E93 Clunking sound w/top up over rough pavement

[M4Now!]

Originally Posted by peeti

My 135i convertible did that - turned out that the interior liner, which in that car is a spandex sort of thing with a stretched-taught string tie-down, had a broken clip and it was flopping about. Hop into your rear seat and look around - it may just be something loose from the trim.

After reading your post, it occurred to me that I don't think I've heard the clunk since they replaced my headliner...

[PurM3]

Originally Posted by AJ_MO

Had same cluncking and rattles...felt tape everywhere and problem solved! No more cluncking or rattles...

Sorry but can you elaborate on the tape method?
I have the same problem from day 1 and I think it is from the roof. What kind of tape do you use and what places did u apply them?
Sorry for the noob question
Thx

[Nuklball]

Never had the clunking or anything that rough. Gentle squeaks and sounds that come during the winter when it's cold, but nothing annoying. Roads aren't perfect in NJ that's for sure so guess I'm just lucky..for now

[mjposner]

Drove in with the driver's side window slightly down, no clunks. So it sounds like a window seal issue. Will see what dealer says.

[AJ_MO]

Sorry but can you elaborate on the tape method?
I have the same problem from day 1 and I think it is from the roof. What kind of tape do you use and what places did u apply them?
Sorry for the noob question
Thx

No problem at all...I have no pictures and can't take them right now because I'm out of country for work. But let's see if I can explain myself...the felt strip I bought was something like this:


And add it to the third and second panel along all the touching areas specially in the corners (I used two layers in the corners of the third panel, very tight!)...check after adding the felt if with the top close there is any rubber seal of the roof under stress, if there is you added to much or just need to move the felt tape a little backward.

That solved my problems! I'm living in Milan now, I'm making a master degree in rattles on the e93 , already changed my silentblocks just in case...take a look at the streets in the city center:

Where to put felt:

[USDMM3]

anyone happen to have a DIY for this?

[BHK]

I had a clunk from the roof as well. Only showed up over rough pavement and was silent when it was really cold out. Just got it back from the dealer. They replaced some clips, I think they're for the headliner, and it's nice and quiet again.

[GODSPD]

Top up noise here as well as Ohio roads can be brutal.

Mine however is less of a clunking noise and more of a plasticy noise from just behind the rear seats. I always assumed it was the pass through rattling over the bad roads but I checked it and it seems to be locked in place pretty well. Could it be the plastic parts that are located just behind the rear windows?

The roof itself makes no noise. Mine is an '08 33k miles. Bought it last year with 18k miles and its done it the entire time I've owned it.

[zgerman]

Thought I'd share to help others with my issue and not knowing.
I bought my e93 M3 with a rattle in the roof from carmax with 19k miles. I was nervous as hell about the rattle thinking that it could not be fixed and I would have to live with it when I test drove it. The car was the exact color options that I wanted and with the carmax warranty and the BMW factory warranty still active I took the chance. It took 2 trips to the bmw dealer, carmax won't touch it! First time I think they just serviced it and who knows what else, it took 2 weeks to get it back. It did not get rid of the rattle at all, man I was really getting nervous then. The second time I took it in it took, 2 days and they called and were positive the found the culprit. The locking mechanism in the roof a little behind and above the drivers head was where I kept telling them the noise was radiating from was broken and not locking. There was noise coming from the back as well, really nothing was solid. They ordered and replaced the lock. Well now I can drive on the worst LA roads and not a peep from the roof, so quiet I would not believe that you could get a convertible this quiet!!!!! Don't live with the rood rattling, it can be fixed! I am in love again!

[keeska]

Took my 2011 to the dealer for service and I mentioned the clunking noise. Based on experience they felt they knew what the noise was and they were correct. The invoice stated some of the hinges in the mechanism for the top needed to be aligned. no parts needed to be replaced. The technician spent a bit of time on it to make sure everything was good. Problem solved. Not very expensive either.

[Rainer M]

Check the forum for "gummypflege".
I had the same weird noice when driving on rough roads.
Sounded like something is moving around inside the driver door panel.

The rubber seems to try out ((or the wax of the car) and makes the rubber "sticky"
When flex isn't enough anymore it "jumps" and makes this mechanical noice.
At least for me. Getting the rubber seals slick again completely got rid of he noise.

If it is all good with the window a little open that it is most likely the seal.


I did get another top assembly for over 20 grand installed from a "factory trained specialist" at a BMW dealer here in the north bay and. Now the whole (new) top is screwed up.

I wish I would just have the raffle problem.
Now I have to get an attorney.

Anyway, try the gummypflege.

Good luck.

[Raymondjai]

Originally Posted by keeska

Took my 2011 to the dealer for service and I mentioned the clunking noise. Based on experience they felt they knew what the noise was and they were correct. The invoice stated some of the hinges in the mechanism for the top needed to be aligned. no parts needed to be replaced. The technician spent a bit of time on it to make sure everything was good. Problem solved. Not very expensive either.

Can you share how much for fixed the rattle noise at dealer?

[hankstered]

Originally Posted by AJ_MO

No problem at all...I have no pictures and can't take them right now because I'm out of country for work. But let's see if I can explain myself...the felt strip I bought was something like this:


And add it to the third and second panel along all the touching areas specially in the corners (I used two layers in the corners of the third panel, very tight!)...check after adding the felt if with the top close there is any rubber seal of the roof under stress, if there is you added to much or just need to move the felt tape a little backward.

That solved my problems! I'm living in Milan now, I'm making a master degree in rattles on the e93 , already changed my silentblocks just in case...take a look at the streets in the city center:

Where to put felt:

any chance to see actual pictures of where to put the felt tape?

[baltobrewer]

I too would like to see a DIY. I have a '13 335is vert and I have very loud clunking/rattling that seems to come from the roof right behind my head, and also appears to radiate from the rear window section. I had my daughter, who is 11, sit in the back seat so she could localize the sound, and she had the same opinion. I'd love to try the felt tape thing. Sounds like an inexpensive way to at least try to silence it. FWIW, I have already done the Gummi Fledghe on the rubber and lithium grease on every last joint. No improvement. The sound is what I would describe as a "metal on metal" rattle, so i think felt tape is my next option. Let's revive this thread!

[LuckiSevens]

Originally Posted by mjposner

My new to me second E93 makes a clunking sound only with the top up over rough pavement or sewer covers in the road. My 08 never made that much noise. My 1st car had 18 inch wheels and tires, this car has the 19 inch setup. Sounds like it is coming from the left rear window area.

Michael

Could be this?

[smyles]

I believe most if not all roof clanking can be eliminated with adjustments (assuming roof works properly, no accidents, etc.); dunno what's exactly involved, my dealer did it once under warranty.

[RUG8RB8]

Did anybody find a definitive solution to this issue? Mine is the same, only with top up, nothing if top down. My top goes up and down no issue. This just started recently and I have a 2009 with close to 100K. Terrible roads here in North Bay on 680 north and south near San Ramon/Danville. It ia very loud on a rough road. Sounds like something loose with suspension but I checked everything down under three ways to Sunday and nothing. Maybe I will go by dealer to see if they know how to perform the top adjustments.

[M3E93]

Originally Posted by RUG8RB8

Did anybody find a definitive solution to this issue? Mine is the same, only with top up, nothing if top down. My top goes up and down no issue. This just started recently and I have a 2009 with close to 100K. Terrible roads here in North Bay on 680 north and south near San Ramon/Danville. It ia very loud on a rough road. Sounds like something loose with suspension but I checked everything down under three ways to Sunday and nothing. Maybe I will go by dealer to see if they know how to perform the top adjustments.

Have you guys check this video? I think it is one of the sources of roof rattle.

[RUG8RB8]

Originally Posted by M3E93

Have you guys check this video? I think it is one of the sources of roof rattle.

https://youtu.be/iE1KSa1NUTM?si=oeCCWbmKvvOsGFCG

Yes, but unfortunately has not fixed my issue. I will be removing headliner soon so I can further troubleshoot the issue.