[Ageispolis]

I bought this F30 335i and I love it, but since I got it, there is this low grade rattle that is more annoying than concerning. For some reason, its worse in cold weather, so its really popping off now. Its a rattle that I can only describe sounds like a loose engine part.

I don't really hear it on bumps as much as I hear it on roads with small undulations. I do have a little leak on a strut, so it may be that, but I've blown many a strut in my life and it doesn't sound the same. Also, my mechanic is trying to convince me that I cant just replace one strut, I need to do them all, and I just don't have the money for that kind of experiment.

I tried the steering damper kit as well and basically wasted my money. I also got under there and couldn't recreate the sound to locate it.

Any of you dealt with the same? Anyone ever fix it?

[LA430]

Possibly be the parking brake cable clip?

[Ageispolis]

I'll check that out, but its a heavier thud than I'd expect from something like that. Almost like a bushing somewhere eroded away and I'm left with the rattle.

[Skyhigh]

Amongst the 1 million rattles possible in a car, it would be hard to guess what it may be without at least an audio/video recording. Can you at least try to localise it? Is it more audible on the right, on the left, front, aft? Does it depend on speed, rpm, road? Does it go away when you touch the brakes or when you accelerate?

P.s. your mechanic is correct.

[Ageispolis]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I don't know that I could get an audio recording of it, but I can give it a shot. Its a very subtle sound which I don't know if I can capture. You raise some good questions, so here are some characteristics:

-Sounds like a heavy piece of metal bouncing around in the engine bay.
-I can't recreate the sound over bumps. The worst times are when I'm on a road that is generally, but not perfectly flat and I'm going 15-25 mph. Its like this thing gets into a rhythm and just starts going.
-Brakes nor acceleration seem to effect it, but I can take another look.
-Its coming somewhere from the front of the car and sounds like something attached to the body of the car.
-I don't know if its stronger right or left. For a while I thought it was worse on the passenger side, but I cant verify.

I was really hoping it was the steering damper kit that I needed because people described it the same way. Like in this thread: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1603926

[dunsmod]

Exhaust possibly?

[WDE82]

something in your glovebox.

[Tommy D]

I'd say at this point it's best to get in and under the car and look for something that is obviously worn or loose. I had an adaptive damper that would thump when driving at low speeds. The shop looked at all the suspension components and ruled everything else out. I replaced the stuts and the sound went away. You can replace stuts in pairs, no need to replace the shocks in the rear if they are still fine.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by WDE82

something in your glovebox.

....or the door storage areas.

[Ageispolis]

Originally Posted by dunsmod

Exhaust possibly?

No, it's definitely in the front of the car.

Originally Posted by WDE82

something in your glovebox.

I wish it were that easy. its something in the engine bay or chassis.

Originally Posted by Tommy D

I'd say at this point it's best to get in and under the car and look for something that is obviously worn or loose. I had an adaptive damper that would thump when driving at low speeds. The shop looked at all the suspension components and ruled everything else out. I replaced the stuts and the sound went away. You can replace stuts in pairs, no need to replace the shocks in the rear if they are still fine.

Yeah, I tried that. Checked the panels, mounts, anything I could try and move. Got any suggestions?

Part of me is starting to wonder if its just a strut issue. I can try replacing in a pair, but again, that's an expensive experiment. Could I pick up a used strut and replace that? Would that be a ridiculous thing to do?

Originally Posted by sygazelle

....or the door storage areas.

Definitely not.

[Ageispolis]

I recorded an audio clip of it. You can really hear it about 10 seconds in.

https://jmp.sh/LRL2BWHS

Just a straight up odd sound. Gets much worse in the cold. It was loud today since its under 10 degrees outside. Never goes away in summer but gets much tolerable. I tried bouncing the car body from outside to see if I could hear it in case its the strut, but no luck.

[gosa]

I had an f30, same problem. It’s the parking brake clip. You can fix it with a zip tie, or you can look on other sites.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-aga-tool...a-pcc-854-898/ (expensive option) wouldn’t do ngl.


https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...r/34406854898/

[Ageispolis]

That’s what I’ve been told but it sounds very different from all the videos I’ve seen on YouTube and it doesn’t sound like it’s coming from the center console.

[Ageispolis]

Reviving this thread: Today was an especially cold day. And even at the end of my short drive, as I was pulling in, I started to hear a creak/grind as I turned the steering wheel. Which leads me to suspect this is all a steering rack problem. Anyone experience that before?