Bloody rattle! (Volvo V50)

[MrKipling43]

Right, so I've scoured the intertubes for this one and haven't been able to find a solution.

Mods, please leave this here as...

I'm hoping for some generic advice on tracking the bd down, or specific advice from Volvo owners who might have had the same problem. Although given the look of confusion on the Volvo tech's face when he came out with me to have a listen, I suspect not.

The FACTS

At 80mph, a rattle starts like a switch in my V50. It sounds like someone putting a piece of paper in a fan (so, it's a rattle, but with the stable frequency of a vibration).

As far as I can tell it's coming through the a-pillar, as in it's at its loudest in your left ear when you stick your head into the left hand corner of the windscreen.

It is definitely wind-related somehow, since it gets louder or even stops when the wind gusts.

What I have found and repaired to no avail/eliminated:

Hose unclipping in engine bay.
Missing retaining bolt in engine bay for passenger side front wing.
Mis-fitted engine cover (the plastic one underneath).
Loose fitting engine cover (the plastic one underneath) although I guess this could still be the problem, perhaps I should remove it.
Poorly fitted top engine cover removed.
Poorly fitted wing mirror cover repaired.
Wing mirror removed (rattle still there).
Wobbly badge on bonnet taped down (rattle still there)

Also, all the fixes for rattles listed in Volvo forums like silicone spraying the door seals etc.

Next step is to gaffer tape over all the joins where the plastic underbody meets the body itself (arches to wings, bottom engine guard to bumber etc etc)

I'm seriously at my wit's end and I have to drive the thing down to Geneva on Monday. I'd really like to be rid of it by then.

Any help at all would be genuinely appreciated.

Thanks.

P.

[Bisonhead]

Its got a stereo dont it? Whack da toonz on bruv!

I feel for you, there is nothing worse than a rattle that cant be located!

[blade7]

Get rid and buy a Audi/BMW/Merc, hope this helps .

[gforceg]

Remember Jeremy Klaxon had a similar one in some supercar or other? It was the windscreen wipers I think.

[Trevor450]

You may have tried to fettle the existing door seal but I would try a new one. The trick is to put talc on the seals and where the draught is, the talc will be disturbed apparently and show up which seal it is.

[MrKipling43]

Trevor450 said:

You may have tried to fettle the existing door seal but I would try a new one. The trick is to put talc on the seals and where the draught is, the talc will be disturbed apparently and show up which seal it is.

Nice one, ta.