**** The Definitive Rattles Cure Guide ****

M

Mafoo

New member
As fellow Z4 owners you are probably well away of the variety of rattles around the car that we suffer day to day.

I thought it would be good to start a thread that pulled the various "ailments" together as a definitive how-to.

Lay the problem out as follows:-

1. Location
2. Issue
3. Problem
4. Solution

I will start it off......

Location - front bulkhead (E85)
Issue - metallic vibration when driving over speedbumps.
Problem - engine bay stabiliser bar bolts slightly loose
Solution - Tighten stabiliser bar bolts.

Bit like NHS direct for a Z4 really :roll:

Matt

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
 
Great idea

Location: as if it was coming from the dash or steering column

Issue: fucking annoying. A strange "creak" on a low speed corner that was also a sudden up gradient, ie an entrance to a car park

Problem: front firewall strutbaces. Blots slightly loose. Unable to detect this by hand/eye/or waggling. Only with torque wrench.

Solution: re- torqued to 35Nm. (no more - very careful not to overtighten it is possible to shear bolt!)
 
Annoying squeak behind your head when the hood is down.
It' could be caused by the center panel above the storage compartment:

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=389322
 
Location, front passenger seat
Issue, irritating noise
Solution, leave wife at home next time. :lol:

Sorry had to be done
 
Stromtech said:
Annoying squeak behind your head when the hood is down.
It' could be caused by the center panel above the storage compartment:

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=389322
Click to expand...

I have this squeak !! Been driving me mad so I'm delighted there is a fix... Except the key pic showing exactly what to do where is missing :headbang:

Guess I'll just have to figure it out myself :?
 
1. Location - windscreen wipers
2. Issue - squeak when in use, usually at the end of a sweep
3. Problem - no idea...
4. Solution - lubricate every joint of the mechanism, including those on the wiper blade itself, with small amounts of 3-in-1

When it comes back, repeat :roll:
 
The wiper squeek is an issue abd can lead to the joint snapping off. My last Z4 did this, then it broke so driver arm didnt move. I have an old post on this, its an expensive fix if you go oem as you have to replace the whole thing.

I welded on a new ball joint. Search for wiper issue, i put pics up. My current Z4 has the same squeek, i will get to properly lubing this one to avoid it snapping.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2
 
Bing said:
1. Location - windscreen wipers
2. Issue - squeak when in use, usually at the end of a sweep
3. Problem - no idea...
4. Solution - lubricate every joint of the mechanism, including those on the wiper blade itself, with small amounts of 3-in-1

When it comes back, repeat :roll:
Click to expand...

When mine did this he dealer replaced the motor and linkage assembly and it still did it so replaced the drivers side are and fixed the issue.

I will lube the pivot on the arm on my current car and see if it fixes the exact same noise I had on the previous car. I will report back.
 
Mafoo said:
As fellow Z4 owners you are probably well away of the variety of rattles around the car that we suffer day to day.

I thought it would be good to start a thread that pulled the various "ailments" together as a definitive how-to.

Lay the problem out as follows:-

1. Location
2. Issue
3. Problem
4. Solution

I will start it off......

Location - front bulkhead (E85)
Issue - metallic vibration when driving over speedbumps.
Problem - engine bay stabiliser bar bolts slightly loose
Solution - Tighten stabiliser bar bolts.

Bit like NHS direct for a Z4 really :roll:

Matt

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Matt, great idea! Any pics of the bolts in question/location? This has been annoying me for a while and your post describes the exact issue! Sounds like a quick fix.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
middle panel rattle

Location:
- the plastic panel below the HVAC
2012-05-07%252018.21.15.jpg


Issue:
- squeaks, especially on cold days

Solution:
- remove it with a flat head screwdriver and line the inside edges with double-sided tape
 
Cupholder rattle


Location - the cupholder

Issue - rattles/squeaks

Solution - line the panel with foam (panel squeak)

Solution - the inner end of the cupholder has a tightening torx screw - it's either missing or not installed during the retrofit.
 
Dash rattle - LHD cars, RHD should be the mirror opposite

Location:

it seems to be the airbag, the steering column, the instrument cluster, or the cupholder

it actually is BEHIND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH


Issue:

A hollow plastic knocking sound when driving across bumps


Solution:

1) remove the instrument panel
2012-05-07%252018.18.52.jpg


Attack the torx screw with a T20 key, gently pull the cluster, no need to disconnect the wire.

2)
reach into the hole and move the headlight switch assembly up and down - it will rattle as the plastic bolt in the rubber hole is loose.
2012-05-07%252018.12.38.jpg

2012-05-07%252018.12.49-1.jpg

Take a flat head screwdriver, cut a piece of foam or double-sided tape, and squeeze it deep into that hole with the tip. Move the headlight switch assembly - it should be stable.

3) gently reinstall the instrument cluster
 
Another element that can an audible as a deep in-dash rattle or a steering column rattle is located above the pedal cover.

1) Remove the cover for pedals
- unscrew three screws and pull

2)
Look deep inside, follow the steering column - you will see a metal element and a plastic box behind it. It is the plastic box that rattles against the metal element. Secure it with double-sided tape.
2012-05-09%252015.28.11.jpg


3)
While you're there down under, take a look at the clip securing a wire harness. It tends to be loose and constitute a possible rattle source. Can be secured with the tape.
2012-05-09%252013.49.21.jpg


4) Reattach the cover for pedals. While doing that, you can also stabilise the lower vent. It tends to jump out of the socket in the pedal cover and hit a metal part above.

Enjoy your rattle-free Zed!
 
Corsaire, either you have the most badly-constructed Zed in the world, or you have a strange obsession... :poke: :P
 
I had just one rattle (the switch), but yes, as a former Tiburon owner, I'm obsessed with potential future rattles. Nothing better than a preemptive tape strike in the morning! :guns:
 
Bing said:
Stromtech said:
Annoying squeak behind your head when the hood is down.
It' could be caused by the center panel above the storage compartment:

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=389322
Click to expand...

I have this squeak !! Been driving me mad so I'm delighted there is a fix... Except the key pic showing exactly what to do where is missing :headbang:

Guess I'll just have to figure it out myself :?
Click to expand...

Right, I think I have solved this squeak, posting here to complete my contribution with a description and a picture.

So I have done some felting of the centre trim - just used some A4 black sticky-backed felt I got from a craft shop called Hobbycraft. I have put felt :

Where the OEM felt strip was at the top of the trim, but made it larger
All the way down the edges, thin strips (fiddly...)
Under both ends of the springs of the soft-top release handle
Round the spindles of the handle
On the top and bottom edges of where the handle touches the trim ; also very thin strips right along the edge of the handle door at the sides where there was a little obiousl catching / rubbing
On the plastic vanes that push on the latch release mechanism

I also bent the springs back to more of a 'v' so they exert more pressure.

Pic below, with arrows showing most of the locations :

IMG-20130102-00102.jpg


You may consider this excessive, but I really cannot work out exactly where the squeak is coming from, so I went belt and braces... I have a horrible feeling it may be coming from the mechanism itself, which I tried to get out but failed... I took two screws out then couldn't work out what else to do

I have been for a short drive with the roof down on a bouncy road that has always provoked the mouse squeak previously and it appears to have worked... Will report back if that changes over time :thumbsup:
 
Great post idea, now I'll just be waiting for someone to post a cure on my only rattle:

Symptom: Right behind the passenger's head, in the roof elbow area, rattle when closed. Nothing seems loose or worn in the skeleton joints.
 
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