Dash rattle

[Scott_S]

I have a very annoying dash rattle on the passengers side close to the right-most vent. It sounds similar to if a ping pong ball was rattling around in there. Has anyone had a similar issue or know where to start looking before I tear the dash apart to find it?

[N1rve]

Check your glove compartment for something loose.

[Scott_S]

Originally Posted by N1rve

Check your glove compartment for something loose.

I've checked that, only the manual in there. It sounds higher up though, like by the vent.

[exmike]

I’ve taken apart my dash looking for rattles. My advice: turn up the radio or lower the windows.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by Scott_S

I've checked that, only the manual in there. It sounds higher up though, like by the vent.

I would honestly just live with it. Taking the car apart for rattles would most likely...cause more rattles.

[Scott_S]

Originally Posted by N1rve

I would honestly just live with it. Taking the car apart for rattles would most likely...cause more rattles.

Good advice. I was hoping for a quick fix, but those aren't very common haha. Thanks

[NoSuchSol]

Check to make sure the screws are tightened on the glove box. Found a couple that needed some work on my own.

[Spun Crankhub]

You might have to get used to it. The price you pay for having bolted rear subframe.
I had a rattle coming from my center console next to my right leg, but I found that by folding up a paper towel and sticking it in between the console and car, that it relented.
You might try feeling around various places in the area of your rattle, and see if it gives you relief from the rattle. At that point you can decide whether there is a strategy you can employ to stop the rattle.

[$hah$]

My whole car rattles. I never noticed it until I started reading all these posts on the forum. Now I just live with it, but I don't understand how my wife's Merc has not one rattle, but both my M's rattle like crazy. Quality control needs to step their game up.

[Bimmer Pleaser]

Originally Posted by $hah$

My whole car rattles. I never noticed it until I started reading all these posts on the forum. Now I just live with it, but I don't understand how my wife's Merc has not one rattle, but both my M's rattle like crazy. Quality control needs to step their game up.

My C43 interior rattles like crazy. Center console, covers near gas pedal, panoramic sunroof... a symptom of tight suspension I guess.

[HyeM3]

My door locks and the plastic steering column rattle and annoy the crap out of me but like everyone else said just drive with the windows down or the radio up and you'll be good

[NSX2M4]

Use felt tape. If your car is under warranty, take it to a dealer. They first lined my door panels and it fixed it. I just took it in this week for the center dash rattle as well. They lined with felt tape. Now I car hear the rear panels. LOL. Shouldn't have this with a 80k dollar car. So, make the dealer do for free if still under warranty. If they break any tabs, they just install new panels.

[FlyingLow78]

Properly done, taking the car apart to repair rattles will not result in more. I’ve used nearly 70 feet of felt tape fixing both of my F80 M3s. My ‘18 is still not perfectly silent, but the rear subframe mounting and my coil over setup are going to transmit a lot of vibration into the body.

The rattle that OP is hearing is often the sticky door gasket that is well known to creak. I’d take a drive with someone else behind the wheel to isolate the source.

If the door is creaking, would start by applying gummi pflege to the seal or applying Teflon tape to the structure where the seal contacts.

If that doesn’t fix it, pulling the large trim piece out of the dash requires no tools and will grant access to the passenger vent (on LHD cars).

[tamkhan]

Rattles are part of what make expensive cars unique

I feel like trying to fix rattles becomes a bottomless pit of frustration. They tend to come back. Unless, it is the infamous door rattle on the M3. I did get that fixed through the dealer under warranty and it hasn't been an issue since

You should take the car to the dealer and have them drive around a few uneven patches of road with you. They will figure out where the issue is. Then, you can just fix it on your own if you like

[matty088]

I have the same rattle. I had my son trying to find it. He wasn’t able to. I am betting it’s coming from the side view mirror.

[Zomboss]

Originally Posted by matty088

I have the same rattle. I had my son trying to find it. He wasn’t able to. I am betting it’s coming from the side view mirror.

I suspect it’s the passenger side door lock pin. My dealer added felt tape, and the rattle disappeared... for a month. Now I’m just going to fix it myself.

[matty088]

Originally Posted by Zomboss

I suspect it’s the passenger side door lock pin. My dealer added felt tape, and the rattle disappeared... for a month. Now I’m just going to fix it myself.

mine isnt the pin. Ive had my kids hold it and it still made noise.

[AS328Xi]

You ever figure this out? Mine is doing the same!

[fpvsportsguy]

Bump!

I've fixed just about every other rattles in my f83, and this passenger side vent rattle is the last one I'm chasing. I've sat in the passenger seat while my wife drove trying to find it, but could not definitively pin it to any single trim piece. I suspect it might be a loose bolt somewhere deep in the dash.

So far here's all the rattles/creaks I've fixed:
-window creak/crunch, gummy and silicone grease for all door seals
-a pillar creak, felt tape and silicone grease,
-rear ac vent creak, more silicone grease,
-center ac control creak, took the panel out and covered all the gaps in silicone grease
-convertible top groan, gummy on all roof panel rubber seals
-passenger footwell rattle, took the panel out, applied lots of felt tape
-12v port panel creak, you guessed it, more silicone grease

I guess my next step would be to actually pull the door and the dash apart to look for the loose bolt. Wish me luck.

Yes I'm quite OCD when it comes to rattles, and the stiff subframe is not doing me any favors.. But I'm THIS close to having a noise free cabin.

[fpvsportsguy]

Originally Posted by matty088

mine isnt the pin. Ive had my kids hold it and it still made noise.

Same here. I've manually wiggled the pin, it does make a similar rattly noise when I do that, but actually doesn't rattle while driving. I'm still gonna stick some felt tape in the gap to prevent future rattles tho.

[FatRear08]

Originally Posted by exmike

I’ve taken apart my dash looking for rattles. My advice: turn up the radio or lower the windows.

+1. Or better yet, get some downpipes and full exhaust and let her rip.

[zamboni]

Check the door lock it could comes from that side could be rattle, if it's under warranty take it back to dealer and have them add felt tape to the vent. The M3 is notorious with blackline trim it creak like crazy.