Door seal squeaks - replace or lubricate?

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by yjypm

Sorry to revive this thread I just would like to share how I fixed this issue.

Background: I have been having this creaking door seal issue for a year, super embarrassing when people sit in your "BMW" and expect it to be like a luxury/sporty car and you go over a bump the door sounds like it's gonna break apart.

- I have used pfledge, it got better (still some noise but much better than before) but the noises came back in 2-3 days.
- Then I went to the dealer, the service advisor told me they would use door-ease if I send my car over there but I would have to make an appointment and they were going to keep the car for half a day, so I decided to order some door-ease on amazon. I applied the door-ease on the seal and let the car sit overnight, the noise got better the day after, but after merely 1 day the noise came back.
- Eventually I decided to go for the 3M tape solution although it has a price tag of over $100, but then I found a similar product on amazon for much much less: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I bought 2 sets for less than $13. I applied this onto the trim where the seal meets the trim, I used a little over 1 roll of this tape and the noise is completely gone! It has been two weeks since I applied the tape, I have washed car throughly once during this period, there's no noise what so ever.

I am glad to announce the tape solution might be the cure to this issue.

It's too bad that you spent the money but mostly the time to do this as BMW should do the same fix at no charge under warranty. I'm not sure why your dealer didn't do it as my dealer said that they done this on "a ton" of F30s/F80s, since the F30 chassis was introduced. I guess that your research didn't turn up the numerous previous threads/posts where this was discussed, including my post from about three months ago where the dealer fixed the problem on my wife's 2018 M3.

[allen3ybq]

Dealer uses this

[yjypm]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

It's too bad that you spent the money but mostly the time to do this as BMW should do the same fix at no charge under warranty. I'm not sure why your dealer didn't do it as my dealer said that they done this on "a ton" of F30s/F80s, since the F30 chassis was introduced. I guess that your research didn't turn up the numerous previous threads/posts where this was discussed, including my post from about three months ago where the dealer fixed the problem on my wife's 2018 M3.

My dealer told me the "tape fix" was an old fix and doesn't always work so he recommend me the door-ease.
I actually saw your post and the original 2016 post with instructions on how to apply the tape. It's a bit hassle to apply so I tried the other two methods first until I found that they didn't work and decided to go for the tape fix

[yjypm]

Originally Posted by allen3ybq

Dealer uses this

That was exactly what I used and it didn't work.

[allen3ybq]

Originally Posted by yjypm

That was exactly what I used and it didn't work.

Dealer applied that once and I never had the noise again.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by yjypm

My dealer told me the "tape fix" was an old fix and doesn't always work so he recommend me the door-ease.
I actually saw your post and the original 2016 post with instructions on how to apply the tape. It's a bit hassle to apply so I tried the other two methods first until I found that they didn't work and decided to go for the tape fix

Not sure why different dealers have different fixes. I was pretty sure that BMW had a TSB on the problem and the fix was to use the teflon tape. it fixed my wife's car immediately and the creaking hasn't returned. But I'm glad that you got it fixed! I couldn't have put up with that every day but maybe my wife just got used to it.

[danchee]

Mine kept using door eaze and I just bought a roll from tape jungle. I was going to use it for a number of things anyways (window sliders, drawers, etc...) so it was a wash for me.

[yjypm]

Originally Posted by danchee

Mine kept using door eaze and I just bought a roll from tape jungle. I was going to use it for a number of things anyways (window sliders, drawers, etc...) so it was a wash for me.

Be sure to clean the trim with alcohol or something, otherwise the tape won't stick well.

[Alan l.]

Also check where the base of the side mirror comes in contact with the black shadow line trim (directly under the side mirror area) on the exterior part of the door. I noticed that mine would rattle/creak over bumps and noticed that if i put pressure on the side mirror it would make the sound. I added some grease where it meets and its been quiet since. I usually just do it ever few months to make sure if doesnt come back.

[noone]

This should do the trick. $3 bucks for 15ft of the 1/2" roll - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...TF8&psc=1&th=1 My old 2004 530i had the same problem. Also, Vaseline applied to the felt flocking on the upper door seal will also work but will need to be periodically reapplied. It's comical that this issue exists on my brand new 2018 M3 as it did on my brand new 2004 530i.

I'd rather pay 4 bucks and take the time to fix it myself than take it to the dealer who is going to f your car up when they cut off the tape to length while it is on your shadow line trim.

[icegrill]

Originally Posted by noone

This should do the trick. $3 bucks for 15ft of the 1/2" roll - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...psc=1&th=1 My old 2004 530i had the same problem. Also, Vaseline applied to the felt flocking on the upper door seal will also work but will need to be periodically reapplied. It's comical that this issue exists on my brand new 2018 M3 as it did on my brand new 2004 530i.

I'd rather pay 4 bucks and take the time to fix it myself than take it to the dealer who is going to f your car up when they cut off the tape to length while it is on your shadow line trim.

So true, there should be a who's scared of the dealer thread!😭

[Fast4d]

door ease only worked for a few weeks.

I started wiping the seals with silicone lube. the noise has gone for a while now.

[domino_z]

It's not hard to fix

A ptfe infused wax, like swissvax shield that can be bought in small 50ml tubs, apply on the gloss black trim once every 3 or so months

Slickness of the wax will allow felt on top of doors to slide over black trim with less friction/noise

[Alan l.]

I posted about the Krytox stuff i use and it simply works on my F80. My car squeaked like mad from the moment i picked up the car new. The Krytox stuff (amazon sells it) keeps all of the seals lubed and quiet. I make it a habit it apply it quarterly but its not necessary because the seals are still lubed up. My doors don't make a peep anymore.

[aerostar]

Originally Posted by yjypm

My dealer told me the "tape fix" was an old fix and doesn't always work so he recommend me the door-ease.
I actually saw your post and the original 2016 post with instructions on how to apply the tape. It's a bit hassle to apply so I tried the other two methods first until I found that they didn't work and decided to go for the tape fix

Where exactly do you apply the tape?

On the trim itself? Or on the seal?

[yjypm]

Originally Posted by aerostar

Where exactly do you apply the tape?

On the trim itself? Or on the seal?

On trim itself. I used the following thread as a reference.
https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1210175

[mfurse]

Gummi Pflege seems to work. I mainly apply to the furry part of the door seal as that's allegedly what squeaks? Seems to work well.

[Alan l.]

I've tried gummi pflege before and others here as well. General conscious is that it only works as a temporary fix. After a few rain storms/car washes the noise comes back. Krytox stuff lasts way longer.

[Damage Inc]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

Also check where the base of the side mirror comes in contact with the black shadow line trim (directly under the side mirror area) on the exterior part of the door. I noticed that mine would rattle/creak over bumps and noticed that if i put pressure on the side mirror it would make the sound. I added some grease where it meets and its been quiet since. I usually just do it ever few months to make sure if doesnt come back.

What type of grease do you all use? I have this mirror creaking issue - it drives me MAD!