Clicking Rattle Behind Headrests

[jonathan2708]

Hi,

My Z4 2.0i roadster was delivered brand new 2 months ago and I'm loving it, except that there is a very annoying clicking style rattle occurring behind the headrests. It sounds like it's coming from somewhere in the void around the parcel shelf. The best way I can describe it is like a Geiger counter detecting radiation. It only occurs when the roof is up. I've tried moving the seats but to no avail. Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Jonathan

 

[DMike]

Hi!
Just do a search and you will find several posts on rattles behind the seats. However, I experienced a similar rattle, occurring with the roof up, behind the seats in the area of the roll hoops (2005 Z4 3.0i). Turned out to be the soft top compartement floor which has on each lateral side hinged plastic parts. You can see them through the rear window and they can be reached behind the roll hoops (not while driving ) to confirm it's them rattling. They are better exposed from the trunk (compartment flor down, pull lower edge of the fabric liner backwards). I have planned to glue some noise insulating mat underneath them. Or just let your dealer fix it.

 

[jonathan2708]

Hi,

I've been doing some more searching but still no idea what the rattle is, I've checked other postings. When you talk about the soft top compartment floor and hinged plastic parts do you mean the facility to expand the luggage space by raising the roof of the boot? I just can't see anywhere that has anything that rattles in the way it does, I'm thinking it must be behind the lining of the roof. In any case I'm calling the dealership tomorrow, this should not happen on a 2 month old car.

 

[DMike]

They may have changed the design since 2005. The hinged parts are shown in
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT51&mospid=47797&btnr=54_0315&hg=54&fg=10
where part 1 is the soft top compartement floor (with the hinged parts on both sides) and 16 is the spring for the hinged parts. No idea why they must be hinged, perhaps to (similar to the soud generator) add some rattle in order to "enhance the true roadster experience". :rofl: According to realoem there is two versions of the compartment floor, moght be that you have a redesigned one.

 

[TxBimr]

I just had this repaired on my 2008 roadster at 8000 miles. Exactly same symptoms and noise. It is the upper mounts on the rear shocks. I was told that the washer is liquid (?) filled and tends to leak. The following parts were installed:

2 33-52-6-779-670 Guide Support: 331020
4 33-52-6-772-864 Washer-Gasket: 338520
2 33-52-6-773-882 Self locking hex nut: 33999952
2 07-11-9-904-295 Self locking collar: nut: 072000

They replaced the shock mounts on both sides rather that just the failed left side. This was repaired under warranty and took 2 days after the preordered parts arrived.

 

[jonathan2708]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. I've got my car booked into the dealership first thing tomorrow morning. I'll pass your comments to the tech guys.

TxBimr - did your noise only happen when the roof was up too? If it was mounts on the shocks wouldn't you get the noise when the roof is down too?

 

[TxBimr]

Yes, it seemed that we could hear the noise only when the roof was up. I believe that the clicking/tapping noise was so faint that we couldn't hear it with the roof down due to ambient noise. Changing out the shock mounts has solved the problem.

 

[Dogman]

As the previous poster states, i agree 100%.

 

[jonathan2708]

Hi all,

Just to update you, I am now one happy Z4 owner! The clicking rattle has today been repaired under warranty by the dealership, and guess what it was - upper mount parts on rear shock absorbers. Many thanks for all your advice on this.

Full marks to Sytner Nottingham on this one - after calling them yesterday my car was collected from my work at 9am and returned repaired and valeted at 5pm.

Jonathan

 

[Dogman]

Good result Jonathon, you will enjoy the car even more now.