[Vojtech]

I have 3rd generation X3 20d MSport. The car has developed a rattle / resonating noise when accelerating (approximately at 2k rpm). It sounds like a loose screw inside the dashboard that makes a noise as the car slightly vibrates when accelerating.

This noise seems to be coming from the passenger dash but its super hard to locate where exactly it comes from. It also only appears when actually driving (if you rev the engine the noise wont appear). The road surface doesnt make any difference either. When I pull my window down it doesnt sound like its coming from the outside but I could be wrong. Its only about 5 seconds it lasts for and then it disappears.

I have taken the air vents out, dismantled the central dashboard (took out the radio, ventilation controls etc.), taken out the side vent on passenger side, took out the flooring carpets on passenger side, took out the glove box, took out the central console (cup holders and plastic around the gear stick) and I can’t find anything loose and locate where the sound is coming from.

I also checked the seatbelt (read this on another thread) and the passenger seat. I also checked the accessible screws in the engine bay which all seem to be tight.

I took it to the main dealer but as suspected they said they couldnt hear it / find it.

Its driving me nuts (as you can probably tell). Did anyone have a similar problem and managed to work out what it was?

[n54roll]

Check out this thread, might be helpful

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1706123

[Tokke]

The problem you describe could well be the refrigerant line noise. This is a resonance sound when the 20d is under load reving at around 1500 rpm if i remember correct:

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/g...ons/1Vnd1YWUSW
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/g...ons/1VncljGHzn

The dealer installed the bracket for me to fasten the lines, but afterwards it just made a different noise like the lines were vibrating within the bracket.

After this i installed some felt strips in the brackets were they make contact to the lines. I also added a piece of foam. Since then (about 2y ago) never heard this noise again.

[M40i017]

I had this issue... i had vibrating rattling sound from my center dash speaker at 2.5-3k rpm. Had dealer install foam on areas of the cover and that fixed the issue. I was able to diagnose the location of rattle by slightly pushing the center dash speaker during the vibration sound and it disappeared

[M40i017]

Originally Posted by Vojtech

I have 3rd generation X3 20d MSport. The car has developed a rattle / resonating noise when accelerating (approximately at 2k rpm). It sounds like a loose screw inside the dashboard that makes a noise as the car slightly vibrates when accelerating.

This noise seems to be coming from the passenger dash but its super hard to locate where exactly it comes from. It also only appears when actually driving (if you rev the engine the noise wont appear). The road surface doesnt make any difference either. When I pull my window down it doesnt sound like its coming from the outside but I could be wrong. Its only about 5 seconds it lasts for and then it disappears.

I have taken the air vents out, dismantled the central dashboard (took out the radio, ventilation controls etc.), taken out the side vent on passenger side, took out the flooring carpets on passenger side, took out the glove box, took out the central console (cup holders and plastic around the gear stick) and I can't find anything loose and locate where the sound is coming from.

I also checked the seatbelt (read this on another thread) and the passenger seat. I also checked the accessible screws in the engine bay which all seem to be tight.

I took it to the main dealer but as suspected they said they couldnt hear it / find it.

Its driving me nuts (as you can probably tell). Did anyone have a similar problem and managed to work out what it was?

Im almost certain it is the plastic cover on the center dash..

[Vojtech]

Tokke - thank you very much! Indeed that’s where the noice was coming from! I wrapped some foam around it and it got rid off 90% of the rattle. It still rattles a little bit when accelerating into a sharp turn from standstill but I can live with that!

[Vojtech]

I have since bought pipe insulation and wrapped it around the cooling pipe and that has got rid off 100% of the rattle - very fiddly to get it in but worth the effort, I can now enjoy driving the car again!

If it helps anyone else, pipe insulation for a 15mm diameter pipe and 19mm thickness.

Thanks everyone for your tips, you saved me!

[Steveball]

Originally Posted by M40i017

I had this issue... i had vibrating rattling sound from my center dash speaker at 2.5-3k rpm. Had dealer install foam on areas of the cover and that fixed the issue. I was able to diagnose the location of rattle by slightly pushing the center dash speaker during the vibration sound and it disappeared

Originally Posted by M40i017

I had this issue... i had vibrating rattling sound from my center dash speaker at 2.5-3k rpm. Had dealer install foam on areas of the cover and that fixed the issue. I was able to diagnose the location of rattle by slightly pushing the center dash speaker during the vibration sound and it disappeared

I have this too! On my M40i

[_ink]

Nice team work in getting this resolved!!

I have a slight resonance also at that rpm, but only in first going up the car park on a cold start..

Can you see these pipes just from looking up the passenger footwell?

[Vojtech]

Originally Posted by _ink

Nice team work in getting this resolved!!

I have a slight resonance also at that rpm, but only in first going up the car park on a cold start..

Can you see these pipes just from looking up the passenger footwell?

You have to take off the plastic cover underneath the glovebox and disconnect the wire for the little LED light (takes about 10s, so not a problem).

You can then bend back the plastic cover from the central console to reach the pipes. Byt don’t bend it too much as it’s only glued in not clicked in or anything. If you then position a chair or something next to the car you can lay flat underneath the glovebox and can reach the pipes a bit easier. Disclaimer: putting the insulation on the pipe is tricky and fiddly as it’s very tight space.

If you can’t reach in there you can also take off the glove box which gives you a little bit more space (not hugely more though).

Good luck hope it solves it for you as well - let us know how you get on!

[Villa Steve]

Originally Posted by Vojtech

You have to take off the plastic cover underneath the glovebox and disconnect the wire for the little LED light (takes about 10s, so not a problem).

You can then bend back the plastic cover from the central console to reach the pipes. Byt don’t bend it too much as it’s only glued in not clicked in or anything. If you then position a chair or something next to the car you can lay flat underneath the glovebox and can reach the pipes a bit easier. Disclaimer: putting the insulation on the pipe is tricky and fiddly as it’s very tight space.

If you can’t reach in there you can also take off the glove box which gives you a little bit more space (not hugely more though).

Good luck hope it solves it for you as well - let us know how you get on!

Hi Vojtech - I have exactly the same issue bud sadly not the technical skills to resolve it myself, I fear i need to take my X3 to a Specialist dealer who will probably charge me the earth for fixing it.....looks like i amy need to turn the radio up even more

[rit81]

Hello all! Am new to this forum........ we have a similar problem (I think). Can't watch the videos on this thread since they look to have expired.

However, some videos are below of the noise we're getting. From somewhere beyond the dash, possibly centre / left side (it towards passenger). Any ideas what it could be?

We have the extended warranty, so hopefully our dealer can get it sorted.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-GcVq_E9B0I

[jfx328d]

Originally Posted by rit81

Hello all! Am new to this forum........ we have a similar problem (I think). Can't watch the videos on this thread since they look to have expired.

However, some videos are below of the noise we're getting. From somewhere beyond the dash, possibly centre / left side (it towards passenger). Any ideas what it could be?

We have the extended warranty, so hopefully our dealer can get it sorted.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-GcVq_E9B0I

I have the exact same noise in my 2014. I will try the foam trick this week and I'll report back.

[Phil3127]

Did you get to the bottom of this squeak/ rattle?

My car has been to dealers twice, with suspected squeak from the passenger side airbag. They claimed to have fixed it, but from the video, clearly not sorted.

Tried the above fix with pipe insulation around the pipes, but no joy.

Squeak/ rattling happens at 1100RPM and also when going over bumpy ground.

Any further advice on where to check would be good.

Thanks

https://youtu.be/yheNB9u6YUI

[FLM300]

Re: Resonating noise when accelerating


Hi rit81.

I just came upon your video as I was looking to see if anyone else was experiencing this issue. I recently purchased a 2018 (68 plate) 20D M Sport X3 and I had the exact same noise, I'll try & add a video. The noise was evident only when I accelerated & when accelerating uphill (lots of hills where I live!) I took it to my local BMW specialist, who through trial & error found that the noise stopped when the heater box was held secure in place. This involved them having to take out the dash (Isn't a cheap job, as its labour intensive!) and them fixing it in place, to make it more secure. I picked the car up yesterday and took it for a rigorous test drive, and fingers crossed its gone! Hopefully no more horrid vibrating (humming) rattling noise! Luckily I purchased the extended warranty, but as the car was only brought recently, the garage who I purchased it from paid for the work to be done, thankfully! Hope that might help you, but hopefully you've already sorted it.

[RC600r]

Originally Posted by Vojtech

I have since bought pipe insulation and wrapped it around the cooling pipe and that has got rid off 100% of the rattle - very fiddly to get it in but worth the effort, I can now enjoy driving the car again!

If it helps anyone else, pipe insulation for a 15mm diameter pipe and 19mm thickness.

Thanks everyone for your tips, you saved me!

I own a X3 G01 and I have the same excat noise as you. Where are located the the cooling pipes? from where do I get access to them?

Solved,

I was looking for the hoses under the passenger side console, but was not able to locate them. They are under the left side console, my X3 is a left hand drive car.
I installed a pipe insulation and put it firmly on one of the hoses. I this way the two hoses are no more free to resonate at 2k rpm.

Now the car is a silent living room.




thanks

[ficno]

Originally Posted by RC600r

I own a X3 G01 and I have the same excat noise as you. Where are located the the cooling pipes? from where do I get access to them?

Solved,

I was looking for the hoses under the passenger side console, but was not able to locate them. They are under the left side console, my X3 is a left hand drive car.
I installed a pipe insulation and put it firmly on one of the hoses. I this way the two hoses are no more free to resonate at 2k rpm.

Now the car is a silent living room.




thanks

Hi @RC600r
My car does the same, and it's left hand drive as well. Which plastics did you removed to be able to see the pipes??

[AJF1782]

Hi I have recently had this noise when pulling away I took back to the dealership and it was diagnosed as the fuel lines rattling hope this helps

[ordogz]

Originally Posted by RC600r

I own a X3 G01 and I have the same excat noise as you. Where are located the the cooling pipes? from where do I get access to them?

Solved,

I was looking for the hoses under the passenger side console, but was not able to locate them. They are under the left side console, my X3 is a left hand drive car.
I installed a pipe insulation and put it firmly on one of the hoses. I this way the two hoses are no more free to resonate at 2k rpm.

Now the car is a silent living room.




thanks

Hi @RC600r
My car(BMW X3 G01) does the same, and it's left hand drive as well. Which plastics did you removed to be able to see the pipes??

Can you please help me with some pictures, on how exactly you've removed and which plastic from the left side console?

Thank you.

[Derek222]

Originally Posted by ordogz

Hi @RC600r
My car(BMW X3 G01) does the same, and it's left hand drive as well. Which plastics did you removed to be able to see the pipes??

Can you please help me with some pictures, on how exactly you've removed and which plastic from the left side console?

Thank you.

I just did it and all the rattle has dissapeared

For left hand drive:
You have to remove the plastic below the steering wheel (where there is a foot light). You’ll see the pipes on the right side.

It’s pretty straigh forward.

Good luck!