2018 340i - Creaking / Squeaking in the cabin

[handbraketurn]

Morning All,

I've done a quick search in the forum and couldn't find any topics, so sorry if this is a regular one I've somehow managed not to find...

I picked up a 340i yesterday, it's a couple months old demo, which is generally immaculate and I was over the moon until late afternoon because I started to notice a constant creaking noise, over any uneven surfaces, i.e. most slow speed driving.

When I first drove it after picking it up, I was so fixed on enjoying the engine note I didn't notice it, but either it became louder or I started to notice and now I can barely focus on anything else and it's driving me to distraction.

I wound down the windows and found it stopped, so by the power of deduction, I think it is the windows, which makes sense as it sounded like a squeak/creak of rubber and I don't think it is the general interior fit, which is very solid as you'd expect.

I've done a little searching today and it does seem to be a common issue (albeit on older cars) and there are all kinds of fixes with products and silicon seals etc, but that doesn't seem acceptable to me on a car I've just picked it up, should be IMO, perfect and not required a trip to Halfords. And I'd rather get a permanent fix than some sticking plasters.

http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=65299

The salesman at the main dealer is a really nice guy, just unfortunate they're based about 160 miles away. So going to be at least a tank of fuel to get down there to let them look at it, and I'd have to stay in a hotel if they needed to keep it overnight for any reason.

Be interested to know if anyone else has had this issue and how they resolved it by their dealer? And how I should approach solving it?

Thanks in advance,

Best,

HBT

Edited by handbraketurn on Sunday 1st July 09:01

[Burwood]

Annoying. Any dealer can fix it. Book it in. They’ll fix it

[handbraketurn]

Burwood said:

Annoying. Any dealer can fix it. Book it in. They’ll fix it

Thanks for quick response, so doesn't need to be the dealer I acquired from? Is that because it'll be a warranty issue?

[Burwood]

handbraketurn said:

Burwood said:

Annoying. Any dealer can fix it. Book it in. They’ll fix it

Thanks for quick response, so doesn't need to be the dealer I acquired from? Is that because it'll be a warranty issue?

Correct. Just call a local dealer and book it in. Perhaps, given how new the purchase is, call salesman and tell him your not happy with the creaking-see what he says. But 100% any dealer must deal with it

[handbraketurn]

Burwood said:

handbraketurn said:

Burwood said:

Annoying. Any dealer can fix it. Book it in. They’ll fix it

Thanks for quick response, so doesn't need to be the dealer I acquired from? Is that because it'll be a warranty issue?

Correct. Just call a local dealer and book it in. Perhaps, given how new the purchase is, call salesman and tell him your not happy with the creaking-see what he says. But 100% any dealer must deal with it

Thanks.

This looks like what is required (although, it's 5 series):
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/attachment.php?at...

Cheers for response.

[Mike335i]

My E90 creaks where the rubber meets the gloss black trim round the edge. The only cure short of replacing parts is to clean and treat the rubber and also to apply a good wax to the black trim. Seems to last a month or two before it needs redoing, so I just include in the car wash 'routine'

This apparently doesn't happen with the chrome trim, so the SE and ES trims don't have the problem..

[TimSS]

This is a well known issue like the others have said, caused by rubbing of the rubber door seals against the body.

The dealers have a fix for it.

I had it on my 2014 3-series.

They use some clear tape that you'd never see unless you went looking for it.

The noise doesn't seem to bother some people which I guess will be why yours hasn't already been done. It wound me right up!

HTH.

Tim

[handbraketurn]

TimSS said:

This is a well known issue like the others have said, caused by rubbing of the rubber door seals against the body.

The dealers have a fix for it.

I had it on my 2014 3-series.

They use some clear tape that you'd never see unless you went looking for it.

The noise doesn't seem to bother some people which I guess will be why yours hasn't already been done. It wound me right up!

HTH.

Tim

Thanks all. It's only 3 months old, was a demonstrator, so a little surprised they didn't fix, but I have read some cleaning products can trigger it, so it might be the valet it was given before the handover. Plus I'm not sure if the hot weather has had any impact. It is got progressively worse over the weekend.

Alternatively, they may have left in order for it to be sorted under warranty rather than a cost to them, which makes good business sense, just a pain in the backside for me, now having to go and sort it out.

[Burwood]

TimSS said:

This is a well known issue like the others have said, caused by rubbing of the rubber door seals against the body.

The dealers have a fix for it.

I had it on my 2014 3-series.

They use some clear tape that you'd never see unless you went looking for it.

The noise doesn't seem to bother some people which I guess will be why yours hasn't already been done. It wound me right up!

HTH.

Tim

Anyone who claims a squeak or rattle doesn’t piss them off I’d frankly, mental. I drive my wife’s car once a week. I heard what sounded like a baby bird chirping. Drove me nuts trying to zone in in the bd.

[handbraketurn]

Burwood said:

TimSS said:

This is a well known issue like the others have said, caused by rubbing of the rubber door seals against the body.

The dealers have a fix for it.

I had it on my 2014 3-series.

They use some clear tape that you'd never see unless you went looking for it.

The noise doesn't seem to bother some people which I guess will be why yours hasn't already been done. It wound me right up!

HTH.

Tim

Anyone who claims a squeak or rattle doesn’t piss them off I’d frankly, mental. I drive my wife’s car once a week. I heard what sounded like a baby bird chirping. Drove me nuts trying to zone in in the bd.

Haha. This.

[kevin-hdmg0]

Interested to see your comments on the creaking 340i HBT. Just bought a used 340i which is 12 months old and 4K on the clock and having bought it online from a dealer 220 miles away, I took it for a spin as soon as it was delivered and noticed the same. Windows up, it creaked constantly over any road undulation, but with windows partially down seemed much better. Have it booked in to my local dealer in a week’s time to sort it under manufacturers warranty, or else it’s going back, Be interested to hear of any solutions you find in the meantime though!
RR

[anonymous-user]

My F80 did it from new. Dealer knew exactly how to fix it and it hasn't done it for almost a year.

[gizlaroc]

Gummi Pflege wil sort it straight away.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gummi-Pflege-Rubber-Stick...

[handbraketurn]

Mine is booked in under warranty next week. Quite a few other defects, quite a surprise for a 4-month-old car with 2k miles on the clock.

The rubber around the door is also looking very weathered, will post photos.

Wireless charging not working. Exhaust makes a loud metallic vibration at startup. Tyre pressure monitor goes off every other day. Passenger air con switches faulty. Been unable to register with connected drive due to their system being down for most of the week. Just set up today, but the car still registering.

I'll keep this thread updated with their response on the seals.

Not a great start with BMW, but have faith they will come good on all these parts.

Still within the 14 day cooling off period, so they'd better.

[handbraketurn]

kevin-hdmg0 said:

Interested to see your comments on the creaking 340i HBT. Just bought a used 340i which is 12 months old and 4K on the clock and having bought it online from a dealer 220 miles away, I took it for a spin as soon as it was delivered and noticed the same. Windows up, it creaked constantly over any road undulation, but with windows partially down seemed much better. Have it booked in to my local dealer in a week’s time to sort it under manufacturers warranty, or else it’s going back, Be interested to hear of any solutions you find in the meantime though!
RR

Very interesting.

Keep us updated on how you get on with warranty claim.

[anonymous-user]

handbraketurn said:

Thanks.

This looks like what is required (although, it's 5 series):
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/attachment.php?at...

Cheers for response.

Funny I was just about to suggest applying something to smooth/reduce friction between the windows or doors. Hope it works.

[AlwynMike]

Brother's 330 Touring has had this issue.

Uncured by cleaning and or lubeing the door seals.

Yesterday he accidentally hit the window button very briefly. The window dropped by less than 1mm so still sealed, but no creaking noise! He's going to attack the window seal this weekend.

[Rrh8]

Squeaking door seals quite common with the E87’s. Have a search.
Had it on my old car, took it to Bmw and it was fixed. After 4yrs ownership the issue never returned. It’s certainly something Bmw are aware of. Good luck.

[Mike335i]

Cleaning alone will not fix it, waxing the trim and 'gummifledge' the rubbers will be needed.

[handbraketurn]

To update this thread.

The squeaking has been completely fixed under warranty. So if you get this issue, get it booked in, they can fix it. They didn't explain how, before you ask, but expect it was along the lines of what was posted earlier for the 5 series.