[Mooeeey]

My car makes the same sound, from the boot area I think from the passenger side rear quarter, closer to the roof. Like yours, it's intermittent (sometimes the car's silent for a few hundred miles, then it's constant for a 30 min journey -The same journey I'll have been doing when it was quiet, may I add). I think the sound is caused by body flex - If the car flexes, something shifts were it creaks and rattles until it settles and goes away, then the car flexes and it starts all over again. This could be a tight corner taken with some spirit, or a slow road with some bad twisting camber.

The Dealer has attempted everything, removed all the interior, checked the welds, taped up between all the trim, cavity wax, removed and adjusted the boot, the boot latches, new sill clips, replaced some (hidden) vents within the rear quarters. They are stumped. A BMW Master Tech has looked and has no idea. BMW and the dealer are out of ideas.

The sound has been there since new, now 8+ months old with 6k miles. The dealers had a good 8 attempts to fix it. The cars been in for the past three weeks (now starting the fourth week!) trying to fix the fault. I refuse to have the car returned with it still present. I'm getting to the point of telling them to (officially) give up.

I also have an A-Pillar rattle coming from the HK speaker which I think is related.

Have you heard any popping sounds? When I first got the car and then again a month or so back, I kept hearing a pinging/popping sound, similar to stones hitting a windscreen or paintwork. But coming from the passenger rear quarter. Followed by a large bang where the popping then stopped. I swear this is the spot welds failing but my dealer is adamant all welds are fine.

I wasn't taken very seriously at all, until I sent an e-mail to the Dealers Managing Director, I now have a Service Manager as my point of contact and he's been great as far as personal customer service goes (phone calls every other day, prioritised etc). Maybe worth a shout for you?

Sorry to hear you're in the same boat as me.

Is yours also a 3 door?

I got my car on Nov 16, the noise only started in April this year, so I had a few months of no problems.

Don't give up. If the noise is as loud, and sometimes as frequent as mine then it's really not acceptable, especially on a new car. I appreciate all cars have some rattles and squeaks, but this is in a different league.

For others reading this I know that sounds harsh, but unless like us you've experienced the same 'rattle' first hand it may be hard to understand how really annoying it is. When it's at its most frequent and loud you have to have the radio on pretty loud to drown out the noise. I'm not really a music/radio person either which makes it even more annoying.

My colleagues at work were taking the mick out of me saying "it's only a rattle" until we went to a meeting and two of them were sat in the back. Funny on the return journey they were fighting over who would sit in the front because of that quote "f***in rattle".

Funny you should mention the popping sounds. I didn't think anything of it until now, but yes. I thought they were just stone chips pinging around the wheel arch, but now I'm not so sure. Also the large bang, sounds more like the noise you'd get if the suspension bottomed out. Every time it happened I'd thought I'd driven over something, but the car didn't noticeable move like it would over a pothole or debris. I will also mention this to the dealer.

I am in a difficult situation when it comes to complaining as a close friend works at the dealership in a non sales management role. He bent over backwards to get the car I wanted for an amazing price, so I feel bad in making a fuss. The last thing I want to do is make his life difficult. I don't know if that sounds stupid to others but I would appreciate your thoughts?

 

[enthusiastowned]

Yep, 3 Door, Sept 2016 Build (it'll say on a sticker found on the inside when you open the drivers door).

I've just had a phone call to say mine will be ready this week and the Tech has test drove the car today and rattle free. Fingers crossed. I'll report back with what they did.

I agree no new car should rattle, at all. I expect rattles to appear over time, or any rattle within the first 12 months to be rectified swiftly, but messing around like this is not acceptable. My gearbox also whines which is another story entirely. I'm not best pleased with this car.

 

[Mooeeey]

Mine says Nov 2016, and checking my paperwork I picked it up on 29/11/16. I first reported the rattle to them on the 28th April this year, so within the first 6 months.

I'm looking forward to hearing how they fixed it. Fingers crossed it's a permanent fix for you.

In terms of testing... I asked them if they could properly test mine once a 'fix' has been applied. Luckily the master tech guy lives a decent distance from the dealer, so I have asked if he wouldn't mind driving it to and from work a few times just to be sure.

Also sorry to hear about the gearbox whine, my old car did it, but so far nothing with this one.

 

[olda47]

My car makes the same sound, from the boot area I think from the passenger side rear quarter, closer to the roof. Like yours, it's intermittent (sometimes the car's silent for a few hundred miles, then it's constant for a 30 min journey -The same journey I'll have been doing when it was quiet, may I add). I think the sound is caused by body flex - If the car flexes, something shifts were it creaks and rattles until it settles and goes away, then the car flexes and it starts all over again. This could be a tight corner taken with some spirit, or a slow road with some bad twisting camber.

The Dealer has attempted everything, removed all the interior, checked the welds, taped up between all the trim, cavity wax, removed and adjusted the boot, the boot latches, new sill clips, replaced some (hidden) vents within the rear quarters. They are stumped. A BMW Master Tech has looked and has no idea. BMW and the dealer are out of ideas.

The sound has been there since new, now 8+ months old with 6k miles. The dealers had a good 8 attempts to fix it. The cars been in for the past three weeks (now starting the fourth week!) trying to fix the fault. I refuse to have the car returned with it still present. I'm getting to the point of telling them to (officially) give up.

I also have an A-Pillar rattle coming from the HK speaker which I think is related.

Have you heard any popping sounds? When I first got the car and then again a month or so back, I kept hearing a pinging/popping sound, similar to stones hitting a windscreen or paintwork. But coming from the passenger rear quarter. Followed by a large bang where the popping then stopped. I swear this is the spot welds failing but my dealer is adamant all welds are fine.

I wasn't taken very seriously at all, until I sent an e-mail to the Dealers Managing Director, I now have a Service Manager as my point of contact and he's been great as far as personal customer service goes (phone calls every other day, prioritised etc). Maybe worth a shout for you?

If dealer had run out of options, the car must be sent to BMW National Service, where the engineers must analyze and identify the broblem and via National Service Buletin advise the fix to dealers. Please insist on this to be done! Don´t give up! Good luck!

 

[olda47]

Yep, 3 Door, Sept 2016 Build (it'll say on a sticker found on the inside when you open the drivers door).

I've just had a phone call to say mine will be ready this week and the Tech has test drove the car today and rattle free. Fingers crossed. I'll report back with what they did.

I agree no new car should rattle, at all. I expect rattles to appear over time, or any rattle within the first 12 months to be rectified swiftly, but messing around like this is not acceptable. My gearbox also whines which is another story entirely. I'm not best pleased with this car.

Well, this is an another very good lead. If there´s no rattle on 5 door cars (so far no complaints), so the problem is likely 3 door body related. I would investigate structural difference b/n the 3 door and 5 door body and would investigate the related weld jigs in the body shop, if the weld integrity is found to be at fault. This must obviously be done at the point of manufacture. But the BMW National Service must get involved in this process.

 

[mctga]

Sounds similar to my b pillar creaking/popping...

http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=80912&start=15

I'm not the only one to have this and wouldn't be surprised if the c pillar can exhibit it too. A result of assembly tolerances allowing sections of the body work to rub against each other under load.

 

[Mooeeey]

Sounds similar to my b pillar creaking/popping...

http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=80912&start=15

I'm not the only one to have this and wouldn't be surprised if the c pillar can exhibit it too. A result of assembly tolerances allowing sections of the body work to rub against each other under load.

Thanks for this. I will be sure to mention this to the dealer. Hopefully it is and oil/grease will fix it

 

[tumsh]

Try the rear passenger grab handle. I found that it was vibrating against its own stop. A simple piece of tape solved it.

 

[Mooeeey]

Try the rear passenger grab handle. I found that it was vibrating against its own stop. A simple piece of tape solved it.

Thank you, but already tried that

 

[enthusiastowned]

Mine says Nov 2016, and checking my paperwork I picked it up on 29/11/16. I first reported the rattle to them on the 28th April this year, so within the first 6 months.

I'm looking forward to hearing how they fixed it. Fingers crossed it's a permanent fix for you.

In terms of testing... I asked them if they could properly test mine once a 'fix' has been applied. Luckily the master tech guy lives a decent distance from the dealer, so I have asked if he wouldn't mind driving it to and from work a few times just to be sure.

Also sorry to hear about the gearbox whine, my old car did it, but so far nothing with this one.

Got my car back. The constant rattle has gone, but the sound is still there from time to time over roads with a twisting camber. I suspect over time the rattle will start with more frequency again. I never really found out a specific repair, only various attempts such as all the boot being re-aligned, trim being removed and replaced with felt tape on all the joining surfaces, lots of cavity wax between the inner panels, new vents (hidden within the c-pillar) and a control box attached to the passenger c-pillar had been re-fixed as it was vibrating. It also looks like I've had a new boot latch (on the boot side) as I swear it's a revised design.

I personally feel it'll never be fixed. I have to say it isn't for the lack of trying, the dealer and lead tech on the job have tried really hard, even BMW couldn't advise them any further as they were out of ideas themselves. After 8 months and various attempts, I've come to the conclusion the car and the sound are what they are.

They had the car just shy of 4 weeks to do all of the above and it's not perfect. It is much, much better but it all feels too little, too late for me and I've requested a meeting with the MD of my dealer for a chat. I'll keep you posted.

 

[olda47]

To enthusiastowned. Thank´s for your input. However, there´s no mention of the spot welding investigation and I can´t belief the statement that "even BMW couldn´t advise them any further as they were out of ideas themselves". To me, they are simply just not trying hard enough! All jobs you´ve described, they did, are just superficial patch ups. There must the next step in the organizational structure BMW, where the group of experts will take over the investigation, if and when dealer´s efforts failed! Please insist on this to happen, when you meet with the MD. And thank´s for keeping us in the picture! Also, pls. note, and let the MD know, that this is not a new problem!

http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=80912&start=15

I´m finding it very hard to believe, that the company of BMW statue, will allow something as serious as abnormal noise associated (very likely) with the structural spot welding, to drift along for 2 years.

 

[Mooeeey]

To enthusiastowned. Thank´s for your input. However, there´s no mention of the spot welding investigation and I can´t belief the statement that "even BMW couldn´t advise them any further as they were out of ideas themselves". To me, they are simply just not trying hard enough! All jobs you´ve described, they did, are just superficial patch ups. There must the next step in the organizational structure BMW, where the group of experts will take over the investigation, if and when dealer´s efforts failed! Please insist on this to happen, when you meet with the MD. And thank´s for keeping us in the picture! Also, pls. note, and let the MD know, that this is not a new problem!

http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=80912&start=15

I´m finding it very hard to believe, that the company of BMW statue, will allow something as serious as abnormal noise associated (very likely) with the structural spot welding, to drift along for 2 years.

I totally agree. If it makes a noise it isn't supposed to, then there has to be a reason. It's not supposed to rattle like a bag of rusty spanners. Mine has been in and out of the dealer since April, and it's back in on 17th. How long they will have it I do not know. I won't be keeping the car if they can't resolve it.

 

[enthusiastowned]

To enthusiastowned. Thank´s for your input. However, there´s no mention of the spot welding investigation and I can´t belief the statement that "even BMW couldn´t advise them any further as they were out of ideas themselves". To me, they are simply just not trying hard enough! All jobs you´ve described, they did, are just superficial patch ups. There must the next step in the organizational structure BMW, where the group of experts will take over the investigation, if and when dealer´s efforts failed! Please insist on this to happen, when you meet with the MD. And thank´s for keeping us in the picture! Also, pls. note, and let the MD know, that this is not a new problem!

http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=80912&start=15

I´m finding it very hard to believe, that the company of BMW statue, will allow something as serious as abnormal noise associated (very likely) with the structural spot welding, to drift along for 2 years.

I totally agree. If it makes a noise it isn't supposed to, then there has to be a reason. It's not supposed to rattle like a bag of rusty spanners. Mine has been in and out of the dealer since April, and it's back in on 17th. How long they will have it I do not know. I won't be keeping the car if they can't resolve it.

Well, the dealers lead tech said he had all the trim out and checked every weld for failings and couldn't find any. He kept saying the sound is a certain amount of expected body flex, yadda yadda.

I think the bottom line is the Dealer is stumped and BMW are stumped. The Dealer had noted months back that they had tried all of the BMW recommended fixes with no joy, raised it to BMW who were going to get back to them for the next steps. After a month of nothing, I went mental at the dealer (and the MD) where they booked me straight in for an attempt (and then took the 4 weeks to try and fix it). I think BMW just ended up leaving the dealer with it. All very inspiring stuff

To be honest, I'm not going to let them have another go at it, they've had the car for over 6 weeks in total though 5 different attempts. They've had more than a reasonable attempt at it all. BMW have been involved, BMW master techs, BMW FS, the lot. The poor tech chap at the dealer looked like he'd not slept for 4 weeks with worry - It's not for lack of trying, I have a clear argument the car's just duff. The conversation I'm having with the MD is based on getting me into another BMW before I instruct a solicitor for a refund where I'll go and buy an Audi or Merc.

 

[olda47]

I can´t believe what I´m reading...............He kept saying the sound is a certain amount of expected body flex, yadda yadda. ......BMW dealer lead tech? It´s time that BMW Germany came in on this! To me,(if no spot weld on B pillar S/A is broken) it sounds like there´s a) shortage of spot welds whether by mistake or by design or b) spot welds are misplaced or c) the weld jig for B pillar S/A is out of spec and is twisting the B pillar during clamping and welding. The result then could be a stress welded B pillar and the clicking noise under chassis flexing. Exactly there, the BMW should start their investigation and continue along the main jig in the body shop and check the condition of the B pillar at every operation. This is how thorough investigation should be done and nothing else will do! Does anybody at the dealer know, how many spot welds shoud there be on B pillar S/A and where? I wouldn´t think so! They would have to have an engineering drawing showing N/P of spot welds. Pls. keep at it and let us know....taaaa

 

[salmani01]

So I have had my m140 into BMW eastern in Edinburgh. Because of this issue. Also for the doors rubbing on the frame work and exhaust rattel.

So the rattling noise. Thanks to this thread and forum I went in and eliminated all the "possibilities " they would through at me due to Mooeey's experiences and asked them to inspect the b and c pillars. Turns out there is spot welding there and is still all joined together but there is a slight gap which is causing the body to flex on the c pillar and thus creating a creaking/rattel noise. So is getting booked in to get resolved.

The doors are getting new seals and 're hung so to not cause the rubbing.

However they have come back and told me the exhaust rattel is a common characteristic of the car and are not going to fix or change this. However I can purchase a mpe to replace?? Some how I think this is a bit of a ploy to punt the mpe. However what are the chances I kick up more fuss advising the car has been sold with a defect and demand the mpe. You think there is any chance I'll get it fitted at no cost?

 

[Mooeeey]

So I have had my m140 into BMW eastern in Edinburgh. Because of this issue. Also for the doors rubbing on the frame work and exhaust rattel.

So the rattling noise. Thanks to this thread and forum I went in and eliminated all the "possibilities " they would through at me due to Mooeey's experiences and asked them to inspect the b and c pillars. Turns out there is spot welding there and is still all joined together but there is a slight gap which is causing the body to flex on the c pillar and thus creating a creaking/rattel noise. So is getting booked in to get resolved.

The doors are getting new seals and 're hung so to not cause the rubbing.

However they have come back and told me the exhaust rattel is a common characteristic of the car and are not going to fix or change this. However I can purchase a mpe to replace?? Some how I think this is a bit of a ploy to punt the mpe. However what are the chances I kick up more fuss advising the car has been sold with a defect and demand the mpe. You think there is any chance I'll get it fitted at no cost?

That's some good news. I'm glad they have found the issue on your car. I hope it's the same on mine. Would you mind asking them to take a photo of the area where there's that small gap on the c pillar please? My car goes in Monday and I will be asking them to check over the c pillar carefully. I wonder if enthusiastowned on here has the same issue, but the dealer has missed it somehow?

Personally I think they are fobbing you off with the exhaust situation. Mine doesn't rattle, but my previous car did, but only on start up and they replaced it no questions asked.

 

[olda47]

So I have had my m140 into BMW eastern in Edinburgh. Because of this issue. Also for the doors rubbing on the frame work and exhaust rattel.

So the rattling noise. Thanks to this thread and forum I went in and eliminated all the "possibilities " they would through at me due to Mooeey's experiences and asked them to inspect the b and c pillars. Turns out there is spot welding there and is still all joined together but there is a slight gap which is causing the body to flex on the c pillar and thus creating a creaking/rattel noise. So is getting booked in to get resolved.

The doors are getting new seals and 're hung so to not cause the rubbing.

However they have come back and told me the exhaust rattel is a common characteristic of the car and are not going to fix or change this. However I can purchase a mpe to replace?? Some how I think this is a bit of a ploy to punt the mpe. However what are the chances I kick up more fuss advising the car has been sold with a defect and demand the mpe. You think there is any chance I'll get it fitted at no cost?

Now we´re getting somewhere! I´m glad, I could have been some help with this troublesome issue. I´d like to point out, that exactly the same problem they´ve confirmed on C pillar, could occur on B pillar. So it is important, to look at the B pillar for the same problem, if the noise appears to come from there. I hope that the dealer will add an aditional weld to the problem area and will treat the rewelded section with the rust proof undercoat before painting. Good luck!

 

[enthusiastowned]

Interesting development, if you could get that photo of the gap in the panel, that would be great.

My rattle has started again this morning. I've not heard a peep since Saturday but this morning for the first 10 minutes there was a faint knocking sound. The sound disappeared completely half way through my journey. I've not done anything unique and the only difference is the temperature was a little lower this morning and I've not used the car (including opening the boot) for a good 36 hours.

It's definitely the same sound, just quieter than before. I'm thinking the cavity wax or something else they've done has muffled the sound, but not fully cured it. I'm wondering if the temperature this morning caused the sound and it went away once the car was warm, or even if the car had settled over the past day or so... Who knows!?

It also appears they've used some type of wax on my steering wheel silver trim to stop a creaking sound as it's seeping all over the steering wheel which is nice.

 

[salmani01]

Thanks guys for your help on this one. Here's hoping the issue gets resolved.

I have the car back now and just waiting on feed back from bmw that it's all to go ahead and be approved under warranty. So did not get a chance to ask for a photo. But when it goes back in to be fixed I'll be asking for a before and after pic so to se how they have fixed the problem. I'll also ask for the b pillar to be inspected and photos taken to prove all is well.

Re the back box. I also feel they are gobbling me off. As what I don't understand is that the dealer had advised it's the last silencer before the back box that's rattling so if they change the back box to the mpe how will this resolve the rattling unless when you install the back box the silencer comes out as well?? A chap I know that works there and delivers all the cars says that if I kick up a proper stick they 're likely to change with the back box being fully subsidised. So we will see.

I hope enthusiastowned and mooeeey you get your cars into the stealers and ask for the c and b pillars to be inspected and this solves your problem.

I'll post back once I know when the car is going in and with an update on the work. Hopping this bloody tick gets to f.......

😁

 

[olda47]

Good stuff and good luck!