2 VERY annoying rattles...please help
 

i have 2 very annoying rattles...i always hear them when i'm on the highway and don't have the radio on or windows down...one is coming from one of those 3 guages on the dash (or somewhere very close to them, maybe the nav. door)...the other is from the shifter...

p.s. these rattles are sounds coming from something that's vibrating, not something that's shaking around....someone please tell me they have a solution w/out me having to go to the dealer and replicate it, and hope they don't tell me it's something I need to deal with!:(

I can help you with your frst rattle: it ain't the instruments, it's the vent panel for the A/C right in front of the windsheild. Just push on it next time you go over some bups and you will hear what I mean. It is directly behind the intrument cluster in the middle.

I plan on getting rid of it eventually by inserting a small piece of foam or double sided tape into that area.

are you sure? is it a vibrating sound (that's what i got)? i'll check it out, thanks...any more help?

Yes, I hear it every time I hit a bump.

ive got a rattling sound coming from the middle oil gauge. it seems to vibrate to cause a trickling sound. i think it might be plastic rubbing on styrafoam.

ive never heard rattles in a BMW

Where can I mail you a cookie? :rolleyes:

I've read a number of articles in magazines like Motor Trend, Car & Driver, and Road & track about how the build qaulity on the 3 series isn't so great, considering the cost of those vehicles. Same with Consumer Reports, they give the 3 series a poor rating. They mention rattles and other noises. So, apparently, they do rattle.

why can't we all just be gRowN UPz and ignore posts like that....

i think the one rattle from the dash is from the middle oil gauge too...it usually vibrates when i'm on the highway (shouldn't even consider it a "rattle")...i tried pushing it down, just to see if it would help, it did for a min. then got louder, i gotta play around wit it a little more and maybe i'll find a solution...anyone know about the vibrating sound coming from the shifter? that's pretty annoying too

A solid punch usually gets rid of the oil gauge rattle for a short while. As for the shifter, the sound for me is usually the leather rubbing while in 5th. I put some armorall on there and its gone.