Xoutpost.com - Rear Hatch rattle solution?

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Not saying BMW is perfect but Bimmer parts do go through alot of beating. This is because owners tend to drive harder and faster than other SUV's as well the parts are made to take to a beating therefore wear and tear happens more often and faster. As for rattles i have to admit riding on 20" with low pro's as well as sport suspension and the way the roads are here in vancouver i don't blame my X5 for having squeaks... i know the whole chasis takes quite the beating on a daily basis... now to compare with a 4runner... definitely night and then. i had 4 runner to drive for quite a while in the past... comfort is definitely a first... but everythig else sucks.... As with anything, you can't have the best of both worlds... to get the best performance you definitely need to sacrifice comfort.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcb1 (Post 678473)

Based on the advice of folks on this board, I tried the easy fix for the hatch rattle: I used the little 3/4 inch felt adhesive discs, like that kind you put on the bottom of chair legs to keep them from scratching the floor. I put one on each rubber "bumper" where the hatch contacts the body. Presto, no more hatch rattle.

And a whole pack of 10 or 12 felt discs only costs $3.00. Simple, quick fix. The discs eventually get compressed, so I replace them a couple times a year.

BTW: before trying the felt discs, I tried loosening the T-20 screw and adjusting the rubber bumpers to no avail. It may have helped a little, but it still rattled. The felt discs stopped the rattle immediately. I also lubed the rubber gasket around the hatch with silicone spray.

Oh...and as a last thought: a $55,000 vehicle that rattles just sucks. I've spent more time chasing down squeaks and rattles in this car than any car I've owned. My wife's 04 Toyota 4Runner is silent as a tomb, as is my 2000 Yukon with 180,000 miles. Love the way the X5 drives. Hate the squeaks and rattles.

I replace part #35 and still had rattles. So I removed the rear shade cover and all the rattles stopped...for me that worked. But I still have the normal creaks from back there and it's just stoopid for a car of this caliber. I ended up using some thin felt pad to put around the left and right sides of the rear shade to help stop the noise...not pretty but it works.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4MoJoe (Post 678623)

Did your replacement have the shock absorber or was it no different than the original?

realchef,
interesting and another easily affordable option of fixing the dreaded rear end rattle.
Presently my tailgate rattle has gone (yay) I don't why as I've done nothing to it, apart from felt patches to latch some 9 months ago and I keep replacing round felt pads on the bumper stops every other 3 months or so. It (the rattle) seems to have a mind of its own. It may have something to do with coming into summer, but I don't really think so.

Note to self: revive this thread as another option. Thanks realchef

x foomph, the same thing happens to mine

My hatch rattle is gone about 99% of the time, but every once in a while it crops up out of nowhere. I lube everything good, seals and latches, and replace the felt discs and usually that fixes it for another couple months.

But I think it's easy to get rattles confused. For about a week, I was sure my hatch was rattling - and it was actually my rear sunroof panel. By total accident, I put the sunroof in tilt mode one day and the rattle went away, that's how I figured out it was the sunroof.

The sunroof and my rear hatch (knock on wood) are my only two problem areas for rattles, and at least I've figured out how to deal with them...mostly.

My replacement hatch bumper thingy (whatever you call it) was different than the original parts...they had the springs in them and its a very snug fit now. I put them on my 2001 X5 when I was troubleshooting it's rattles and that really helped a lot. I don't think that the 2 piece hatch gate design was that great. Like bcb1 I've found other culprits along the way. I even rode back there to get closer to what was making the sound (which actually I think my better half enjoyed more than me due to the "random" amount of bumps and hard turns that were taken). :)

Don't forget to just try the readjustment procedure and the reinitialization procedure.
SIB 415099
SIB 511305

I have the squeak and 06 came with the spring loaded bumpers-so thats not the end all solution. Installed felt pads tonight-hope that does it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcb1 (Post 678473)

I agree with the rear of this car rattling. I was thinking the other day that BMW just didn't know how to build an SUV properly. EVERYTHING about his SAV is amazing, build quality, performance, and looks, but when I look closely at the materials from front to rear; it seems like they went cheap on the craftsmanship in the rear. The fit and finish is PERFECT all over the car but the trunk feels like its almost as cheap as an American vehicle. :dunno:. Thin plastics and edges don't line up rite. One day it was rattling so bad I was getting :swear:. When I got home, I noticed the passenger side of the liftgate was not latched. I closed it properly, 90% less rattle. I will be trying all the ideas listed here tomorrow morning. Thank you all for the advice.
I grew up in Guatemala and those who thought they were big pimpin brought down American SUVs from Ford GM and Jeep. Within a couple of months, the interiors literally fell apart whereas the Toyota BMW and other imports hold up for years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5 Meister;

Don't forget to just try the readjustment procedure and the reinitialization procedure.

Exactly what i needed...thank you sir :thumbup: