If you think you have a rattle over bumps ... try the center armrest.

MDCTFTW · 02-02-2009, 11:46 AM

I had been hearing a rattle over bigger bumps in the cabin over the past few months and always thought it was somewhere in the rear deck lid or 3rd brake light (E92). Turns out it's the center armrest. When I lean on it I never hear the noise, but right when I take it off it's back.

Just wanted to share in case anyone else gets this. Should be an easy fix, but haven't looked into that yet.

lincoln · 02-02-2009, 06:42 PM

Isn't that funny how acoustics can really change where you think the sound is coming from? I've had that ricochet effect a few times in different cars before. Glad you found it.

PortoM3 · 02-03-2009, 03:10 PM

oh, man, I just started hearing rattles coming out of the cabin too when I go over speed bumps, or any big bumps too. It was driving me nuts. I will check the center arm rest. thanks.

JS11 · 02-03-2009, 04:14 PM

i have a rattle coming from the guage cluster
if i press on the transparent plastic window(?) on it, the sound disappears

farbarg · 02-03-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JS11

i have a rattle coming from the guage cluster
if i press on the transparent plastic window(?) on it, the sound disappears

Hmm, mine appears to be coming from right below the idrive screen, and to the right of the two middle vents. Press the carbon fiber trim there and it goes away. Sigh. Pretty clear there isn't going to be a fix for that.

emergent · 02-04-2009, 12:48 PM

I have a rattle too. It's an easy fix though since it's just the change in my ashtray.

Robin_NL · 02-04-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JS11

i have a rattle coming from the guage cluster
if i press on the transparent plastic window(?) on it, the sound disappears

same here(sometimes) and especially at about 3000rpm so I ALWAYS have to go faster than 3000rpm to make the rattle disappear.

(The Police officer didn't believe that story

)

rob612 · 02-13-2009, 08:33 PM

I just fixed one of my rattles at the dealer. I had a vibrating, almost metallic rattle coming from the center console to the shifter area... After two days in the shop they concluded that it was the exhaust that was loose. No more rattle now. Hopefully, this information will help someone. Good luck to the rest of you..

niqui · 02-14-2009, 10:20 AM

i have a rattle too, only when its bumpy, coming from the center stack, its really bothering me, havent had the car for long at all.hopefully theyll fix it.
sounds like mine is coming from under the idrive screen as well, but im no detective.

02-02-2009, 11:46 AM	#1
MDCTFTW Lieutenant Colonel 123 Rep 1,973 Posts Drives: E92 DCT Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norcal iTrader: (0)	If you think you have a rattle over bumps ... try the center armrest. I had been hearing a rattle over bigger bumps in the cabin over the past few months and always thought it was somewhere in the rear deck lid or 3rd brake light (E92). Turns out it's the center armrest. When I lean on it I never hear the noise, but right when I take it off it's back. Just wanted to share in case anyone else gets this. Should be an easy fix, but haven't looked into that yet. __________________ MDCT ... so you can drive and eat a hamburger at the same time.
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02-02-2009, 06:42 PM	#2
lincoln Lieutenant 19 Rep 432 Posts Drives: 2009 Melbourne Red Coupe - DCT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Seattle (Puyallup) iTrader: (0)	Isn't that funny how acoustics can really change where you think the sound is coming from? I've had that ricochet effect a few times in different cars before. Glad you found it. __________________ 2009 Melbourne Red DCT \| Black Interior \| Carbon Fiber Trim \| Carbon Fiber Roof \| Cold Weather \| Premium \| Technology \| 19's \| Smartphone Integration \| iPod \|
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02-03-2009, 03:10 PM	#3
PortoM3 M3lover 27 Rep 485 Posts Drives: SSII M3 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Wiesbaden, Germany iTrader: (1)	oh, man, I just started hearing rattles coming out of the cabin too when I go over speed bumps, or any big bumps too. It was driving me nuts. I will check the center arm rest. thanks.
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02-03-2009, 04:14 PM	#4
JS11 Private First Class 19 Rep 192 Posts Drives: '08 E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cambridge, MA iTrader: (3)	i have a rattle coming from the guage cluster if i press on the transparent plastic window(?) on it, the sound disappears
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02-04-2009, 12:48 PM	#6
emergent not a poof 26 Rep 115 Posts Drives: 2013 Monte Carlo Blue X5M Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bridgewater, NJ iTrader: (0)	I have a rattle too. It's an easy fix though since it's just the change in my ashtray. __________________ 2013 Monte Carlo Blue X5M \| Active Autowerkes Software \| Vorsteiner Vented Race Hood (soon) \| K&N Filters
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02-13-2009, 08:33 PM	#8
rob612 Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 235 Posts Drives: e92 - m3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California iTrader: (1)	I just fixed one of my rattles at the dealer. I had a vibrating, almost metallic rattle coming from the center console to the shifter area... After two days in the shop they concluded that it was the exhaust that was loose. No more rattle now. Hopefully, this information will help someone. Good luck to the rest of you..
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02-14-2009, 10:20 AM	#9
niqui Brigadier General 127 Rep 3,110 Posts Drives: Jet Black E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada iTrader: (7)	i have a rattle too, only when its bumpy, coming from the center stack, its really bothering me, havent had the car for long at all.hopefully theyll fix it. sounds like mine is coming from under the idrive screen as well, but im no detective.
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