Will the rattles never cease?!

[nick9597]

I have a 2008 X5 3.0si with only 6000 miles on it. A few weeks ago we started hearing a "clunking" or whatever coming from the interior rear. It mainly happens when the vehicle is in a turn & going over a bump, turning into a driveway etc. Basically when the body & chassis flexes the most. It rarely happens just driving straight like on the freeway etc.
We narrowed the noise down to coming from the ceiling/roof in the cargo area. We opened the sunroof all the way to see if it would affect the noise and it didn't. It just seems to be getting worse & worse. I guess we will take it in the the dealer and be subjected to their BS, but I guess we have no choice.

Any input is welcome.

Ciao!

*Update* Just realized that is was coming from the drivers side rear folding seat...either in the hinging or locking mechanisms.

[carlgo]

Knock, knock on wood, but my 05 is impressively rattle-free. Judging from the old finger in the door gap check, the X has very little body flex, and it shouldn't with its heaviness and relatively small and chunky shape.

Are most of the rattlely Xs Sport models?

I do have excessive tire noise, even with the standard suspension and the Michelin Energy tires, hardly a huge and aggressive design. I have played with the tire pressure and that helps, but... anyone else with this problem?

[vivanov1]

i have the same problem! have a feeling its coming from the trunk door, but its a sudtle noise that comes and goes while driving?

[BimmerDude]

Try the rear hatch. I put Velcro (the soft side) all around the left and right side of the bumpers where the hatch closes shut, and around the rear hatch lock actuator. Now I'm rattle free. Hope this helps...

[JBF]

I think the sliding boot cover rattles a lot when extended, both from the rear end of it tapping the upper section of the tailgate and the two pins that sit in the frame to keep it extended rattle / squeak.

[xrandy]

I have a squeaky sound that comes from the plastic center sunroof support. While driving if you hear a squeak reach back and press up on the plastic support. You can also try closing the shade. If it goes away you've got the same issue.

2006 X5 with 45000 miles. First started @ 25k and have taken it in 3 times since. Now it's backkkkk. Calling the Service Manager Monday.

[bcb1]

It's just that some are more sensitive to squeaks and rattles than others. I'm hyper-sensitive to them, and it's made an otherwise outstanding vehicle a pain in my ass.

Anyway, after much trial and error, I fixed mine by getting a roll of self-adhesive velcro tape (craft stores like Michaels and AC Moore sells it). I cut a piece about 5-6 inches long of the soft side (not the hook side), and taped it to the back edge of the rear sunroof panel.

Put the panels in the pop-up (vent) position. My noise was mostly coming from the rear passenger side, so that's where I put the velcro tape. That has completely cured the rattle.

Previously, I had some luck with simply lubricating the sunroof seals and edges (with every lubricant under the sun) about once a week in the fall and winter months, but the rattle always came back quickly. The velco fix seems to be permanant, it's been rattle free for a couple months now.

The damn sunroof and the rear hatch are both rattle prone, I don't know why BMW can't make a $60,000 vehicle that doesn't rattle when Chevy and Toyota can make $30,000 trucks that don't rattle.

[alromcc]

Hi Guys, i would like to share solutions to previous wislings, squeaks and rattles i heard (for several months) when riding inside my 2000 X5 E53 4.4i, as follows:

1) Rattles at rear trunk - replaced worn weather strip and place double adhesive tape at back of license plate - solved

2) Whisling during fast speed - replaced worn weather strip of both front doors and replaced gasket of sunroof - solved

2) Rattles somewhere along front roof - easily wrapped cloth around my sunglasses - solved

3) Rattles during loud base volume of stereo - easily removed paper clips, ballpens and leatherman within pockets of my doors - solved

4) Squeaks at rear seat during bumps - i pulled up the rear bottom seat and found that one of the two middle seat belt latches fell inside the hole and was sandwiched between bottom seat and flooring. i inserted it back and placed grease on the two catches located at both sides of bottom seat - solved

Hoping the above will help some of you guys with same issues

[jmagne]

Here is my zero $ / 2 min fix: Sunroof has a a calibrate function.
Push the roof button up (as if you want to open vent) and hold it. After a few seconds, the roof will start a full cycle opening and closing roof and blind.
Keep holding the button until the cycle is over and here you go. Sunroof memorized fully opened and closed positions as new calibration.
That fixed the rattling noise I had !!!