help me keep my sanity... cabin noise - click, click, click, etc...

[duke330ci]

Hey ya'll,

Anyone here dealt with a clicking noise while driving 35mph and higher? i've been trying to figure out the source of a faint click that occurs in regular rhythm and increases in frequency with speed. bumps don't seem to affect it or cause it.

:mad:

it seems to be coming from the back half of the cabin possibly from the roof area, but i'm not positive.

any suggestions? is this a known problem?

thanks for your help!

[The HACK]

Seatbelt assembly or what's known as the "B-pillar click/rattle". Common enough to have a TSB issued for it.

[Kaz]

No, the seatbelt clunk is not regular nor does it increase with speed.

[doeboy]

See if you can tell if it is coming from the transmission?

[The HACK]

Originally posted by Kaz
No, the seatbelt clunk is not regular nor does it increase with speed.

Glanced over that part of his post...

If it's regular and increase with speed, it's wheel related.

[PhilH]

Check your tires for big stones that might be stuck in the tread (seriously).

[GSR13]

I know this is going to sound nuts, but I finally isolated a noise just like this to an Orange Tag on my Seatbelt. The noise only occurs when the windows down and the air coming into the cabing causes the orange tag to slap against the plastic on the seat, near the Power Seat Adjustment Controls.

The sound is a clicking noise and it was driving me nuts. I guess I did not hear it before because the temps were color, thus the windows were not down.

I do have a Sedan, so this may or may not happen in a Coupe.

Most likely, I would agree with Phil, it is probably a Stone caught in a tire.

[junglee]

Originally posted by The HACK
Seatbelt assembly or what's known as the "B-pillar click/rattle". Common enough to have a TSB issued for it.

I have this exact problem...and waiting on parts...Have an appointment on June 9th to get this replaced..

[duke330ci]

hey everybody...

thanks for the replies....it's nice to have the troubleshooting suggestions.

here's some more info that might help after reading your posts...

the sound occurs with the windows closed so it doesn't seem to be a problem with the wind shaking the seat belt strap. (in fact, the noise goes away when the windows are open...well...it's still there, i just can't hear it over the breeze :) )

also, it doesn't seem transmission related. i'm not saying this with absolute certainty, but i'm pretty sure. i've tried disengaging the clutch in various gears at varying speeds and it persists.

i've checked my tire tread for stones, rocks, impalements, small animals and nothing there.

the clicking rate averages maybe 1-3 per second and maybe approaches 4 at higher speeds ~60-80mph.

i hope this info helps to generate more ideas!

thanks for your help!

[duke330ci]

exact problem? b-pillar rattle.... which is the b-pillar?

any link to the tsb so i can look it over to see if this is right?

thanks!

[GSR13]

Originally posted by duke330ci
exact problem? b-pillar rattle.... which is the b-pillar?

any link to the tsb so i can look it over to see if this is right?

thanks!

The B-Pillar is the middle one, where your door latch is. The A-Pillar is the one at the windshield and the C-Pillar is the one at the back glass.

Though technically, a Coupe does not have really have a B-Pillar.

By the way, here is a site with a list of Recalls:

http://www.alldata.com/recall/make/BMW.html

I have no idea how accurate this is, as there may be many TSB's not listed.

[3seriesbimmer]

Originally posted by The HACK
Seatbelt assembly or what's known as the "B-pillar click/rattle". Common enough to have a TSB issued for it.

I'll second that! I would pioneer the B Pillar rattle TSB.....I REALLY REALLY find it annoying:mad:

[BigRain]

I've a similar problem and just started last month or so. It doesn't happen ALL the time but say.. 2/3 of the days. The clicking sound seems to come from underneath the center console.. I was thinking if it might be a lose e-brake cable or something. Anyways, My Inspection I is coming up in 3 wks, I'll ask them to find out.

[doeboy]

Originally posted by BigRain
I've a similar problem and just started last month or so. It doesn't happen ALL the time but say.. 2/3 of the days. The clicking sound seems to come from underneath the center console.. I was thinking if it might be a lose e-brake cable or something. Anyways, My Inspection I is coming up in 3 wks, I'll ask them to find out.

Hmm... is it directly under the shifter or directly under the rear portion of the center console?

[Kaz]

My b-pillar rattle seems to have gone away. It's been in both pillars at one point or another.

I also have a rattle in my center console which I think I've traced down to the radio, even though it sounds like it's coming from around the ashtray.

This is in addition to the sunroof rattle, passenger door (not speaker) rattle, rear seat squeak, hatch rattle, etc.

Oh, I almost forgot about the passenger airbag cover rattle. :thumbup:

[BigRain]

Originally posted by doeboy
Hmm... is it directly under the shifter or directly under the rear portion of the center console?

I would say it's more towards the shifter... but I think it's wheel related. When I had my 17" Type96's... each clicking lasts longer and felt like the noise when you brush your finger across papers... now w/ the 19" TypeIII's... each clicking is much shorter and just light "click..click..click..click.." :mad:

So I guess bigger rims do have an advantage besides look and performance. :p

[doeboy]

Originally posted by BigRain
I would say it's more towards the shifter... but I think it's wheel related. When I had my 17" Type96's... each clicking lasts longer and felt like the noise when you brush your finger across papers... now w/ the 19" TypeIII's... each clicking is much shorter and just light "click..click..click..click.." :mad:

So I guess bigger rims do have an advantage besides look and performance. :p

Hmm... from your descriptions, it sure sounds like the same tranny rattle/clicking I'm having.... pry up your shift boot and drive around and see if you can hear it a lot more clearly then...

[BigRain]

What does that mean? My tranny is busted? :yikes: :yikes: I can try to open up the shift boot but I hope it's nothing SERIOUS!!! :bawling:

[doeboy]

Originally posted by BigRain
What does that mean? My tranny is busted? :yikes: :yikes: I can try to open up the shift boot but I hope it's nothing SERIOUS!!! :bawling:

If it is the same noise, I don't think it's busted... don't panic... maybe some inherent vibrations that are more apparent if the tranny has shifted in a certain way or what not...

prying up the shift boot is easy... start from the right side and press inward while lifting... the boot should come up easily... you should be able to listen to the noise more clearly with the boot up.

[BigRain]

Doeboy,
Obviously you've had this problem. Did your dealership fix it? If so... what was wrong w/ yours? I'll take out the shift boot today and try to listen to it.

Thanks,

BR.

[doeboy]

Originally posted by BigRain
Doeboy,
Obviously you've had this problem. Did your dealership fix it? If so... what was wrong w/ yours? I'll take out the shift boot today and try to listen to it.

Thanks,

BR.

Still have it. Trying to figure it out with the local Tech Session guys... Doesn't feel like anything is wrong... just a little noisy...

[BigRain]

I'll check on mine a bit more today. If there's a noise then there's something wrong. I don't see anyother car w/ this kinda noise. But it doesn't happen everyday though... that's the FUNNY part.

[BigRain]

Doeboy,

I tried driving w/ the shift boot lifted and there's no clicking sound from there. In fact, what I find it what when I travel around 35-40mi at around 2000 rpm and going straight and/or leaning towards right there's this light "sha sha sha... click click click... " sound from I guess even more towards the front.. (wheels perhaps?) But then when I drove again just now (9:00PM) there isn't a single sound. I guess the temperature's cooled down around 50 deg that's why. Strange.. I'm going to try again tomorrow at NOON just to see if it is infact temperature related.

[doeboy]

Originally posted by BigRain
Doeboy,

I tried driving w/ the shift boot lifted and there's no clicking sound from there. In fact, what I find it what when I travel around 35-40mi at around 2000 rpm and going straight and/or leaning towards right there's this light "sha sha sha... click click click... " sound from I guess even more towards the front.. (wheels perhaps?) But then when I drove again just now (9:00PM) there isn't a single sound. I guess the temperature's cooled down around 50 deg that's why. Strange.. I'm going to try again tomorrow at NOON just to see if it is infact temperature related.

Hmm... now it sounds like it's something from your wheels... does it make noise more often when making a particular turn? Like it makes noise when going straight but gets louder when you turn a certain way?

[BigRain]

Funny thing. My friend w/ a 330xi just asked me to check out this similar sound for his car. I then took out the cup holder and coin holder and discovered that his high frequency click sound is from underneath the rear part of the center console and it's speed sensitive like mine too. I am wonder if it's actually the e-brake cable that's lose and flipping the transaxle while is't turning or not.