BMW E92 320d rattles!! Please help!

BMW E92 320d rattles!! Please help!

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24lemons

Original Poster:

2,645 posts

185 months

Saturday 23rd September 2017
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My car is a 2012 320d sport plus coupe which has the sport suspension, 19" alloys and run flats.

None of these things are conducive to a smooth ride but lately there have been a couple of rattles that have become quite persistent.

The main one sounds like it's coming from the rear of the car, over my left shoulder. I have ruled out the rear centre arm rest and storage box and blowers and I have checked for loose items under the seats.

Strangely it used to occur only on my drive home from work, not in the mornings but now you can hear it on every journey. It is a plasticky ticking noise. It sounds like something is loose but I'm at a loss where to look next.

The other new one is to the right and just behind the drivers seat. I've heard about windows rattling but I don't know if that's fixable or not. Could be somewhere near the seatbelt butler but I can't find anything obvious.

Can anyone shed some light on what these might be?

Pookington

24 posts

98 months

Monday 25th September 2017
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In my experience it is surprising how much door and window seals contribute to such noises, especially if you have frameless windows.

I'd get some krytox lubricant, clean all of the seals and massage the lubricant into them. You should see a good improvement in noises.

Greasing the door lock mechanisms also often offers a good reward.

The krytox is expensive, but I think is worth it.



24lemons

Original Poster:

2,645 posts

185 months

Monday 25th September 2017
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Thanks. Is that similar to gummi pflege? I did apply some silicone lubricant a while ago but that hasn't helped

Pookington

24 posts

98 months

Monday 25th September 2017
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I'd say it's much better. I tried gummi pflege first but it didn't seem to do much.

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,645 posts

185 months

Monday 25th September 2017
quotequote all
Ok so do you just smear it all over the rubber seals around the doors and windows then? It is there more of a technique?!

Pookington

24 posts

98 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
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Just massage it into the rubber with your fingers. Make sure the rubber has been thoroughly cleaned and is dry before you start though.

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,645 posts

185 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2017
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So to update, I got a bottle of gummi pfledge off Amazon because it was the cheaper option. I’ve applied it to every rubber surface going.

I also took out the rear seats and door cards to check for loose wires or screws. I found nothing except that the seat belt spools on both sides rattle noticeably when I touched them. Nothing seemed loose but they were a little wobbly so I braced them gently so that they won’t flap around quite as much.

Anyway, I reassembled the car and it’s no better. The rear rattle sounds like a loose screw but it comes and goes. It’s generally louder in left hand bends! The rattle on the drivers door is still there and I’m wondering if it’s the window that needs tightening against the rubber.

Any more suggestions welcome because I’m pulling my hair out!!

skylarking808

797 posts

86 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2017
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I have had rattles from parcel shelves etc and boot mechanisms. I usually ask somebody to sit in the back of car to help identify the cause. Windows may be lose clips holding the door cards or window mechs.
The one that got me puzzled for a while was when a couple of local kids put stones into my exhaust back box!

aquarianone

498 posts

177 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2017
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Is it definitely coming from inside?

Door pins inside the lock..
loose exhaust bracket
brake calipers
back of the seats where the leather trim is attached

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,645 posts

185 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2017
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As far as I can tell it’s coming from inside but realistically I don’t know where else to look. I can take the inside apart and poke around, I’ve had quite a bit of success with my previous cars over the years, but if it is something outside/underneath etc.. I’m stuffed!!

graham22

3,294 posts

205 months

Wednesday 4th October 2017
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I had a rattle coming from under the seat of my E90.

Turned out to be a couple of coins had fallen into the sub-speaker but couldn't be seen until the speaker cover was removed (and even when removed, the coins had disappeared into the corners).

Rattle sorted and £1.20 better off.


Whether something like this is your problem, it's worth checking, looks like objects can get behind the speaker covers from a couple of places.

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,645 posts

185 months

Wednesday 4th October 2017
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Thanks I’ll have a look. In my last car, a 1 series, a chap stick had rolled under the seat and found its way into the blower vent. It took ages to get it out. In the end I used a bent coat hanger and some extra strong double sided tape!!