M3's and rattles

apw2607 · 08-18-2008, 05:11 PM

So with quite a few members now having a chance to drive their m3's for several months, hows your car for rattles? The E46 M3 was horrible. This is definitly better .... but still not great. Extremely poor for a car costing this much.

So far ... I've had quite a few. The worst being arond the center speaker/vent above the i-drive screen. It was fixed by removing the vent cover, and the lower section of the vent and adding foam and felt tape.

I've got another one coming from the rear area .. could be the rear seats, or the rear shelf. Not sure.

Finally, if no-one is sitting in the front passenger seat, that seems to have a annoying rattle as well !

How's your car doing?

Kadarin · 08-18-2008, 05:31 PM

3800 miles, with one rattle that I tracked down to a couple of loose objects in the glove box. Fixed that, and now no issue.

Somehow the little plastic button thing on the driver's seatbelt that prevents the metal clip from falling all the way to the floor broke, so I have to get that fixed. Yay.

e46e92love · 08-18-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apw2607

So with quite a few members now having a chance to drive their m3's for several months, hows your car for rattles? The E46 M3 was horrible. This is definitly better .... but still not great. Extremely poor for a car costing this much.

So far ... I've had quite a few. The worst being arond the center speaker/vent above the i-drive screen. It was fixed by removing the vent cover, and the lower section of the vent and adding foam and felt tape.

I've got another one coming from the rear area .. could be the rear seats, or the rear shelf. Not sure.

Finally, if no-one is sitting in the front passenger seat, that seems to have a annoying rattle as well !

How's your car doing?

that sounds like the same rattles that all the e92s (335s) have. BTW, for the rear deck rattle, nothing can be done. If you are hearing one from the back seat, try leaving open the center cargo area's sliding top.

Cheers,
e46e92

ArtPE · 08-18-2008, 05:58 PM

my e46 with 140k+ miles has only 1 intermittent rattle...the door against the seal

positiveions · 08-18-2008, 06:02 PM

Guys, I haven't had the opportunity to own an E9x M3 yet. But enjoy it. I used to own a 92 16v GTI. That thing had rattles left and right. On top of it, being the hatchback, I thought there was a bird living in my trunk, singing for me. That was the most annoying car; but I loved it.

I am positive your rattles was nothing compared to the GTI

uthatch · 08-18-2008, 06:19 PM

I've got 6800 miles and am pretty pleased with the amount of annoying noises not coming from my car.

I HATE rattles, creaks, ticks...you name it, it annoys me to no end. This car, while not 100% quite, is pretty damn good overall. I have a couple that seem to come and go, but nothing really serious.

Better than I had expected honestly. And I came from a 2006 IS350 that was dead quite. Nothing rattled in that car, so I thought I was taking a big gamble by buying the M3 as far as sounds go. So far so good!

MDCTFTW · 08-18-2008, 06:40 PM

I have a few. I was anal about it before, but now I have music on all the time and I can't really hear them. Without music all the rattles drive me crazy.

One of them seems to be a plastic noise in the back. I thought it was the 3rd brake light, but I have no idea.

armyav8tor · 08-19-2008, 01:34 AM

2000 miles, no rattles. Just as solid as my 335i was.

moog55 · 08-19-2008, 02:35 AM

no rattles for me after 1600 miles.

BMW3R · 08-19-2008, 07:42 AM

I heard the rattle you spoke of above the front center speaker. Otherwise, no rattles, but the car is new. My 335 had 29,000 on it and no rattles, so I am hoping this car will behave the same.

Bronx Cheer · 08-19-2008, 10:46 AM

Regarding the passenger seat rattle, I bet it is the seatbelt receptacle (thing you plug the belt into) banging against the center console. I used to have that in my 01 330Ci. It drove me nuts until l figured it out. You don't hear it when you have a passenger because they have their belt buckled.

To stop the rattle, either jam the buckle receptacle down into the seat, or put a piece of black felt tape on the side facing the console.

Anyone have noises from the fold-down rear seats?

JEllis · 08-19-2008, 11:08 AM

Mine is pretty solid after 1000miles

Jason

pittsy · 08-19-2008, 02:38 PM

1500 miles no rattles here!

ersin · 08-19-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apw2607

... The E46 M3 was horrible.

Wow. I put 70K+ miles on my E46 M3. It only had one rattle that I can remember, but it was fixed. No car is perfect. The dealer should be able to track them down and fix them. If you want to feel what a real rattle is, go drive a Corvette.

rvacha · 08-19-2008, 06:44 PM

13K miles, no rattles

Keto · 08-19-2008, 06:56 PM

I have a few at 1111 miles, but I have some seriously shitty roads to shake 'em loose. The only one that annoys me is from the right door fold-out compartment, plan to have the dealer fix it at 1200 mile service.

m3larson · 08-19-2008, 06:58 PM

My balls rattle when I hit 8,000rpm's... is that a problem?

nusevad · 08-19-2008, 08:43 PM

Rattle free for me.

uthatch · 08-19-2008, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ersin

Wow. I put 70K+ miles on my E46 M3. It only had one rattle that I can remember, but it was fixed. No car is perfect. The dealer should be able to track them down and fix them. If you want to feel what a real rattle is, go drive a Corvette.

I had 2 C6's and they didn't rattle bad at all. Tire noise was pretty heavy, but there were only a couple minor rattles.

LexProf · 08-19-2008, 10:59 PM

Aaahhhh the dreaded rattles. I used to own a 2000 SL500 Sport and the thing bugged me to no end. Snap, crackle, pop. Probably had a lot to do with the flex from it being a convertible. On the new M3 (with 1200 miles) I have one rattle which is coming from the seatbelt assembly just above my shoulder. I hope it doesn't get worse, but I'm just trying to tune it out. It's amazing how often this is psychological. Not in the sense that you are imagining the sounds. They are, in fact, there. But because the sound only bugs me because it is coming from my own car. When I drive loaners or other people's cars and they rattle, I don't hear them or if I do I don't care. I try to put myself in that same state of mind when I drive my own car, but it is tough, especially when we pay so much for these darn things.

ersin · 08-21-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uthatch

I had 2 C6's and they didn't rattle bad at all. Tire noise was pretty heavy, but there were only a couple minor rattles.

Good to hear. I've only driven one vette, and I believe it was a C5. Didn't quality improve on the C6?

ericld · 09-13-2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e46e92love

that sounds like the same rattles that all the e92s (335s) have. BTW, for the rear deck rattle, nothing can be done. If you are hearing one from the back seat, try leaving open the center cargo area's sliding top.

Cheers,
e46e92

Nothing can be done? That's silly. It's the vent on the rear deck. If I can push it down to stop the rattle temporarily, something can be done for a permanent fix.

08-18-2008, 05:11 PM	#1
apw2607 Colonel 581 Rep 2,105 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 50e M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Coast, USA iTrader: (0)	M3's and rattles So with quite a few members now having a chance to drive their m3's for several months, hows your car for rattles? The E46 M3 was horrible. This is definitly better .... but still not great. Extremely poor for a car costing this much. So far ... I've had quite a few. The worst being arond the center speaker/vent above the i-drive screen. It was fixed by removing the vent cover, and the lower section of the vent and adding foam and felt tape. I've got another one coming from the rear area .. could be the rear seats, or the rear shelf. Not sure. Finally, if no-one is sitting in the front passenger seat, that seems to have a annoying rattle as well ! How's your car doing?
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08-18-2008, 05:31 PM	#2
Kadarin Ambassador of Crunk 17 Rep 606 Posts Drives: SG/blk '08 E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	3800 miles, with one rattle that I tracked down to a couple of loose objects in the glove box. Fixed that, and now no issue. Somehow the little plastic button thing on the driver's seatbelt that prevents the metal clip from falling all the way to the floor broke, so I have to get that fixed. Yay.
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08-18-2008, 05:58 PM	#4
ArtPE Banned 11 Rep 471 Posts Drives: e46 M3 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	my e46 with 140k+ miles has only 1 intermittent rattle...the door against the seal
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08-18-2008, 06:02 PM	#5
positiveions Lieutenant General 961 Rep 11,722 Posts Drives: 19 Tacoma, 16 Golf wagon Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upland, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2019 Toyota Tacoma [0.00] 2016 VW Golf Sports ... [0.00] 1998 BMW M3 [0.00] 1990 BMW 325is [0.00]	Guys, I haven't had the opportunity to own an E9x M3 yet. But enjoy it. I used to own a 92 16v GTI. That thing had rattles left and right. On top of it, being the hatchback, I thought there was a bird living in my trunk, singing for me. That was the most annoying car; but I loved it. I am positive your rattles was nothing compared to the GTI
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08-18-2008, 06:19 PM	#6
uthatch Private First Class 5 Rep 126 Posts Drives: AW/FR E92 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	I've got 6800 miles and am pretty pleased with the amount of annoying noises not coming from my car. I HATE rattles, creaks, ticks...you name it, it annoys me to no end. This car, while not 100% quite, is pretty damn good overall. I have a couple that seem to come and go, but nothing really serious. Better than I had expected honestly. And I came from a 2006 IS350 that was dead quite. Nothing rattled in that car, so I thought I was taking a big gamble by buying the M3 as far as sounds go. So far so good!
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08-18-2008, 06:40 PM	#7
MDCTFTW Lieutenant Colonel 123 Rep 1,973 Posts Drives: E92 DCT Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norcal iTrader: (0)	I have a few. I was anal about it before, but now I have music on all the time and I can't really hear them. Without music all the rattles drive me crazy. One of them seems to be a plastic noise in the back. I thought it was the 3rd brake light, but I have no idea. __________________ MDCT ... so you can drive and eat a hamburger at the same time.
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08-19-2008, 01:34 AM	#8
armyav8tor n1smo 97 Rep 1,483 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL iTrader: (1) Garage List 2020 Porsche Taycan 4S [0.00] 2016 Corvette Z06 [0.00] 2008 BMW M3 [10.00]	2000 miles, no rattles. Just as solid as my 335i was.
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08-19-2008, 02:35 AM	#9
moog55 Major 55 Rep 1,113 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	no rattles for me after 1600 miles.
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08-19-2008, 07:42 AM	#10
BMW3R Bimmer User 27 Rep 585 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SLC, UT iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Mazda3 [0.00]	I heard the rattle you spoke of above the front center speaker. Otherwise, no rattles, but the car is new. My 335 had 29,000 on it and no rattles, so I am hoping this car will behave the same. __________________ 2011 E92 M3 - Space Gray, ZCP, Akra Evo System, aFe filter, PC Stage II Tune & more!!!!
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08-19-2008, 10:46 AM	#11
Bronx Cheer Private 11 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 2009 M3 sedan Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: DC iTrader: (1)	Regarding the passenger seat rattle, I bet it is the seatbelt receptacle (thing you plug the belt into) banging against the center console. I used to have that in my 01 330Ci. It drove me nuts until l figured it out. You don't hear it when you have a passenger because they have their belt buckled. To stop the rattle, either jam the buckle receptacle down into the seat, or put a piece of black felt tape on the side facing the console. Anyone have noises from the fold-down rear seats?
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08-19-2008, 11:08 AM	#12
JEllis Major General 532 Rep 5,498 Posts Drives: E36 M3, E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth iTrader: (4)	Mine is pretty solid after 1000miles Jason __________________ Instagram: jellismotorwerks
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08-19-2008, 02:38 PM	#13
pittsy Captain 60 Rep 860 Posts Drives: Jerez...E92 M3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	1500 miles no rattles here! __________________ 08 E92 M3 Jerez Black \| Bamboo \| 6MT \| 18s \| 5% tint \| No iDrive \| Heated Seats \| V1 hardwire \| ///M Alu Pedals \| Matte Black Grills \| Painted Reflectors \| CF Roundels \| GP Thunder 8500k \| Remus Race Exhaust \| VMR V701 18s Matte Black
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08-19-2008, 06:44 PM	#15
rvacha Captain 62 Rep 800 Posts Drives: '08 E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E92 M3 [0.00]	13K miles, no rattles __________________ '16 F30 340i xDrive 6MT Melbourne/Black '08 E92 M3 6MT Jerez/Speed Cloth '18 F80 M3 6MT SO/CSAT
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08-19-2008, 06:56 PM	#16
Keto Lieutenant Colonel 73 Rep 1,603 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: WHO DAT NATION iTrader: (1) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [10.00]	I have a few at 1111 miles, but I have some seriously shitty roads to shake 'em loose. The only one that annoys me is from the right door fold-out compartment, plan to have the dealer fix it at 1200 mile service. __________________ 2015 SO/SO MT M3 :: Exec : Lighting : Adaptive : HK : CF trim : Full leather : DAP : Black 19's : sunshade Crystalline tint 40%/70% on windshield : M performance mirrors, spoiler, splitters : Status Gruppe CF lip : RKP diffuser : Fully dechromed Bavsound Stage 1 : V1 Savvy hardwired : Self-coded
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08-19-2008, 06:58 PM	#17
m3larson First Lieutenant 28 Rep 309 Posts Drives: 2014 M6 Gran C 1997 M3 Track C Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ iTrader: (0)	My balls rattle when I hit 8,000rpm's... is that a problem? __________________ The Verdict: Every other manufacturer should give up on building their own cars and just make M3s instead. -Car and Driver June 2008
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08-19-2008, 08:43 PM	#18
nusevad O! So Sour!! 552 Rep 15,615 Posts Drives: Fast 240z / Slow M3 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 'Merica! iTrader: (24) Garage List 1971 Datsun 240z [0.00] 2008 M3 [9.60]	Rattle free for me. __________________
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08-19-2008, 10:59 PM	#20
LexProf Private 29 Rep 63 Posts Drives: 2018 M550i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Oregon iTrader: (0)	Aaahhhh the dreaded rattles. I used to own a 2000 SL500 Sport and the thing bugged me to no end. Snap, crackle, pop. Probably had a lot to do with the flex from it being a convertible. On the new M3 (with 1200 miles) I have one rattle which is coming from the seatbelt assembly just above my shoulder. I hope it doesn't get worse, but I'm just trying to tune it out. It's amazing how often this is psychological. Not in the sense that you are imagining the sounds. They are, in fact, there. But because the sound only bugs me because it is coming from my own car. When I drive loaners or other people's cars and they rattle, I don't hear them or if I do I don't care. I try to put myself in that same state of mind when I drive my own car, but it is tough, especially when we pay so much for these darn things.
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