that annoying rattle

[Mi5]

For weeks now, I like many other E70 owners had a rattle. In my case it seems to have come from the front passenger seat. I thought it was the head rest but it wasn't.

After bashing the seat all over the place I finally located the source. The back cover of my sports seat (hard plastic part of the seat) seems a little loose if you smack it in the middle. I thought something behind it, maybe a spring is rattling against the plastic cover as I drive. I decided to get some foam and I stuffed it under the back cover between itself and the seat.

At first it didn't solve the rattle but as I drove along I reached down, grapped the lower portion of the back cover and pulled it towards me. No more rattle !

Next time i visit the dealer I will ask them to fix it permanently. At least for now I found where the rattle was coming from which is often the most frustrating part of having a rattle in the first place.

I must say my E53 was tight as a f!shes arse.

[jonnyp42]

I had a squeaky seat (when there was someone sat on it), they said it was a crack in the frame (not replaced), but I also have a rattle on the passenger side that is made worse by a poor road surface. The seatbelt buckle seems to flap around as well.

[Rik]

My rattle would appear to be associated with the sun roof. Seems to be just behind the glass area above the rear seat headrests.
Dealer time methinks.

[jamesboags]

Originally Posted by Mi5

For weeks now, I like many other E70 owners had a rattle. In my case it seems to have come from the front passenger seat. I thought it was the head rest but it wasn't.

After bashing the seat all over the place I finally located the source. The back cover of my sports seat (hard plastic part of the seat) seems a little loose if you smack it in the middle. I thought something behind it, maybe a spring is rattling against the plastic cover as I drive. I decided to get some foam and I stuffed it under the back cover between itself and the seat.

At first it didn't solve the rattle but as I drove along I reached down, grapped the lower portion of the back cover and pulled it towards me. No more rattle !

Next time i visit the dealer I will ask them to fix it permanently. At least for now I found where the rattle was coming from which is often the most frustrating part of having a rattle in the first place.

I must say my E53 was tight as a f!shes arse.

There are metal clips on the seat back to hold it in place, if you take the seat back off and put some packing behind these the rattle seems to go away... getting the seat back off is pretty tricky though...btw I think I have found my creaking rattling in the rear hatch.. more on that later..

[Mi5]

does it require a lot of force to pull off the seat covers or a special technique. I would like to try what you have suggested.

[jago]

we are getting pano roof rattle in same rear area fixed. dealer told wife a replacement piece is needed. i dont know exactly what.
we also experience trunk rattle and glove box vibration. they are working on both.
meanwhile we have a white 335 coupe!

[jamesboags]

Originally Posted by Mi5

does it require a lot of force to pull off the seat covers or a special technique. I would like to try what you have suggested.

I've attached the instructions - not quite as easy as they make it out though !!!

[Mi5]

thanks for the info. I pulled the cover off and noticed a couple of the metal clips were loose in their mount.

I will drive around with the cover off for awhile to verify it is the source of the rattling - just finished detailing it so I'm in no hurry to get it dirty again.

like you said the cover is a bit tricky to take off. I found it was all in the amount of punch that I gave on the side to pop the top clips out - really have to give it a sharp whack !

[deutsch100]

I have a very annoying rattle that sounds like it's coming from the passenger side A/C vent, or possibly the passenger door in the side mirror vicinity...but it sounds like the dash/vent area. It is a definite rattle, and is very bad on rough road. Thankfully it goes away on smooth pavement.

Anyone else have this? Know the problem, know the fix? Thanks!

[Mi5]

the rattle is gone !. I placed packing under all 4 metal clips, not just the loose ones and reinstalled the back cover.

Not one rattle did I hear afterwards !