Popping/creaking from interior trim + small rattle

[psamtik]

I've googled the rattles thread and I've gone around my car with felt and foam tape. I've done the passenger side A pillar. I've hunted down loose door panels.
I've done a bunch of this kind of work in an E36 before, but with my E82, I want to be really careful.

I have two issues:

1) When I go over bumps/cracks in cement at any speed, my entire dashboard sort of "pop"s. I wondered why my car was so loud until I started applying pressure to the armrest, the glovebox and the entire audio/AC control surround. God, that whole area creaks so badly. When my car goes over bumps, I think all these areas that creak, make a sudden simulatenous creak that sounds like a big POP.

Anyone have any clear solutions before I just start to rip everything out of the dash?

2) There's a very very quiet small rattle that sound as though someone has suspended two small flat pieces of plastic parallel and close to each other. Small vibrations cause the two pieces to clack together very very quietly and gently, but it's noticeable. It sounds like it's coming from the front of the dash, or something. It happens just during smooth driving.

The fit and finish of the E82's interior is disappointing. >_<

[highbrowed]

Same issues here but every BMW I've ever owned.. actually every car I've owned has had its fair share of rattles and creaks (except the 1985 Mercedes 300d I had, that thing was a tank.. talk about bank vault doors). I think it just is a thing that happens with cars these days.

Was just thinking this morning on the way to work my windshield is sure creaking a lot.. It was 12° F out this morning, not sure if that had anything to do with it.

[milocher]

Here in Canadia when it drops to -15 or colder, my 1er sounds like a maraca. I find it much more noticeable in the cold, and have chalked it down to expansion of materials when it's warm. The only rattle I'm getting when it's reasonable outside (or the car interior is warmed up), is from my passenger side door.

[psamtik]

I'm actually from Toronto. Lived there from 96' to 2014.

I have to say....my parent's RX350 and 2002 Honda Civic fared better with rattles, for the most part, than this car. The Lexus just destroys the BMW in fit and finish.

The civic comes out ahead in a lot of ways. The plastic build of everything is very well suppprted in that car and mere hand pressure on trim parts won't cause pops and creaks...