[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by r1cey

I had the tape fix from my local dealer and all was well, but the creaking has come back :-(
However, while taking the young lad to McD’s the other day, opened the window and never bothered closing it due to this lovely weather we’re getting, and on the way home noticed the creaking stopped! Tested this further by fully closing the window, creaked like hell, dropped the window about 1cm, nothing, so would appear that the window is creaking against the door window seal.
What properties are in meths that make a difference compared to cleaning with anything else? (tried adhesive cleaner, never worked).
Thanks in advance.

It's basically just pure alcohol (ethanol and methanol mix, I'm a chemist so have ready access) so will strip off the contaminant oils and residues.
Open the window slightly to allow you to thoroughly clean the top of the glass contact area and try to clean where the glass enters the slot with a paper towel soaked in meths.
You could start with dilute fairy liquid, then water, then the meths. The main thing is to strip away any residues from the contact area. Be very careful with quick detailer fluids as they tend to leave a film which will set off the old ship syndrome again.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by r1cey

I had the tape fix from my local dealer and all was well, but the creaking has come back :-(
However, while taking the young lad to McD’s the other day, opened the window and never bothered closing it due to this lovely weather we’re getting, and on the way home noticed the creaking stopped! Tested this further by fully closing the window, creaked like hell, dropped the window about 1cm, nothing, so would appear that the window is creaking against the door window seal.
What properties are in meths that make a difference compared to cleaning with anything else? (tried adhesive cleaner, never worked).
Thanks in advance.

It's not the window in the door seal, it's the pressure that the window edge puts on the top seal it goes in to, which then rubs against the metal door frame.

[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

It's not the window in the door seal, it's the pressure that the window edge puts on the top seal it goes in to, which then rubs against the metal door frame.

I found cleaning both was important and at various times were contributing to the rubbing noise.
But yes, also clean the black shiny plastic contract area where the door meets with the shell at the top.

[DriveS]

My experience is different to this. After lubrication of my seals I found the creaking was even worse. I found a thread which s.ays the creaking comes from the felt along the top door edge contacting the paint. It said to apply PTFE tape to the paint along this contact area only. I did that and have not had a single creak in 15 months.
I even wrote a thread about it with the procedure in.

[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by DriveS

My experience is different to this. After lubrication of my seals I found the creaking was even worse. I found a thread which s.ays the creaking comes from the felt along the top door edge contacting the paint. It said to apply PTFE tape to the paint along this contact area only. I did that and have not had a single creak in 15 months.
I even wrote a thread about it with the procedure in.

I'm certainly not suggesting lubricating anything. If needs to be spotlessly clean, and free of residue.
The tape when badly applied looks pants.

[Tribalpinoy911]

This is pretty well documented. If you do a search you'll find tons of info. The tape, gumnifledge, seal replacement are all viable solutions that have worked for people. If car is under warranty they will fix it.

[DriveS]

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...ght=door+seals

[vadimo]

UPDATE

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1017134

I have red above thread which is very good at describing where the squeak contact occurs, i then red elsewhere recommendation of using Extreme Fluoro Pure PFPAE Grease Syringe Grease, so i have applied it and its been a quiet week, i also tested by pressing with finger on to the seal from outside which would make the noise, now it doesn't either, not sure how long it lasts but its a sticky paste stuff.

I also red Service Information bulletin on BMW Squeaking Noise From Door Frame Area While Driving. It does state that dirt can amplify squeak and that it is down to the door seal, it sort of suggest both options replace it with superior revised part number or use teflon tape.

So i dont agree with those that say its down to shampoo products because predominately issue is due to the seal design.

if it was me with warranty still, i would be insisting on full seal replacement!

[goodbyalfa]

I've found recently the best fix to this issue.
Switch to a 440i 4GC with frameless doors. No squeaking to report here...

[onstat]

Ive finally had the correct tape fix applied to my car yesterday and its been a lovely squeak free day today.

I previously had the tape applied last year but it started squeaking agin after a couple of weeks. Only after reading into the threads on here did I realise they must have given the job to the YTS boy for the day as theyd applied the tape to the painted body underneath the seals on the door

Fingers crossed it stays creak free!

[B58_Touring]

Had mine in for the creaking fix a couple of weeks ago, it didn't last a day before i noticed it creaking like mad again. Looks like they haven't done the job right the first time. Bit sick of dropping my car off to get looked at to be honest

[perryo91]

Originally Posted by onstat

Ive finally had the correct tape fix applied to my car yesterday and its been a lovely squeak free day today.

I previously had the tape applied last year but it started squeaking agin after a couple of weeks. Only after reading into the threads on here did I realise they must have given the job to the YTS boy for the day as theyd applied the tape to the painted body underneath the seals on the door

Fingers crossed it stays creak free!

So wait where am I supposed to put the tape? I put it on the bottom part of my shadow line trim and that doesn’t do shit I’m still squeaking.

[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by perryo91

So wait where am I supposed to put the tape? I put it on the bottom part of my shadow line trim and that doesn’t do shit I’m still squeaking.

Despite what others have said, read my post on cleaning the window contact area. When I dropped the windows on my f30 all signs of the sunken creaky old battleship went away, which suggests to me that this area is the main contributer to the noise.

[Martan]

Just had the teflon tape fix done yesterday, we'll see if it fixes it long term.

On another subject, I've had squeaky brakes since day one, they looked at them a few months ago but couldnt find anything wrong? This time they've replaced discs and pads on the front!

[H2B]

Originally Posted by Martan

Just had the teflon tape fix done yesterday, we'll see if it fixes it long term.

On another subject, I've had squeaky brakes since day one, they looked at them a few months ago but couldnt find anything wrong? This time they've replaced discs and pads on the front!

Performance brakes (I'm assuming that's what you have, the M Sport blue ones or better) tend to generate a lot more dust from the pads, causing a buildup across the brake disc and the brake pad surface leading to the terrible squeaky sound. Its practically inevitable on any car with a sports braking setup. The only way I know of to get the whine out is to use them hard a couple of times.

It's as if the brakes are edging you on for a good thrashing. They love being used!

[Malone]

I just sprayed the door seals with this, seems to have worked a treat:

https://eshop.wurth.co.uk/Adhesive-l...sku/en/GB/GBP/

[r1cey]

Originally Posted by goodbyalfa

It's basically just pure alcohol (ethanol and methanol mix, I'm a chemist so have ready access) so will strip off the contaminant oils and residues.
Open the window slightly to allow you to thoroughly clean the top of the glass contact area and try to clean where the glass enters the slot with a paper towel soaked in meths.
You could start with dilute fairy liquid, then water, then the meths. The main thing is to strip away any residues from the contact area. Be very careful with quick detailer fluids as they tend to leave a film which will set off the old ship syndrome again.

Cleaned all the seals today, and inside the door window seals with Meths, what a difference!!!
Also started using dodo juice born to be mild, as recommended by some on here, so hopefully and end to the creaky ship woes! Fingers crossed.

[kiwicmc]

Similar story to all the above. Very loud creaking started - possibly after a detail - only used meths on the very top edge of every door and noise has disappeared completely.

[Pequin]

Anyone tried KY? 🤪

[sspade]

Three words:

Gummi Pflege Stift

[r1cey]

Since this thread has been revived....

The cleaning of the seals with meths, and using specific cleaning products, never lasted long on my M140 (less than a month), so took it back to the dealer and told them I’d had enough of it, so they replaced all of the seals under warranty (dealer said BMW had made an improvement to the seals (which I thought was probably BULL), but the creaking was totally eliminated, and not a peep since!)


Recommend anyone having this problem pushes for seal replacement

[Blacktemplar]

Originally Posted by KCH1984

OP - get some of this.

I have the Teflon tape fix from BMW and my door seals still creak depending on the cleaning product I've used. Most recently it creaked like hell after having the car detailed.

That gummi stuff is enough to get rid of the creaking and I normally stick a bit round the seals every other wash.

Have to say my experience has been different - the Gummi Pfledge works OK, but doesn't completely eliminate the creaking, and it comes back quite quickly.

I used to use Bilt Hamber shampoo, but have now moved on to Autofinesse and it makes no difference.

One of the 'interesting' effects I've noticed as pointed out above is that for the driver's door at least, if I drop the window fractionally the creaking stops completely. Not sure if that's down to the glass preventing any flex in the door frame when it's up and therefore allowing the frame itself to flex a little, or something else.

Car will be going in to have the seals looked at before end of warranty checks in a few months time.