rear suspension rattle

Alright there is a really annoying rattle coming from my rear suspension, but I'm not sure what its from. Shocks and shock mounts were relpaced just recently...

Anyone have any suggestions?

Check the obvious first. And no disrespect if you already have: The spare tire and tools and etc. in the trunk. The tag holder or bracket, and yes the shock mounts again! Thump on the exhaust with your foot and see if it rattles. Rear speakers, seats locked in place, tail lamp covers secure....on and on....

I have the same problem and also just changed shocks and shock mounts. Iread in another forum that it could have to do with the e-brake. something about adjusting it. I dont think that this is the reason for the rattle and would like to know if anybody has had this and fixed it. Sorry i couldnt be any help.

my car does the same thing, no idea what it is, i read somewhere that the early e36 have structural integrity issues with the sheet metal where the mounts attach. newer e36s have this reinforced. i am not sure if that is what is causing mine or not though, it is rather annoying.

Had a rattle coming from the rear... I would take JPerry58's advice and check the stuff he mentions... i found my new exhaust was ever so slightly touching a bracket and would result in said rattle at certain revs. The very scientific metod of, give the exhaust a boot and listen, proved to be most effective.

Easy to fix and sooo nice and quite

Roll bar could be loose too.

I had a recent rattle caused by a loose exhaust heat shield.

had the same prob really annoying in the summer with the windows and roof open.....i had my rear bushes replaced and sorted pure silence awesome!!

I had two rattle issues in the back. One was from one of the brake dust shields. The other was from the exhaust mounts. On both my m3's the rubber on both mounts were broken.

Thanks for all the advice! I'll let you know what it is once I find it.

Man i just had the same issue with mine. I know what it is tho. Its a piece that goes around the strut. Looks like a dust cap or something im not really sure. I'd have to take a pic of it and see if any of the experts might know what it is.

Struts are up front, Im talking about the rear...

Ok fellas, sorry it took so long but here is what i'm dealing with. Anybody have any clue what this part is and what i should do about it? That metal piece around the shock should be attached to that bracket but seems to have rusted and fallen down on top of the shock.

[img=http://Serv1.imagehigh.com/files/17957_S3000013.th.JPG

You should get some aftermarket rear shock mounts a lot of companies have them. Ground control, bimmerparts, etc. The are stronger.

I just changed my rear shocks and mounts. The metal piece hanging down on the bump stop should not be aloud to go past a certaint part on the shock. Hard to explain...but ill try the shock itself has a tread on the top to screw the shock mount to it and the tread is skinnier then the lower part of the shocks metal shaft. therefore either the metal piece rusted causing it to drop down or the shock itself is shot. (try to put your hand in there and push the metal piece up.

Since im not positive if that is how it works it might hang ther and the "Dust cap" (plastic part that goes around the bump stop and shock might be damaged and broken but i think that metal piece should be held up by the shaft sorry bad memory.

Buy yourself some E46 Rear Shock Mounts and gaskets from BMW $50 they are better and stronger and BMW. When you buy the rear shock mounts that metal piece doesnt come with them so you will have to buy them too. You may also want to change the shocks about $170 your choice go to BIMMER DIY.com for Rear Shock Replacement (detailed instructions on how to change them). I did this but still have a rattel so let me know if it fixes your problem.

Thanks alot. I appreciate that info. Im still fairly new to my e36 so im not real keen on alot of the workings just yet. So the metal piece hanging down is part of my shock mounts? I know it needs to be replaced soon. If i drive with it like that how much damage would it cause??? I dont wanna leave it but i may have to for a week or two. How much would i be looking at if i needed to change those out? Im not a car expert so i wouldnt even know where to start when it comes to doing it myself and im not sure i have the proper tools.

If you've been driving it like that, I think a week or two won't make too much difference . . the piece you're referring to was installed upside down in your car. As you can see in the diagram below, parts 6 & 7 are supposed to be sitting on the small perch (blue arrow) on the shock piston rod. And note the orientation of part #6, compare it to your pic.

well aint that some $#@t! Well the other side is installed the same way so both are gonna hafta come off and be replaced. I'm gonna try to get the guy i bought the car from to gimme a hand with replacing them cuz i wouldnt mind trying the reinstallation myself just to be more "one" with my bimmer. So it'll just cost me time and money in parts pretty much. How long would u say the process takes?

Should take you less than an hour, it's not hard at all. The only hangup you may have is if the nuts (part #14) are seized or rusted on. But you need a new part #6 if it's hanging down below the perch, as your pic shows. That means the hole in the middle is now bigger, allowing it to slide down that far.

I have done this so many times that I don't even pull the wheel. Just use a good jack and jack the car up some so that the shock is not compressed or extended. I think that lower bolt is an 18 m/m while the top ones are 13 m/m (from memory).
Use a vice and take the thing apart and replace the RSMs with either stock or better as suggested. I had a heck of a rattle and new RSMs will cure the problem. As stated before it is not more than an hour job as long as you have an 18 m/m socket or box end wrench as most tool boxes don't have them.
Good Luck

Thanks a ton fellas. U said that 18mm socket isnt in most tool boxes? What about the 13? Sears probably has those pieces right? I wanna make sure i got everything i need before attempting the job

those are common sizes. if you don't have them sears does. if you don't have many metric sockets its cheaper to get a whole set than individually.