

Originally Posted by CarbonFoot

Buy yourself a roll of foam backed tape and go to town. Rattles drive me absolutely crazy and I've had great success with applying this stuff in key areas of my car. The hardest part is isolating the areas that are causing the problem. It helps if you have a bassy exhaust and helper touching and applying pressure in rattling areas as you blip the throttle or drive.

Now, are we removing panels and stuff to get to the rattle?

Is that where you're applying the foam backed tape?

[erm324]

The rattles in my car have become extremely noticeable after I returned my exhaust back to stock (previously was running a full catless setup that was extremely loud so I could never really hear any of these subtle sounds inside the cabin). I never really noticed any noises until now, and my patience is growing really thin to say the least. I have a TERRIBLE rattle coming from directly in front of me, it almost sounds as if the winshield/dashboard is rattling (it is progressively getting worse). I also have another rattle coming from my rear seats at times. I do not know what to do because its the little things like this that is making me grow to hate the car - do you think the dealer would take a look at this, or probably simply dismiss it? I need to get this fixed I want to pull my hair out everytime I hear my dashboard/winshield creak - its intolerable

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by erm324

The rattles in my car have become extremely noticeable after I returned my exhaust back to stock (previously was running a full catless setup that was extremely loud so I could never really hear any of these subtle sounds inside the cabin). I never really noticed any noises until now, and my patience is growing really thin to say the least. I have a TERRIBLE rattle coming from directly in front of me, it almost sounds as if the winshield/dashboard is rattling (it is progressively getting worse). I also have another rattle coming from my rear seats at times. I do not know what to do because its the little things like this that is making me grow to hate the car - do you think the dealer would take a look at this, or probably simply dismiss it? I need to get this fixed I want to pull my hair out everytime I hear my dashboard/winshield creak - its intolerable

The dealer will look at it under warranty but the techs are only allotted x amount of time to find and solve the rattle. If they can't, they'll just leave it there and write cant duplicate since they aren't going to get paid for their time they just stop and hopefully your car gets reassigned to someone else the next time it's in