Rattle From Rear Window / Shelf

bonwit904 · 02-18-2010, 12:58 AM

I have this rattle going on from the rear window / shelf area when I go over bumps that has slowly worsened as the car has gotten older. It now has 13k miles on it. It sounds like something banging against glass, or two hard pieces hitting each other. It is not super loud - but definitely a nuisance and annoying.

Anyone have any experience with this, and if so - getting it fixed?

red.66mustang · 02-18-2010, 05:36 PM

My car had this about at 15k miles. What it is, is the plastic grille in between the parcel and rear window rubs against the glass and rattles. Take it to the dealer and tell them about it, hopefully they will test drive and replicate it. The fix for mine was felt tape along the grille. I have had no noises from that since.

NoWr2Go · 02-21-2010, 07:23 PM

I have had the same creaking/popping rattling sound. Apparently it is the vent guide on the real shelf rubbing against the body. I have taken it in three times and the dealer has put felt tape, silicon, etc....and nothing seems to works. They even changed the vent guide and put felt again and it was good for a couple of weeks and the sound came back again. If you are able to fix yours, let us know what was done. THX.

jgoryeb · 04-04-2010, 02:16 PM

I had this same issue in a 2006 330xi and now, again, in my 2009 328i xdrive. I'm pretty sure the clacking sound is not coming from the rear self but rather from the center break light assembly. If you tap around the rear roof area by the brake light assembly, you can probably replicate the sound. That being said, I have had it to the dealer three times and they have been unable to fix it. By the way, the brand new, 2010 loaner they gave me had the SAME RATTLE! IF someone finds a fix for this, let us know.

MikeyComputers · 12-02-2010, 02:03 PM

wow this is nice i have the same problem GREAAAAAT.......

i have one fix but it sucks i just turn up the logic 7 lol

fdriller9 · 12-02-2010, 03:10 PM

There is a thread about this and how to remedy it.....it involves removing the rear parcel shelf and the plastic vent piece, covering certain points in felt to prevent rubbing.

nichojo · 12-25-2011, 05:32 PM

I just wanted to bump this old thread to let everyone know that after 5 visits to the dealer, I finally found the rattle. All this time I thought the rattle was coming from the shelf because it sounded like plastic hitting glass... like a ticking noise that was decently loud.

Yesterday on my way to my parent's house I was driving on a rough stretch of highway and decided to pinpoint it since it was pretty consistent.

It was the headliner. Right before the 3rd brake light. I gave it a little punch while driving and never heard it again. I'm gonna take it to the dealer here next week and let them open her up and try and make sure nothing is loose but I'm SO happy its finally done!

Woohoo! Merry Christmas!

02-18-2010, 12:58 AM	#1
bonwit904 Second Lieutenant 124 Rep 204 Posts Drives: 2022 M5C Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Rattle From Rear Window / Shelf I have this rattle going on from the rear window / shelf area when I go over bumps that has slowly worsened as the car has gotten older. It now has 13k miles on it. It sounds like something banging against glass, or two hard pieces hitting each other. It is not super loud - but definitely a nuisance and annoying. Anyone have any experience with this, and if so - getting it fixed?
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02-18-2010, 05:36 PM	#2
red.66mustang Black.e90 17 Rep 147 Posts Drives: 03 M3, 6MT, Carbon Blk/Cinnamn Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	My car had this about at 15k miles. What it is, is the plastic grille in between the parcel and rear window rubs against the glass and rattles. Take it to the dealer and tell them about it, hopefully they will test drive and replicate it. The fix for mine was felt tape along the grille. I have had no noises from that since. __________________ Current: 03 M3 6MT Carbon Black/Cinnamon; 1963 Volkswagen Beetle Ragtop; 1965 Ford Mustang Conv. 289/4spd Retired: 2006 325i 6MT, 1966 Ford Mustang; 2006 VW Jetta 2.5L, 5MT
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02-21-2010, 07:23 PM	#3
NoWr2Go New Member 4 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Coupe Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	I have had the same creaking/popping rattling sound. Apparently it is the vent guide on the real shelf rubbing against the body. I have taken it in three times and the dealer has put felt tape, silicon, etc....and nothing seems to works. They even changed the vent guide and put felt again and it was good for a couple of weeks and the sound came back again. If you are able to fix yours, let us know what was done. THX.
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04-04-2010, 02:16 PM	#4
jgoryeb Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2009 328i xDrive Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Randolph, NJ iTrader: (0)	I had this same issue in a 2006 330xi and now, again, in my 2009 328i xdrive. I'm pretty sure the clacking sound is not coming from the rear self but rather from the center break light assembly. If you tap around the rear roof area by the brake light assembly, you can probably replicate the sound. That being said, I have had it to the dealer three times and they have been unable to fix it. By the way, the brand new, 2010 loaner they gave me had the SAME RATTLE! IF someone finds a fix for this, let us know.
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12-02-2010, 02:03 PM	#5
MikeyComputers Captain 47 Rep 649 Posts Drives: 2007 335i 6mt White/red Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Williston Park new york iTrader: (3) Garage List 2007 335i [6.00]	wow this is nice i have the same problem GREAAAAAT....... i have one fix but it sucks i just turn up the logic 7 lol
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12-02-2010, 03:10 PM	#6
fdriller9 Banned 260 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	There is a thread about this and how to remedy it.....it involves removing the rear parcel shelf and the plastic vent piece, covering certain points in felt to prevent rubbing.
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12-25-2011, 05:32 PM	#7
nichojo Lieutenant 15 Rep 417 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (1)	I just wanted to bump this old thread to let everyone know that after 5 visits to the dealer, I finally found the rattle. All this time I thought the rattle was coming from the shelf because it sounded like plastic hitting glass... like a ticking noise that was decently loud. Yesterday on my way to my parent's house I was driving on a rough stretch of highway and decided to pinpoint it since it was pretty consistent. It was the headliner. Right before the 3rd brake light. I gave it a little punch while driving and never heard it again. I'm gonna take it to the dealer here next week and let them open her up and try and make sure nothing is loose but I'm SO happy its finally done! Woohoo! Merry Christmas!
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