[jwpettit]

TLDR

• Metallic clattering sound from dash
• Don’t think its engine
• Happens only at idle – 1k rpm, then 1.5k – 2k during acceleration
• Haven’t found similar posts or solutions on forums
• Video attached (need to turn volume up, road noise disproportional to sound in videos)
• Mechanic couldn’t locate the sound but checked everything important
• No codes
• Noise is intermittent

Yes, I know, there’s a ton of threads on rattles. I’ve not found anything too similar to this and am looking mostly for ideas.

Details
The noise in question is tinny metallic clattering. You know what it sounds like when someone ties empty soup cans to their rear bumper after a wedding? Sounds like that but from inside of the dash.

Took the car to my indie who I really like and trust. He had the car for almost 3 days and drove it a number of times after having also driven with me. The trouble is, we both hear the noise but it’s fairly intermittent and so he was unable to pinpoint it with the car on a lift or in the shop. It seems to primarily happen with the car is in gear, stops in Park or Neutral.

Mechanic inspected everything important and wasn’t able to locate anything which seems weak or likely on the verge of failing. No error codes in the computer either. He frustratedly gave the car back after a few days, didn’t charge, and said to just bring it back when the noise becomes more regular.

I think I should also note, the car drives and operates completely normally. Service is current, and car’s been well taken care of (by me) since new.

I’m increasingly convinced the noise is actually coming from inside the cabin and here are some reasons why:

• As mentioned, mechanic couldn’t find anything in the engine bay or underneath which seemed to be the cause
• Couple nights ago was pulling into a parking deck with the windows down (amplifies external car noise from echoes). I heard the engine sound, and it’s regular ticking/rattle from the timing chain and/or direct injection, the noise the car’s always made since new, but didn’t hear the clatter sound from the outside, only inside the cabin with windows up.
• Noise often seems to lessen as the cabin heats up. What I mean is, the oil/engine temp comes up to operating level within about 15 – 20 min of driving, but takes almost an hour or so for the clatter sound to start to reduce
• The noise seems to be most prevalent when the engine happens to be vibrating the most. Not tied to speed of travel in any way.

It feels like it may be coming from the driver’s side inside the dash somewhere. I’m not positive of this as I’ve not yet come up with the best way to really pinpoint the sound, particularly while driving.

If something is loose inside of the dash, I’m pretty confident in my DIY abilities to remove some panels and tighten something down, but also would like to have a clearer target before I start ripping everything apart.

Attached are a couple videos I took:

• Daytime video shows me driving along and you’ll hear the noise at a couple points. Unfortunately the microphone of my phone picked up the road noise way more than the rattle (not representative of reality), but if you turn your volume way up you will hear it.
• Night video shows car cold, rattle starting in gear, and stopping in Park. Accelerated slightly in video and you hear the noise get louder. For some reason it sounds a little less metallic and tinny in this video, but it’s very much that. Also, this video shows the noise not happening in Reverse, but it does occur sometimes in Reverse as well, just less.

Help me out, it’s driving me insane!

Thank you!!

Video 1
Video 2

[jwpettit]

Alright, well, update.

I went out today and tried to poke around inside of the dash behind the steering column to look for anything obvious. Removed the driver's side outer air vent, headlight switch, and mini glove-box to which all seemed to give me decent access. Still heard the noise, but still couldn't pinpoint it.

Starting to wonder if its coming from somewhere inside of the transmission tunnel area. Since nothing obvious came from digging around in the dash.

Also took another look inside the engine compartment, but the problem just is that the noise isn't really present at all unless the car's in gear or vibrating more firmly. I hear the noise when the engine first turns over but then nothing until it's in gear.

So frustrating!! The noise is driving me nuts!

[jwpettit]

Bumping this thread, the noises are driving me insane and perhaps are getting worse.

While admittedly I really don't know, it sounds so much like its coming from inside of the cabin, but I can't pinpoint where. Either behind the steering rack somewhere, or perhaps the transmission tunnel under the dash.

It also seems most tied to vibrations of the car, rather than anything mechanical. Also, seems to increase when going uphill, and decrease when going downhill.

Any ideas welcome!

[fe7565]

Isn't that the notorious hand brake bracket failure sound? I think it's supposed to be located right below the shifter console above the engine /transmission.. https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2061800

[jwpettit]

Originally Posted by fe7565

Isn't that the notorious hand brake bracket failure sound? I think it's supposed to be located right below the shifter console above the engine /transmission.. https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2061800

Thanks for the suggestion! I've now started looking into this, and truly it does seem like such a likely culprit.

The one thing I can't quite figure out though—I could swear that from the driver's seat, it really sounds like the noise is coming from in front of me, not behind.

Given that the common point of failure for this is at the rear of the car, is it possible that somehow the sound would be entering the cabin at the front?

[fe7565]

Originally Posted by jwpettit

Thanks for the suggestion! I've now started looking into this, and truly it does seem like such a likely culprit.

The one thing I can't quite figure out though—I could swear that from the driver's seat, it really sounds like the noise is coming from in front of me, not behind.

Given that the common point of failure for this is at the rear of the car, is it possible that somehow the sound would be entering the cabin at the front?

One way to find out is to eliminate the hand brake rattle possibility (10 mins job?). I do not have any other common causes I am aware of to suggest.

[jwpettit]

Originally Posted by fe7565

One way to find out is to eliminate the hand brake rattle possibility (10 mins job?). I do not have any other common causes I am aware of to suggest.

For sure! And really appreciate the help!

Just need to figure out a decent way to get under the car myself, or make an appointment to take it back to the indie.

Actually now that I think about it, I've got a friend with a super steep driveway—maybe if I park just at the tip with the car's rear in the air, it'll give me just enough clearance to get under there...

[fe7565]

The link I posted has a video(s) that shows how to get to the suspect cables. It's inside the car, in the center console.

[jwpettit]

Originally Posted by fe7565

The link I posted has a video(s) that shows how to get to the suspect cables. It's inside the car, in the center console.

Oh yes, I can check that one too. I was referring to the first video in that thread which replaces the plastic mount beneath the car where the cable lines tap the driveshaft—seems to be the common problem.

Admittedly the center console location is much easier to get to.