e90 (55) - Crackling from back window in freezing weather

[erolb]

When it's frosty or icey I hear a crackling from the back window like fracturing glass! Happens whether heated window is on or off. The only thing I can think of is that it's water getting in the seal, freezing, then moving around as the window vibrates due to movement...

Anyone else have this?

Cheers

[69.9mph]

I know the noise you mean, it used to happen in cold weather on mine, seemingly at certain points on the m/way on my commute. Sounded nasty but could never detect any other effects - I put it down to the brittle ride & plastic interior of the E90 era cars. Never bothered me enough to mention to the dealer.

[blackburnbmw]

Similar but not the same: my E46 coupe rattles from the top of the rear screen/roof area first thing in the morning if it's below freezing. The noise goes once the car has warmed through.

[Dinoboy]

My 06 520d does exactly the same !

[a_bread]

blackburnbmw said:

Similar but not the same: my E46 coupe rattles from the top of the rear screen/roof area first thing in the morning if it's below freezing. The noise goes once the car has warmed through.

Ditto. I believe it to be a reduction in the flexibility of the rubber seal around the back window when the outdoor temperature is very low (a few degrees below freezing).

[te55gib]

My E60 does this - i thought it was ice cracking away from the screen when i turn the rear screen heater on, but never proved it.

[blackburnbmw]

te55gib said:

My E60 does this - i thought it was ice cracking away from the screen when i turn the rear screen heater on, but never proved it.

Mine does it when very cold - doesn't need to be icy...

[a_bread]

I'm relieved to know it's not just specific to my car at least. Must admit, when it first happened, I thought, this can't be right, surely it gets colder than this in Germany...

BTW I love the name of this thread: "crackling from back window in freezing weather". What a wonderful feature to have on your car, it roasts up some nice fatty pork when the weather gets cold

[blackburnbmw]

My E46 also has a "morning" rattle from somewhere under the off-side corner of the dashboard. My trip to work is only a couple of miles at the moment, but a lot of it is over speed humps and I get an annoying rattle in the mornings. However, it NEVER rattles on the way home - how weird is that? - but if it's not a work morning and the car gets used to go further afield and properly warms up, no rattle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!