[BMWX3M40i8888]

We purchased a new 2024 X3 M40i two months ago. The sun roof started rattling almost immediately. The dealer has tried 3 times to fix it by readjusting the glass, lube perimeter seal, adjusted acoustic seal, "found SI B5 4th 11 19" applying to vehicle. The rattle always comes back within days. Any suggestions? We are going to sell it if it can't be fixed.

[Wanna3]

I’m on my third G01 X3. Ironically the 2018 (first model year) was the only one that didn’t have the panoramic roof rattle. My 2021 rattled right out of the gate. I took it in for service and while the rattle was not eliminated completely, it was much improved, with only an occasional and slight rattle in sub-freezing temps remaining. I recently took delivery of a 2024 X3 and it has the same rattle the 2021 had at the outset. The rattle seems to dissipate once the car warms up, but it’s really annoying until then. I live in New England so there’s no avoiding the cold weather. I’ll be taking it in for service soon and hoping for another good (or at least acceptable) outcome. Good luck to you.

[BMWX3M40i8888]

Thank you for responding. Our roof rattle is constant and very annoying. What contributes to the annoyance is the fact that no one seems capable of (or interested in) fixing it. It seems like a design flaw. Perhaps there is just no fix. I anticipate I will be dealing with this rattle for the life of the car. Therefore, we are currently researching selling it. Good luck to you as well.

[TXGrey]

My '21 rattles from time to time... not really sure what the cause (or fix) is. I've read about it plenty. Honestly, for ME, I think it's almost impossible these days to find a car (esp with sun/moon roofs) that DOESN'T somehow end up with at least a slight squeak or rattle. I just live with it and turn the radio up if I'm not in the mood. Mine is definitely transient, so I don't have to live with it at all times.

[turbobeagle]

Does the rattle happen in all positions? For example if the sunroof is tilted up, does the rattle still happen?

[BMWX3M40i8888]

Originally Posted by turbobeagle

Does the rattle happen in all positions? For example if the sunroof is tilted up, does the rattle still happen?

It happens LESS when the sunroof is tilted up. It sounds like a plastic-y tick, tick, tick. When you press your palm against the glass, it stops. I've actually been driving around like that.

It started out sporadic but now it's practically constant. Highway driving helps (at higher speeds) ... perhaps because the outside air current holds the roof in place? The first time the dealer tried to fix it they were concentrating on the center cross bar. (lube and readjustments) It helped for a day or so but now the rattles are coming more toward the back.

We were just told that the dealer ordered new seals. I will report back if that solves the problem.

[turbobeagle]

So FWIW, when I got my X3 M40i, i had a horrible rattle. It didn't even sound like it came from the sunroof, but through trial and error I realized that it went away when I tilted the sunroof up.

So I cleaned the various seals with a mild alcohol dilution. Just wiped it with a microfiber cloth. The noise stayed gone for a few days. Then it returned, but at least I knew what the culprit was. Then I applied some rubber conditioner (there's many choices, but I used Sonax). That got rid of the noise for a month. Then it came back, and I did one more treatment. Now it's been gone for a year and running.

Fingers crossed, it doesn't return, or at least I can just repeat the process.

I have this post bookmarked because it is what works for me:
https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...&postcount=124

[383vett]

Originally Posted by BMWX3M40i8888

Thank you for responding. Our roof rattle is constant and very annoying. What contributes to the annoyance is the fact that no one seems capable of (or interested in) fixing it. It seems like a design flaw. Perhaps there is just no fix. I anticipate I will be dealing with this rattle for the life of the car. Therefore, we are currently researching selling it. Good luck to you as well.

Don't sell it. Have the dealer buy it back.

[glennbk]

I still feel like this is an assembly problem with the robot insufficiently torquing the bolts. I've posted videos of said installation. If engineers screwed up the programming, then every car should be experiencing the same flaw.

[g11hoonigan]

Originally Posted by glennbk

I still feel like this is an assembly problem with the robot insufficiently torquing the bolts. I've posted videos of said installation. If engineers screwed up the programming, then every car should be experiencing the same flaw.

I think there's not enough wiggle room on torque specs. IIRC, it's 10nm or less.

A few years ago I took my G12 in to fix a really minor sunroof rattle. It's under warranty so why not? Turned out, it only got worse after they touched it - and they scratched the headliner. I wanted to kick myself for taking it in

[BMWZ4]

I had this issue on my '19 x3m40i and ran a length of felt across the cross bar. Felt piece was roughly an inch wide. Rattle stopped. Problem solved.

[BMWX3M40i8888]

All seals were replaced. The rattle is finally gone.

[MADBMWX5MC]

^That's a great outcome.

[turbobeagle]

Awesome.

If it really was the seals, don’t be surprised if it returns and if that happens I suspect a cleaning + conditioning would do the trick.

[BMWX3M40i8888]

Originally Posted by turbobeagle

Awesome.

If it really was the seals, don’t be surprised if it returns and if that happens I suspect a cleaning + conditioning would do the trick.

They tried cleaning and conditioning 3 times. That didn't work - and in one case made the rattle worse. But I agree there is always a chance that it could return. Just enjoying the silence now!!

[BMWX3M40i8888]

Posting this in case others are experiencing the same issue, maybe this will help. This is what they did to fix the sunroof rattle ....

ROAD TESTED VEHICLE. DUPLICATED A NOISE FROM THE ROOF SWITCH CENTER. REMOVED ROOF SWITCH CENTER TO ENSURE
PROPERLY FITTED. INSULATED WIRING LOCATION. ROAD TESTED VEHICLE. DURING ROAD TEST CREAKING STARTED AGAIN FROM
THE SIDE OF SUNROOF. REMOVED ACOUSTIC SEAL FROM SUNROOF AND CONTINUED ROAD TEST. CONTACTED BMW TSE TO NOTIFY OF THE SITUATION AND INFORM THAT WE ARE REPLACING THE
PERIMETER SEAL, ACOUSTIC SEAL AND REAR PANORAMIC GLASS SEALS. REMOVED FRONT SUNROOF GLASS. REMOVED
PANORAMIC REAR GLASS. REPLACED SEALS ON REAR GLASS. REMOVED PERIMETER SEAL. REMOVED ADHESIVE RESIDUE FROM
VEHICLE BODY WITH CLEANING AGENT. INSTALLED NEW PERIMETER SEAL. CLEANED ALL SIDES OF REAR GLASS TO REMOVE OILY
RESIDUE. INSTALLED REAR SUNROOF GLASS. CLEANED FRONT SUNROOF GLASS ON ALL SIDES AND INSTALLED. PERFORMED
SUNROOF ADJUSTMENT. PERFORMED SUNROOF INITIALIZATION. ADJUSTED SUNROOF. INSTALLED ACOUSTIC GASKET FOR
SUNROOF. INITIALIZED SUNROOF A FINAL TIME. ROAD TESTED VEHICLE. NO NOISE WAS PRESENT AT THIS TIME. WIPED DOWN SUNROOF GLASS.

[Dinan_Rated]

Originally Posted by BMWX3M40i8888

We purchased a new 2024 X3 M40i two months ago. The sun roof started rattling almost immediately. The dealer has tried 3 times to fix it by readjusting the glass, lube perimeter seal, adjusted acoustic seal, "found SI B5 4th 11 19" applying to vehicle. The rattle always comes back within days. Any suggestions? We are going to sell it if it can't be fixed.

My sales advisor frequently mentions that the Pre LCI X3m40i, produced before the introduction of the x3m to the market for competition, was crafted with greater solidity compared to current models to attract the buyers and made it beefier. He also emphasizes that the exhaust system and its accompanying note were more aggressive in the pre-LCI X3m40i. However, having personally owned both a 2024 and a 2020 model, I find that my 2020 X3m40i exhibits superior solidity with no discernible rattles. I remain uncertain whether this assertion holds true across the board

[arentz07]

Our 2023 X3 has had a rattle in the sunroof for several months, but unlike yours, tilting the sunroof only seems to make it worse... I've taken it in once, and the advisor claimed that the issue was fixed by "readjusting the sunroof glass". However, the next day, the noise came back immediately when I pulled it out of my driveway. I'm taking it back in next week and hoping for a real resolution...

[BMWX3M40i8888]

Originally Posted by arentz07

Our 2023 X3 has had a rattle in the sunroof for several months, but unlike yours, tilting the sunroof only seems to make it worse... I've taken it in once, and the advisor claimed that the issue was fixed by "readjusting the sunroof glass". However, the next day, the noise came back immediately when I pulled it out of my driveway. I'm taking it back in next week and hoping for a real resolution...

This is exactly what happened with mine. I had to take my X3 in 3 times (in 3 weeks) before they were willing to do more than "readjust the glass" and add lube. This last time I took it in, they waited a week before they were willing to replace the seals ... still continuing to adjust and lube several times (and test drove it over 40 miles during that week). We finally said enough! Either fix it or we're coming to get it and bring it to another dealer. They replaced the seals only after they spoke with BMW TSE. Did they need permission? I have no idea what the protocol is. But this is a brand new car (nearly) - if this wasn't covered under warranty I don't know what would be.

[arentz07]

Mine has been at the dealer for 3 days. They said they're still looking into it and should have an update for me "tomorrow", which I assume means Monday.

Update: As of today, the Wednesday after, I've got the update that it is ready to go, pending a test-drive with the shop foreman today.

[arentz07]

We got ours back today. They tried adjusting the glass and lubricating seals to no avail. Then, they tried taking the whole sunroof assembly apart and inspecting components for failures or anything abnormal. They found nothing. However, when the put the sunroof back together and re-tightened all the screws, somehow, the rattle went away.

I'll take it, I guess.

[Wanna3]

Originally Posted by arentz07

We got ours back today. They tried adjusting the glass and lubricating seals to no avail. Then, they tried taking the whole sunroof assembly apart and inspecting components for failures or anything abnormal. They found nothing. However, when the put the sunroof back together and re-tightened all the screws, somehow, the rattle went away.

I'll take it, I guess.

Just had a very similar experience. Service cleaned and lubed all the seals and then retorqued all the screws (supposedly to very strict tolerances). It's been almost a week now and (knocking on wood) not a peep from the sunroof.