Fix the Apillar/Dash Rattle!

[CGMike]

I have taken my 135i coupe into the dealer 3 times now for the dreaded dash rattle on the passenger side. They keep telling me they have fixed it or could not duplicate it... so I took matters into my own hands. here is my quick write up on a very easy fix! I hope this helps some of you

First start by Pulling the weather stripping away from the door frame on the car. Then remove the panel between the door and the dash vent. These steps are the same for installing the P3 boost gauge, just on the other side and is why I didnt take pictures.

This is where you are at. Now remove the vent in the same way as the P3 gague install by pushing on the 2 tabs inside the holes on the side of the dash. They will be behind the panel you jsut removed.

Remove the AIRBAG emblem with a small screwdriver (becareful not to tear the fabric) or a plastic trim removal tool. There is a TORX behind it. I dont remember what size it was.

Here is the weather stripping pulled away from the apillar as well.

Then remove the Apillar. This part is a little tricky. You want to go toward the roof of the car and also pull it toward you, it doesnt take a lot of force to come out so if youre struggling, youre doing something wrong.

Here is what the bottom (dash side) of the Apillar looks like. Notice the hook clip, thats why you want to come toward you (the backseat) with it.

Here are the 2 clips on the A pillar that need to be lifted up toward the roof of the car. They are mounted on the underside of the apillar. I find having pictures of the way the clips are in there helps know how the piece needs to come out.

Next I took some of this weather stripping stuff I had lying around the house. Its basically foam single sided tape and used it to eliminate the rattles.

Here you can see where I put the foam tape. I put a small piece between where the bottom Apillar clips go (not covering the holes) and a larger piece between the side of the Apillar and the dash.

This is the tape out of the package that I used

Here is another shot of the foam tape laid down on the dash
The rest of it goes back together the opposite of the way it came apart.
Put the bottom hook clip of the apillar in first.
Then slide the Apillar in place making sure to engage all the clips.
Then put the Torx screw back in and the AIRBAG cover over it.
Then you can clip the AC vent back into place (make sure all the clips are pulled out. Mine had one that was pushed in too far). It might not be a bad idea to put some of that tape along the edge of the vent as well, to keep it from rattling.
Then snap the dash cover piece back into place and reinstall the weather stripping.
Your done! enjoy your rattle free car once again. If you have any questions let me know and Ill answer them the best I can. You do not see the tape when everything is put back together.

[Adam135]

Bookmarked. I'll try pushing on the A-pillar next time I hear that rattle and if it goes away I'm definitely doing this!

[CGMike]

Mine rattled where the dash met the Apillar. Mine would make noise if I just pushed on it. It was bad but the dealer couldnt duplicate the problem...

[Adam135]

Did this, great DIY! My pillar is kinda sticking out in the middle, I can't remember if that's how it was before. I'm pretty sure those 2 clips are attached, but it's hard to tell. If I pull on it, it feels secure.

[Dafttt]

THAAAANK YOUUUU OP

THIS HAS BEEN DRIVING ME INSANE FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

I really hope this solves my problem.

On a side note: it's so annoying I no longer give a shit about the armrest squeak.

[onefast1]

Originally Posted by Daft Auto

THAAAANK YOUUUU OP

THIS HAS BEEN DRIVING ME INSANE FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

I really hope this solves my problem.

On a side note: it's so annoying I no longer give a shit about the armrest squeak.

+1

[3lucidus]

man you saved my life. this shiz was driving me f ing mental. was a bit fiddly but got there in the end!

[lakylester]

Hey folks. I've been having the same issue. I took the passenger vent out the other day and there were no more rattle/squeaks. Makes me think it does not have to do with the A pillar. However, I put some WD40 around the outside of the vent which solved the issue... For about a week

Please advise if this is the consensus solution for our issue!

Cheers!

[3lucidus]

I think the point is the foam tape makes for extra pressure pushing down on the dash. I could push on my dash and make the noise while the pillar was off. have you put the foam tape on the dash like in the pictures?

[SfValley335i]

Originally Posted by Daft Auto

THAAAANK YOUUUU OP

THIS HAS BEEN DRIVING ME INSANE FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

I really hope this solves my problem.

On a side note: it's so annoying I no longer give a shit about the armrest squeak.

Originally Posted by Mark Attack!

+1

Search for a thread I made for resolving the armrest squeak. It got rid of the squeak 100%, you'll thank me....

[135ivert]

I put on the foam tape and it's . . .better. Not perfect, but it's much better than it was. If I hit a bump, then I hear one squeak, rather than a series of squeaks.

Do we know if it's the hard plastic against the soft plastic of the dash, or hard plastic against hard plastic elsewhere? I'll tape up the entire A-pillar if I have to.

I think BMW engineers should be embarrassed that they let this car out the door this way. I was running over washboard roads with my 10-year old Toyota yesterday with nary a noise.

[nnguyen04]

worked for a couple of days. than back to squeaking

[My135]

I did it the lazy way which do not require to remove anything. I simply use a plastic knife to push the foam strip into the narrow gap between the dash and the A-pillar until it won't creak when you push the dash agaist the A-pillar. It works!!!

[Adam135]

Originally Posted by My135

I did it the lazy way which do not require to remove anything. I simply use a plastic knife to push the foam strip into the narrow gap between the dash and the A-pillar until it won't creak when you push the dash agaist the A-pillar. It works!!!

lol nice

[NORAGRETS]

must do this asap it is driving me INSANE

[3lucidus]

so... after pulling it apart for the 5th time now i'm hoping its resolved. everytime I added the tape... it came back... added more tape... it came back... added thicker tape... it came back. So the result of this means that i know have tape under the leatherish wrap part of the dash, inbetween when the vent meets the dash, also where the dash meets pillar and pretty much along the window into the corner. oh and I forgot up the side of the vent where the plastic slots in.

I agree this is an absolute joke for BMW to let this quality leave their factory. My old dear has a 2003 audi a3 sportback and its hammered (she learnt to drive in it) now worth about $13K(aud) if shes lucky and its totally silent!

I complained about it before when I took the car in for the battery recall issue. they lubed the dash? which made it worse. Filled in their e-survey having a bit of a rant on it and how they'd made it worse, ticked the box 'would you like a call about this issue'. Still to get a response. That was in June...

Anyway... on a positive note. I am praying that this is fixed now. So over it.

[nnguyen04]

Originally Posted by My135

I did it the lazy way which do not require to remove anything. I simply use a plastic knife to push the foam strip into the narrow gap between the dash and the A-pillar until it won't creak when you push the dash agaist the A-pillar. It works!!!

lmao ima do this thanks

[yllwwgn]

For those of us who can't get rid of the A-pillar rattle, one other thing I found that helped is apllying pressure to the A-pillar fabric cover itself by pushing DOWN on it and then tightening the Torx bolt. That helped... but of course a few weeks later you have to rinse-repeat.

FIX: go to Home Depot, spend $.20 on a STAR WASHER, and place that between the torx bolt and the pillar. This prevents the plastic from inching it's way up under the bolt over time, and releasing the pressure between the dash/pillar contact point.



So far so good! (2 weeks)

[NORAGRETS]

Mine came back wahhhhhhh

[yllwwgn]

Originally Posted by Twhill19

Mine came back wahhhhhhh

Going on 2 months now, STAR WASHER appears to be working

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by yllwwgn

Going on 2 months now, STAR WASHER appears to be working

What's star washer?

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by Twhill19

What's star washer?

If you don't know then you probably shouldn't be pulling your car apart...