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      11-08-2011, 03:29 AM   #1
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Rattles

I keep wanting to bump the rattles threads. Talk about yours here. Mine are all over. I don\'t want to see the car again after I drop it off for service until the rattles are silenced. This build quality is abysmal.
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      11-08-2011, 03:48 AM   #2
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I have a light rattle from the driver's door, around the lock area or it could be the window moving in the seal. Other than that the car is reasonably rattle free. If I had less wind noise maybe I'd hear more rattles (the radio would be played lower too).
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      11-08-2011, 05:50 AM   #3
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One of the folks on this forum advised me that the rattle you're hearing from the door (I have the same thing) is from the door lock. I can't confirm it as I haven't tried to get it fixed but now that my driver's seat is creaking all the time, perhaps I'll do that in the same visit. The cargo cover also rattles. When that thing is out of the car it is largely rattle free!
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      11-08-2011, 06:18 AM   #4
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It goes in on Monday for 2 days to sort the wind noise, passenger seat (new leather on base) and door rattle. I run mostly without the cargo cover to give the dog more space.
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      11-08-2011, 07:29 AM   #5
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Also a problem is the center stack. Touch your finger to the plastics and it makes a crunching noise. It's so flimsy.
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      11-08-2011, 08:55 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by juddholland View Post
Also a problem is the center stack. Touch your finger to the plastics and it makes a crunching noise. It's so flimsy.
Yes, near the cd hole / volume control. The fix would probably be some foam behind that area.
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      11-08-2011, 09:39 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clivem2 View Post
Yes, near the cd hole / volume control. The fix would probably be some foam behind that area.
Even just some insulation tape. My lemoned F25 from February did not do this.
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      11-08-2011, 09:51 AM   #8
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Not really having any rattle problems. I've got 8500 miles on my X3 and the only potentially annoying sound is a quick creak from the sunroof when the car torques on a curb ramp (like the end of the driveway) at slow speed. So I'm content.
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      11-08-2011, 10:26 AM   #9
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Nothing I hate like rattles enough to make me get rid of a car if I can't fix it. I hope they are fixable
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      11-08-2011, 11:06 AM   #10
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My sunroof rattles if opened fully while driving.
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      11-08-2011, 02:06 PM   #11
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Does anyone get the dealer to fix the issue?
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      11-08-2011, 04:17 PM   #12
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All my rattles and noises have come and gone
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      11-08-2011, 04:55 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BIMMER UK 76 View Post
All my rattles and noises have come and gone
Mine too after a few pints.

But really, from growing "tobac'ee" to fitting machined assemblies.......they are still working that learning curve.....no noise problem from my X3..
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      11-08-2011, 06:37 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by BIMMER UK 76 View Post
All my rattles and noises have come and gone
How so?
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      11-08-2011, 07:51 PM   #15
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That whole unit that houses the center armrest on mine makes a ticking sound on bumps, you can just lightly push on the armrest and you hear it.. something in my front left rattles also..
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      11-08-2011, 10:14 PM   #16
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None - except for the stuff her ladyship keeps in the car that rattles. Without it - silence.
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      11-08-2011, 10:17 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sard View Post
That whole unit that houses the center armrest on mine makes a ticking sound on bumps, you can just lightly push on the armrest and you hear it.. something in my front left rattles also..
I have a ticking sound on bumps too. But I don't think mine is in the armrest. Closer to the center stack area. The noise comes and goes. Some days its very noticeable and other days its quiet as a mouse. Not a rattle but one of my brakes (front driver side I suspect) squeal as well.

Honestly, I haven't been overly impressed with the quality (been in the shop twice already - check engine light came on twice, passenger side window motor replaced, something called a ZGM module replace on my iDrive and the driver side mirror replaced due to it vibrating in the wind/bumps). I had brand new vehicles half the price that were solid as bricks. If it wasn't for the fact that I love the engine and the connection to the road, I'd be much more pissed. Still, it has me second guessing whether it was a mistake buying German. We'll see how the next few years go. I may go back to Japanese if my experience doesn't improve.

I don't feel like bringing back the vehicle to the shop for the third time in two months so I'll live with the tick and squeal for the time being.

Last edited by ZipSpeed; 11-08-2011 at 10:26 PM..
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      11-08-2011, 10:24 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeBimmer View Post
One of the folks on this forum advised me that the rattle you're hearing from the door (I have the same thing) is from the door lock. I can't confirm it as I haven't tried to get it fixed but now that my driver's seat is creaking all the time, perhaps I'll do that in the same visit. The cargo cover also rattles. When that thing is out of the car it is largely rattle free!
I had the seat creaking too. However, in another "seat creaking thread" someone suggested to avoid the lowest position (ie seat slightly away from floor). I have moved into slightly higher position and creaking has gone away. I know it might not be permanent solution but worth trying it....it has been driving me nuts!
(what worried me more, I have moved to lowest position again to test if creaking comes back but it did not. Though I have not left it in that position for long. So probably it is advisable to give those springs some room. )

Hope it fixes yours too.

Cheers.
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      11-09-2011, 02:47 AM   #19
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I wish there was more felt lining and noise insulation in the car and storage compartments. You'd think with all of those innovative cubbies, they'd at least want to make them as quiet and unobtrusive as possible. Don't cut costs. BMWs are aspirational, and they're supposed to be expensive. If adding felt lining like in the pricier models adds to the cost of the car, raise the price. If including insulation tape costs more, add it to the car. If LED turn signals and a separate amber reflector outside the housing costs more, DO IT ANYWAYS. BMW should build every single car they make to the very same standard.
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      11-09-2011, 08:50 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by juddholland View Post
I wish there was more felt lining and noise insulation in the car and storage compartments. You'd think with all of those innovative cubbies, they'd at least want to make them as quiet and unobtrusive as possible. Don't cut costs. BMWs are aspirational, and they're supposed to be expensive. If adding felt lining like in the pricier models adds to the cost of the car, raise the price. If including insulation tape costs more, add it to the car. If LED turn signals and a separate amber reflector outside the housing costs more, DO IT ANYWAYS. BMW should build every single car they make to the very same standard.
+1

Drove my son's Jeep Compass yesterday and noticed that the sun visors were finished in the same FABRIC and as the headliner. Not the cheap looking plastic like the X3.

And what about the large plastic interior piece on the trunk lid. One could use it as a kettle drum.
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      11-09-2011, 10:34 AM   #21
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Things ain't what they used to be

Back in the old days you designed a car and then priced it out and hoped it would make a profit. Eventually even companies like Mercedes-Benz realized that this was not going to work anymore.

Today, bar a handful of manufacturers, everyone builds to a target price (researched across local markets for greatest potential volume and greatest margin delivery) which is adjusted for each local market. This means your car was designed and priced down to the last tiniest screw, with the thinnest of margins for variance.

For a company like BMW to go back to "design it then price it" would be disastrous. They would be unable to sell in some markets and would suffer slow sales in others due to exchange rates and local taxation. There would be less money for r&d which would mean lower competitiveness and longer model cycles. These days you have to be a realist and play the "build to a price" or you go out of business. It's that simple.
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      11-09-2011, 10:40 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Le Chef View Post
Back in the old days you designed a car and then priced it out and hoped it would make a profit. Eventually even companies like Mercedes-Benz realized that this was not going to work anymore.

Today, bar a handful of manufacturers, everyone builds to a target price (researched across local markets for greatest potential volume and greatest margin delivery) which is adjusted for each local market. This means your car was designed and priced down to the last tiniest screw, with the thinnest of margins for variance.

For a company like BMW to go back to "design it then price it" would be disastrous. They would be unable to sell in some markets and would suffer slow sales in others due to exchange rates and local taxation. There would be less money for r&d which would mean lower competitiveness and longer model cycles. These days you have to be a realist and play the "build to a price" or you go out of business. It's that simple.
In BMW's case particularly with the X3 series, it's a shame it was not Build to a target price with reliability.
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