[jonsteele]

My dash has developed a very irritating knock/clicking noise from just under the NS A pilar. It mainly does it during cornering, acceleration or on bad road surfaces (most around here), so I'm guessing its something to do with body flex. I'm booking it into the stealers for them to have a look and make it worse , but has anyone experienced this?

Cheers,

[Budgie]

i gave my A pillar a wallop once and the rattle stopped.

I also had one in the air vent on the top of the dash on the passenger side in the corner (little round vent) seem to cure that by twisting it a little.

[Burt25]

Jon, I have what sounds like the same problem - it's like a knocking or popping sound from near the a pillar and happens going over uneven road, turning right and accellerating. Dealer has looked at it 3 times now and still not cured-last time they stuffed felt pads into the gap between dash and
Windscreen, but it's still not sorted- they have now suggested removing the dash and refitting, but I'm not convinced. Have you made any progress with yours? Part of me is wondering if it's suspension / suspension brace related?
Let me know your thoughts.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by jonsteele

My dash has developed a very irritating knock/clicking noise from just under the NS A pilar. It mainly does it during cornering, acceleration or on bad road surfaces (most around here), so I'm guessing its something to do with body flex. I'm booking it into the stealers for them to have a look and make it worse , but has anyone experienced this?

Cheers,

Mine has this noise but from the OS A pillar

In fact I am having a real problem with roof rattles etc at the moment. I have one really annoying rattle (almost sounds like a loose cable or similar) just behind my head coming from where the two roof sections meet. It has only done it since the dealer had it to fix the roof shell trims which kept breaking

It went back in two months ago for them to try and repair this. They gave it me back with exactly the same rattle, but added another far worse one which sounded like the rear NS window glass rattling. Only did this from cold though and once the cabin warmed up it went so was more tolerable. They had it a month ago to replace the brake servo pump and they tried again to fix the rattle. Still both the same after . They then had it for three days last week. Was promised it was 'totally sorted' but surprise surprise, the one in the roof is not only still there, it is bloody worse!! (They have fixed the rattly glass though)

Been out all afternoon in the car and it has totally done my head in. I have the dash rattle that you describe but strangely only hear it at motorway speeds on smooth surfaces. The roof rattle then takes over on slower, rougher road surfaces.

It is booked in AGAIN next monday for them to try 'again'. The service manager was surprised when I rang back to complain as he claimed that he drove the car personally and did not hear a thing!!!

Knights BMW South Staffs in Stafford - Official BMW clowns

[jonsteele]

Update - I lose my car for 3 days next week for the stealer (JCT600 - Bradford) to take out the dash and investigate what they believe to be a seam weld that has come apart!!!

I'm a little worried that the dash will rattle like a can of marbles when they give it back, but to be fair to them they've only ever provided quality work and spotted the noise on the first visit without the usual 'we can't hear it' line.

Its a little worrying that a seam weld may have failed on a 12 month old car and that others are experiencing similar noises - I hope the rest of the car stays stuck together!

I'll update again when I get the car back - I wonder what I'll get as a loan car (hopes in vain it will have M3 on the back!).

[M3-FAST]

Hope you get it sorted matey - your dealers sound a bit more competent than the bunch of clowns working at my local one

Here is an update on my roof rattle:

Managed to fix my rattle myself at the weekend! The fools had left off a rubber boot that sleeves a spring. This spring keeps the roof headlining taut but is secured to, and fits along the framework of the roof. When they replaced the roof shell trims a few months ago they left out this rubber tube thingy. I pointed this out next time the car was at the dealers and they said they would locate where it went and re-fit it. Only when I looked at the weekend did I discover it still missing and when I pinged the spring, it made exactly the same noise that has been driving me mad for months I sleeved the spring with some stripped out mains cable and taped it in place. Result!! No more rattling noise! Very annoying that the dealer had the car for two days last week to find this rattle and I find it in 10 mins!!

When the dealer arrived at 8am yesterday to collect the car I told 'em I had already fixed it but it would need the correct part ordering. I asked for the service manager to call me........still awaiting that call

As for the dash rattle:

Don't think I will bother they will prob make it worse.

PS: ENJOY the loaner - they always wheelspin far better than my own car for some reason??

[COLSEN]

Originally Posted by redE93cab

Knights BMW South Staffs in Stafford - Official BMW clowns

oooo I had a bad experience with them lol. believe it or not, when I used them to service my E46, they didn't bother servicing it because they said it wasn't due for a service... until I pointed out that -2500 meant it was OVERDUE a service by 2500 miles, and then when they finally serviced it & I went to pick it up I had to wait for an extra 30mins because they'd "misplaced" my keys

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by COLSEN

I went to pick it up I had to wait for an extra 30mins because they'd "misplaced" my keys

That's strange 'cos they misplaced my keys once also!!! Took em a good 20 mins to find em.

They also have lost my locking wheel nut key! Had to get another one the other week - they are the only ones that have used it in the last 12 months so gotta be them. Useless idiots!

[jonsteele]

Update 2 - further investigation has shown that some spot welding has failed and they need to remove the dash and windscreen before the body shop can do the repair - 4 days in total! Body shop fully booked until next Wed, so I need to take it in again!

What's peoples thoughts on whether this is likely to be a localised fault or whether the whole vehicle could be effected. And am I going to have a rattling dash when I get it back?

[jonsteele]

Update 3 - picked my car up today (glad to hand the 118d ES back - pants) and quized them more on the problem. Its some spot welds at the bottom of the A pillar and they're going to sort both sides out. They said they'd seen it on 1 other car and it was authorised warranty work from BMW (how good of them!). For anyone interested, mines a Jan 2008 car, made late 2007.

[markieed]

Hi,

I have a bad rattle from my NS A post some where near the bottom, I have talked to my dealer about this (Ocean Falmouth) and they reckon its the plastic front wings resonating at speed and seem to think theres a really small fix they can apply.

Hopefully this will fix it

[jonsteele]

Update 4 - got the car back yesterday, so far the problem is solved and no rattles/creaks from the refitted dash (although they have broken my hands free kit!). It'll be going back as sson as I hear any new noises, but so far I'm impressed.

[creepy coupe]

Hvae you had your car from new Jon, nothing to suggest it's ever been in a whack?

[R4R]

Intresting thread. i have an E92 335D and the NS front near the dash / a pillar do my head in. nothing at low speeds, but as speed increases it gets worse and worse. at 70 its mildly annoying, at 80 its amplified by x2 at German autobahn speeds like 100-120 its unbearable.

strange thing is that it is speed related and wind direction.

i have had a gutter trim clip replaced but that made no odds, i removed my own A pillar trim and sound deddened the aftermarket phone kit wiring hidden behind this panel and still no joy.

i like the idea of these front wings resonating at speed.

what was the fix for them?

Dario

[jonsteele]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Hvae you had your car from new Jon, nothing to suggest it's ever been in a whack?

Yes, had it from new and no accidents (yet ). the only thing that sprang to mind is I hit a pot hole (crater) at speed on the near side, but I can't remember if it was doing it before that, and it doesn't quite explain why the off side started doing the same 4 months later.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by jonsteele

Yes, had it from new and no accidents (yet ). the only thing that sprang to mind is I hit a pot hole (crater) at speed on the near side, but I can't remember if it was doing it before that, and it doesn't quite explain why the off side started doing the same 4 months later.

You'd hope BM's could put up with a pot hole and no it doesn't explain the O/S, hope it's sorted for good though Jon.

[jonsteele]

Update 5 - the noise from the OS A pillar returned, appears they forgot to do that side, so it went back in. Fine for a week or so, but now returned

I'm starting to get concerned on the safety aspect now. These welds will form part of the safety cell and I've no idea how many others are weak or already failing - it is obviously a manufacturing fault (materials and/or machines). I dread to think how the car will cope with a serious impact at the moment.

I'm trying to get my lease company to take it back and allow me to order another, if that fails I'll be writing to BMW UK.

[ShereKhan]

Hmm interesting.

I've had some noise from the os and ns pillar's.

I've hit countless potholes and have had a minor shunt on the front.
Suprised that a pothole can cause a weld to fail. Doesn't bode much confidence for E93's if a weld can fail on a E90.

[jonsteele]

Just had another conversation with the lease company, my stealers (JCT600, Bradford) are being less than helpful with them and they wanted some more info from me. Looks like they're sending an independant assessor out to look at my car (not that they'll see any of the failed welds without stripping the car). At least its not "Get the car back for repair, you're not having another!".

I'll keep you informed.

[jonsteele]

When this problem was first diagnosed I was told by the Service Representative that it was failed spot welds – I am 100% certain that he used those exact words, as I can remember thinking "that's not good on a 12 month old car"!

Now that my lease company has got involved, after I asked if I could return the car on safety grounds, the truth has come out! The problem is panel flexing and the resolution is to reinforce the spot welds – so nothing has failed and there is no safety issue! If I'd been given the true picture at the start, I would never have gone back to my lease company.

My dealer thinks they've sorted the problem and I've got to take the car back, again, next Monday for the Service Manager to listen to the noise that is still present from the OS A pillar, he will then decide what action to take (no doubt it will involve another 4 days without the car!).

I'm a bit happier that the car isn't going to fall apart if I'm involved in an accident and that I won't lose the few mods I've done to the vehicle. The downside is I don't get the chance to upgrade to a 6 pot for another 3 years!

[Boyd1963]

Jon,

Did you ever get your car sorted out to your satisfaction? I am due to book my car in for exactly the same problem. It was diagnosed after 13 months and 5 visits to the stealer! I must admit the thought of the whole dash coming out scares the life out of me. I've just had the rattles sorted out from the last time they worked on the dash.

Cheers

Boyd

[jonsteele]

I still have a minor niggle with the OS A pillar, but it never does it when the dealer has the car. It seems to be temperate related - the colder it is, the noisier it is. Its going in for a brake fluid service soon, so I'm going to ask them to have a look again.

I was terrified about the dash coming out, but all has been fine - no new rattles and no damage. I think they broke the windscreen last time they removed it, but obviously they just replaced it.