[Berger]

Hi!

I have recently detected the most annoying rattle in my car ever. I've located it on the dash - the panel left of the airbag. When i push the panel at the lower end, the rattle stops immediately. However, I'm afraid of removing this centre-panel - basically not knowing what and how to do it. Is this easy to do by yourself?

Really hoping for answers, the car is still in the garage..

[Karkarinus]

i think i know what you mean. if it's the same as on mine, when you wedge your finger in between the door panel and the edge of the dash, the noise stops. if that's it, then its really very simple: the small plastic end covering on the dash (not the one that pops off, only visible withthe door open, but the one that kind of "trims" the end edge of the dash - check if it moves a bit when you wiggle it. if so, this needs to be tightened. take about 5 minutes at the dealer and if the car is under warranty it should be free. Sorry i've got no photo to be more accurate. if you could post a photo of the problem area i'll do my best to help if the above is no good!

[bimini]

do you know how to tighten it...this is the same rattle i have as well...(as well as the one that comes from the centre of the dash above the speedo, sounds like loose bit of plastic rolling around)...this comes and goes with the one in the steering wheel, which sounds like grit bouncing on plastic and alternates with the rear panel behind me which just creaks in and out of time with the B pillar/seatbelt cover.

Just killing one of these would be a great help as i know they ALL will dissapear on the drive up to the dealer's door...

[Karkarinus]

i know you can just pop off the very end "plate" thing with a screwdriver, and then there are 2 screws inside (cant remember if they're torx or phillips) but yo should be able to see what to do from there. I know it was about a 5 minute job. i'll look tomorrow and post sth. It's too cold over here to go down to the garage right now!!!!

[Karkarinus]

Right then IMPORTANT NOTE- IF YOUR CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY IT IS DEFINITELY BEST FOR THE DEALER TO IT, JUST IN CASE. Or if you have any doubts whatsoever, dont risk buggerin anything up - broken plastic parts could cost you a fortune! Oh, and dont bother popping off the end plastic plate as i said yesterday - that is only needed to take off the whole dash top...

Firstly, it depends if you have compartment pack or not (i.e. glove box etc from factory) If so, you pull out the section of plastic below the steering wheel (the part with the liittle compartment in it) this simply pulls out from the top - it has one push-in stud at each end - and pivots downwards. Do it carefully but firmly and you will not have any trouble. Now you will see a torx 30 screw securing the end plastic piece to the inside of the dash (just below where the liitle compartment was). Loosen this and position the plastic piece up as tightly as it will go, and retighten the screw. Then just pop those 2 stud things back into place and finished!

If you dont have the compartment pack, the parcel shelf below the wheel is secured to the upper underside of the dash by two torx (20?) screws. Undo these, and the operation is then on similar to that described above.

I've checked all this on '05 model cars with and without 'compartments' and an '02 without. Can't see why it would be any different on a pre-'05 car with 'compartments', as the main dashboard difference for '05 was the 3-part dash front (as opposed to 5), supposedly introduced to reduce stupid flippin creaky noises.

Anyway, hope this helps somebody!

[Berger]

I don't think you've understood me correctly. However, I took a picture of the dash. The arrow indicates the point where I push in order to get rid of the rattle. It is getting really annoying now, and don't want to pay heaps of money to the dealer... do any of you have a "quick fix" to this problem?

Really thankful..

Regards, Berger - still in the pursuit of a "rattle-free Mini"

[Karkarinus]

Quote: Originally Posted by Berger

I don't think you've understood me correctly.

oh....

[Berger]

Quote: Originally Posted by Karkarinus

oh....

Or may I have been wrong...?

[bimini]

I found it useful... but yes i think your talking about opposite ends of the dash to each other.

[Berger]

Probably because I live in Norway and have left-hand-drive... However, do you guys have any tips? This rattle makes me crazy..

[Karkarinus]

Quote: Originally Posted by Berger

Probably because I live in Norway and have left-hand-drive... ..

Well my car is LHD too, 'cos I live in Spain, but i DID think yours was RHD and thence the misunderstanding. As far as i know, you'll have to take off the dash top to put some kind of felt padding behind the guilty panel (far too much hassle if your car is under warranty,) and I've never done it so i dont know exactly how. Maybe in the DIY section???
Sorry i cant be of much more help. I'll see if i can find out more tomorrow....

[glennaitken]

Hi there,

I have an 05 MCS and can confirm the rattle is a 'design fault' (from BMW in london) apparently putting the airbag under the dash instead of the module has needed a central lug into which the center slots. This was a major annoyance for me, having had an 02 MCS and I have had the dash replaced TWICE by BMW, first fix didnt work and they scratched the facsias trying, so they replaced it again, all for free mind you.

so thats what i know.

cheers, glenn

[Berger]

My MCS is from 2003 - and the three-year warranty is out.. However, I haven't driven longer than 19500 km.

Is this still warranty, then? I mean, if i just push the dash a bit, the annoying rattle dissapears... But it is really annoying...

[Karkarinus]

No warranty is no warranty, and technically it was never covered by BMW anyway if only an adjustment required - only when parts need replacing. The dealer should sort it out, though. And forget "goodwill" warranty work on a squeaky dash, 19500 kms or not - thy'll only do that on important stuff like engines, 'boxes etc

[Berger]

Get the picture, however, I'll give them a call and see if they have a solution to the problem..

[Berger]

Since my warranty is out this will probably cost me a fortune.. When I'm pressing the dash, the rattle dissapears immediately. I sounds like something is loose inside the dash, rattling like crazy when driving.. However, is it easy to remove the dash panel, so I can tape some felt tape at the dash? This will probably solve my main problem..


I would be really thankful for any help, this rattle is driving me nuts!

[lillapoyka]

same thing here on my 2004. right in the center of the dash by the auto air thingee. If I push near it it goes away. Seems to be worse on t the cold mornings.

[JG.26]

Hi,

You need to get your dealer to take the dash top off and to pad the dash out with felt or anything soft and then use felt tape along the dash edge where plastic rubs against plastic. I had this problem when I first bought my 03 S from new, went in 3 times to my dealer and told them to sort it or else. It hasn't rattled or squeeked since. I thought with the latest model this would have been sorted by now, I don't think lol. It's the cheapo plastic that is used. I've just bought a new Suzuki Swift that cost half the price of my S and the interior is rock sold and rattle and squeeky free. How come BMW are unable to achieve this on the MINI ?

Cheers.

[Berger]

Drove around yesterday, the dash rattled like hell. I was rather furious, so I hit the dash with my fist, and the rattle dissapeared. Hasn't returned since, but if the rattle from hell returns, I will deliver the car to the dealer...