Dashboard creaking drives me mental

chunho01 · 10-12-2015, 04:16 AM

When the noise occurs, it will last for the entire trip, whenever the car is moving (even at 20km/h speed). But sometimes after I parked the car to visit a shop, then resumed my drive, the dang noise went away completely. I'd say the noise is there 2 out of 7 days.

The perceived source of the noise is somewhere near:
*13/10/2015 New suspect: something to do with steering wheel position
1. Center dash compartment OR
2. Instrument cluster trim piece OR
3. The infamous A-pillar

Can someone help me please?

RoundelM3 · 10-12-2015, 08:46 AM

CRC Heavy-Duty Silicone spray is your friend...use the little tube to squirt some between the panel/pillar joints. Works every time for me.

chunho01 · 10-13-2015, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundel335

CRC Heavy-Duty Silicone spray is your friend...use the little tube to squirt some between the panel/pillar joints. Works every time for me.

Awesome

WD-40 Specialist Silicone Spray

Something like the above?

I now suspect it comes from the steering wheel. I was touching everywhere underneath it and certain area make that squeeky noise. *Today is entirely squeek-free by the way, so good.

RoundelM3 · 10-13-2015, 07:43 AM

Yes - the one I use is "heavy duty", but the above will do - as long as it's Silicone and not WD-40, which is primarily a water-displacer. The Silicone will last much longer.

Dackelone · 10-13-2015, 07:52 AM

I would start by removing trim panels one by one... until your noise stops. Maybe have a "helper" by trying to listen and feeling around for the area of the creaking while driving.

champignon · 10-13-2015, 07:57 AM

You have a rodent in your dash. If the silicone spray killed him, expect the car to start to stink in a few days.

hope this helps!

Esteban · 10-14-2015, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by champignon

You have a rodent in your dash. If the silicone spray killed him, expect the car to start to stink in a few days.

hope this helps!

I keep my rodents in the house.

IEDEI · 10-14-2015, 12:51 PM

have you considered setting your car on fire? It resolves most creaks by melting the rubbers and plastics into one seamless interior!!

yakuza70 · 10-14-2015, 07:47 PM

Rattles can absolutely drive you crazy! I thought I had the infamous A-pillar rattle. I took apart the interior trip, put soft pieces of foam all over the place and silicone sprayed the area - nothing worked. I even took it to the dealer multiple times and they couldn't get rid of it!

It turned out to be the outside rubber trim on the windshield. When I pressed on the trim with my hand, I could duplicate the rattle (sounds like ticking). I sprayed silicone spray under the trim and the sound was gone! If you still suspect the A-pillar, you may want to check out your rubber windshield trim. Good luck!

chunho01 · 10-15-2015, 01:32 AM

Ok, some interim updates, squeak-free for the past 3 days (inc. today)!

The only things that I think have changed:

Car flexed and creaked quite a bit while I was turning into a sloped driveway on Monday evening (convertible do flex a bit)
I touched all around the steering wheel column, including some squeeky padding underneath the column
I changed the steering wheel position

Fingers crossed the noise is gone for good

champignon · 10-15-2015, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunho01

Ok, some interim updates, squeak-free for the past 3 days (inc. today)!

The only things that I think have changed:

Car flexed and creaked quite a bit while I was turning into a sloped driveway on Monday evening (convertible do flex a bit)
I touched all around the steering wheel column, including some squeeky padding underneath the column
I changed the steering wheel position

Fingers crossed the noise is gone for good

When you changed the steering wheel position, the dead rodent moved by gravity into the engine compartment, and may even have fallen out of the car entirely, depending on how spirited was your driving. Did you ever feel like you might have driven over something in the last few days?

chunho01 · 10-16-2015, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by champignon

When you changed the steering wheel position, the dead rodent moved by gravity into the engine compartment, and may even have fallen out of the car entirely, depending on how spirited was your driving. Did you ever feel like you might have driven over something in the last few days?

That must be it!

I35it · 10-19-2015, 08:15 AM

It could be your passenger airbag. It sometimes rattles because of how it is installed in our cars. It's an easy fix though

chunho01 · 10-20-2015, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I35it

It could be your passenger airbag. It sometimes rattles because of how it is installed in our cars. It's an easy fix though

Been a week since last 'rattle-day', I am 80% certain it is something to do with the steering column position.

Good reference for everyone else!

NYHoustonman · 10-21-2015, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I35it

It could be your passenger airbag. It sometimes rattles because of how it is installed in our cars. It's an easy fix though

I had this rattle, it drove me nuts, and I finally found it, but the fix involved disassembling the lower dash on the passenger side...

Was there an easier way to do it that I missed?

I35it · 10-21-2015, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYHoustonman

Quote:

Originally Posted by I35it

It could be your passenger airbag. It sometimes rattles because of how it is installed in our cars. It's an easy fix though

I had this rattle, it drove me nuts, and I finally found it, but the fix involved disassembling the lower dash on the passenger side...

Was there an easier way to do it that I missed?

Nope that's the only way. But it's only a few bolts so I figured it wasn't all that bad.

PA135i · 10-21-2015, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by champignon

You have a rodent in your dash. If the silicone spray killed him, expect the car to start to stink in a few days.

hope this helps!

LOL

10-12-2015, 04:16 AM	#1
chunho01 Private First Class 52 Rep 156 Posts Drives: 125i E88 M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Dashboard creaking drives me mental When the noise occurs, it will last for the entire trip, whenever the car is moving (even at 20km/h speed). But sometimes after I parked the car to visit a shop, then resumed my drive, the dang noise went away completely. I'd say the noise is there 2 out of 7 days. The perceived source of the noise is somewhere near: 13/10/2015 New suspect: something to do with steering wheel position 1. Center dash compartment OR 2. Instrument cluster trim piece OR 3. The infamous A-pillar Can someone help me please? Last edited by chunho01; 10-13-2015 at 05:54 AM.. Reason: Changed suspect!*
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

10-12-2015, 08:46 AM	#2
RoundelM3 Major General 1833 Rep 6,987 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wendell, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	CRC Heavy-Duty Silicone spray is your friend...use the little tube to squirt some between the panel/pillar joints. Works every time for me. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-13-2015, 07:43 AM	#4
RoundelM3 Major General 1833 Rep 6,987 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wendell, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	Yes - the one I use is "heavy duty", but the above will do - as long as it's Silicone and not WD-40, which is primarily a water-displacer. The Silicone will last much longer. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-13-2015, 07:52 AM	#5
Dackelone European Editor 10528 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	I would start by removing trim panels one by one... until your noise stops. Maybe have a "helper" by trying to listen and feeling around for the area of the creaking while driving. __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-13-2015, 07:57 AM	#6
champignon Disrupter 1566 Rep 2,484 Posts Drives: 1M;Z3M Cp;135is Vert, 996TT Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Idaho iTrader: (0)	You have a rodent in your dash. If the silicone spray killed him, expect the car to start to stink in a few days. hope this helps!
	Appreciate 1 Quote

10-14-2015, 12:51 PM	#8
IEDEI Banned 1130 Rep 4,686 Posts Drives: L'Orange Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Brooklyn, NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 1M [8.40]	have you considered setting your car on fire? It resolves most creaks by melting the rubbers and plastics into one seamless interior!!
	Appreciate 2 Quote

10-14-2015, 07:47 PM	#9
yakuza70 Private First Class 17 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 2011 135i coupe Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: San Mateo, CA iTrader: (0)	Rattles can absolutely drive you crazy! I thought I had the infamous A-pillar rattle. I took apart the interior trip, put soft pieces of foam all over the place and silicone sprayed the area - nothing worked. I even took it to the dealer multiple times and they couldn't get rid of it! It turned out to be the outside rubber trim on the windshield. When I pressed on the trim with my hand, I could duplicate the rattle (sounds like ticking). I sprayed silicone spray under the trim and the sound was gone! If you still suspect the A-pillar, you may want to check out your rubber windshield trim. Good luck! __________________ 2011 135i DCT, M Sport, Deep Sea Blue
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-15-2015, 01:32 AM	#10
chunho01 Private First Class 52 Rep 156 Posts Drives: 125i E88 M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Ok, some interim updates, squeak-free for the past 3 days (inc. today)! The only things that I think have changed: Car flexed and creaked quite a bit while I was turning into a sloped driveway on Monday evening (convertible do flex a bit) I touched all around the steering wheel column, including some squeeky padding underneath the column I changed the steering wheel position Fingers crossed the noise is gone for good
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-19-2015, 08:15 AM	#13
I35it all day 48 Rep 1,181 Posts Drives: 2012 135i Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Temple, TX iTrader: (10) Garage List 2004 Toyota Tacoma [0.00] 2009 VW GTI [0.00] 2012 135i [10.00]	It could be your passenger airbag. It sometimes rattles because of how it is installed in our cars. It's an easy fix though
	Appreciate 0 Quote