Originally Posted by Kewl X5

Heh heh! Ashtray mod and center console storage bin mod was my very first mod (within 1 month of getting the X5).

Did you do your first aid kit mod? BMW has a first aid kit that bolts perfectly underneath the passenger front seat (my 2nd mod!).

It is a European part.

Originally Posted by 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. :mad:

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. :thumbup:

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. :wow:

Hope this helps!

See attached pictures:

Originally Posted by Kaefer

I have a stupid question... I hear a rattle, but it sounds as though it is coming from my sunroof. Is this the hatchback rattling? (Again, I know this sounds stupid, but I am just wondering if the sound of the rattle "travel" up the car's ceiling to make it sound as though it is coming from the sunroof.) OR... is there a known issue with the sunroof rattling?

thanks, and great tip Kewl

Juan

Originally Posted by 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. :mad:

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. :thumbup:

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. :wow:

Hope this helps!

See attached pictures:

Originally Posted by fatboyoz

The rubber stoppers from 12/ 2005 are spring loaded. If you wanted to spend the money, you could retro-fit these later stops and, provided you have a correctly adjusted rear hatch, you should never have a rattle again. That's the theory anyway!! Not sure what it's actually like in practice.
Colin.

Originally Posted by C-S-S

I used clear rubber bubble type cabinet door bumpers in place of felt on the bumpers, and flat black bumpers between the glass and the plastic trim that covers the wiper motor. The main source of the rattle was movement between the upper and lower gates. I removed the covers to the lower gate striker bolts, closed the lower gate, loosened the bolts, then pushed in firmly at the upper corners of the lower gate while I tightened the bolts. Now the lower gate is seated tight, and the upper gate latches tight against it. All rattles are gone!