My latest X5 Mod aka one more solution for X5 rear hatch rattle

[Kewl X5]

All X5 owners have had this rattle at the rear hatch. Even the '04+ X5 with the soft-close hatch rattles as well.

First of all, make sure you have the rear hatch adjusted so it closes easily and properly without needing to slam the hatch close. When the hatch closes, the light should be out.

What usually causes the rattle is the two rubber stoppers on each side of the rear hatch area.

The rear hatch will tend to rattle more when the weather is colder. The hypothesis is that the rubber material for the rubber stopper and the rubber material by the rear hatch struts are not compliant enough especially for the cold weather. The rubber gets harder with colder weather.

So when you go over bumps, the door rattles against these two pieces of hard rubber and makes the "rattle" noise.

Several people in the past have identified this and props to Datan from RF (aka And Down @ BF) who came up with an easy solution.

First make sure you adjusted the rubber stoppers to the correct position (too far out, the hatch light will not go out and it will be hard to close; too far in, the hatch will rattle no matter what).

Then, get the furniture felt pad either 1/2 inch or even 3/4 inches from Home Depot or Lowe's and place them on either the rubber material by the rear hatch struts or the rubber stoppers or both. Your rear hatch rattle sound will disappear.

Hope this helps!

See attached pictures: