Passenger side rattle is driving me nuts

[Jean]

So for the life of me I can't figure out what the hell is rattling on the passenger side of my car. I can't pin point it, it seems to be coming from the A pillar area. I've removed the door panel, made sure nothing is loose there. I've removed the a-pillar cover , and it's not possible for it to make the loud type of rattle I am hearing. I tried driving without a glovebox and it's not it. Made sure bolts that hold the dash board are all tight, ecu is tight, icm is secure. I also made sure it's not the battery under the hood, and it's secure too.

I almost want to rip into the a-pillar / passenger side of the car with a saw zall to find what it is... :hitler:

[JasonC]

Someone may of stuck something in your a-piller from the factory.

[AndrewBird]

Maybe there is something rattling around inside the kick panel?

[Stevie30]

Check the door brake.

[Jean]

Maybe there is something rattling around inside the kick panel?

Looked there too just in case, it's coming from somewhere up higher. It almost fools you into thinking it's coming from the sunroof area. I tried holding the sunroof/headliner part with my right hand to try and eliminate it to no avail.


Stevie30Check the door brake

Will look into this, not sure exactly what to do here...

[Jean]

TTT, this weekend I am going to remove the dash from the car and the a-pilars and drive the car to see if the noise is gone.

What's the "door brake" ? I would like to check / look for as many things as possible.

[Stevie30]

The door brake is what holds the door open in two positions. If yours is broken, it will usually make a loud popping noise as you swing the door open. Broken loose parts will rattle when you hit a bump. Also check the roller and notch adjustment that holds the back of the hood down. If it is out of adjustment, it could cause high speed vibration at back of hood. Good luck!!!

[Jean]

Then it's probably not the door lock, as my door doesn't make popping noises when closed or opened.

I have manual windows, could it be window rails or something else inside the door ? I should probably look into removing the door completely , that would tell me if its in the door area or the a-pillar. I've never done that, I bet that would require door alignment after the fact ?

[e30.4.life]

I have the exact same problem in my 86 325es. It has been very difficult to pin point where the sound is coming from. I might suggest having someone drive you around while you inspect where the rattle is coming from. I did that and at least ruled out the sunroof and the glove box. I am taking apart the passenger side door this weekend to see if something came loose in there. I hate that rattle! It just started happening one day and it's driving me nuts!

[Jean]

Well, today I figured it out. It was the windshield wiper assembly, passenger side 22mm? nut was not tight. Night and day difference now!

[Simon S]

Good to know.
Congrats on finding it.
Must have drivin you nuts after so long.. =-)

[Bimmerista]

Took you 2 years! :D

[Jean]

I just wasn't looking in the right place, and learned to live with it.... lol

[ThaiRacer]

lol

[Jean]

Found where the last rattle major rattle noise is coming from while changing the sunroof seals. The right side (passenger) of the sunroof for some reason moves up/down while closed if I push on it, left side doesn't. Now to figure out why it's doing that and fix it.


Anyway, hopefully will come in handy for others.