My Car Is Driving Me Crazy - BMW Forum

tacroteau · 04-30-2005, 09:53 AM

OK I give up. I have the loudest god damn rattle under my car, and I cant find it. Its a 97 528i. It sounds like marbles in a tin box attached to the a-arm. Or maybe like a lose bracket on a moving part of the suspension. It only takes a little bump ( i mean very little) to cause it. Seems to be coming from the rear end. Not exhaust related. You cant feel any clunk in the suspension or steering, in fact you cant hear it at all with the windows up. But its loud as hell with them down. I have had it up on a lift time and time again,, wacked everything with a rubber mallet, and I cant find it. Has anyone had any experiance with this problem before. ANY IDEAS AT ALL????

ghead

PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE I TRADE HER IN FOR A QUIET ELECTRIC GOLF CART.

Thanks

Torque · 04-30-2005, 03:52 PM

drifeshaft mounts/bushings and/or differential ?

Delmarco · 04-30-2005, 04:22 PM

Sounds like your car just needs basic servicing...
when was the last time you serviced it?
1st and foremost I would check tire pressure....tire pressure is a very underated trouble starter....
then check your differential fluids and service that if needed...

Anything more complicated than this would be mounts and bushings....

billB · 04-30-2005, 07:24 PM

Tacro:
you know your car has an extensive work of sheet metal; sheet metal screws in and around your exhaust pipes. Also you may want to check transmission/driveshaft area/ tunnel for loose metals and parts.

it looks like you ruled out the catalyst as a problem.

Hoppy's535i · 04-30-2005, 11:04 PM

my car has a similar rattle. i was told it could be motor mounts. any opinions?

3serbmdubya · 05-01-2005, 01:49 AM

uhh its most prob. your strut mount.

http://www.stopshopanddrive.com/item.wws?m...521091710%2Ejpg

good luck

tacroteau · 05-02-2005, 07:40 AM

Thats the thing, if it was a strut mount, you would feel it while driving. Besides I just put in Blistine at a ll four corners. I have shaken the shit out of everything and nothing is loose at all. It could be driveshaft related, but I would think I could feel it while driving, and its such a "lighweight" sounding rattle. It just doesn't sound like it could be something under a load or heavy like a driveshaft. I just dont know

Quote:

Originally posted by 3serbmdubya@May 1 2005, 02:49 AM
uhh its most prob. your strut mount.

http://www.stopshopanddrive.com/item.wws?m...521091710%2Ejpg

good luck

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The Deuce · 05-02-2005, 10:17 AM

My car does something similar, and I got it to stop for a while, but it's back to I'm going to have to crawl under there again.

Go kick your tires. Seriously, go do it and listen.

The sheild on the back of one of my wheels was rattling. It was the passenger front on mine, and I could get a similar noise from kicking the wheel. I pulled it back where it was making contact, and it stopped for about 6 months. Now it's back, but I'm not sure it's the same wheel. I'm going to kick around when I get home.

schilke · 05-02-2005, 11:11 AM

Jack?

Loose Jack anyone? Have you ruled this out?

tacroteau · 05-02-2005, 12:15 PM

Good thought on the loose jack. I checked it, everything looks ok. However when I kicked my rear tires I did notice what could be "the rattle from hell" This may be it!!!gonna pull of the rims tonight ang wack around some stuff. Thanks for all the great help

Quote:

Originally posted by schilke@May 2 2005, 12:11 PM
Jack?

Loose Jack anyone? Have you ruled this out?

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nukeduster · 05-02-2005, 12:21 PM

also, a common prank i know of is putting marbles in peoples gas tanks... doesnt mess anything up but the rattles drive people to wanting to kill themselves trying to figure out what it is... dont rule that out.. even with a locking gas cap

and dont rule out loose brake shields.. they rattle like the dickens when you hit bumps.

tacroteau · 05-02-2005, 02:10 PM

Nope I have checked out every piece under the car with the exception of things near the wheels themselves and axel's and nothing is loose/rattling including the gas tank. However I havn't had time to investigate too much about these brake sheilds. But I have been able to reach my hand through the rim and tug on each one and they all are tight feeling. If this is a rubbing problem what do they rub on, I notice they sit awfully close to the shock is this what they hit or is it something else. (just a note from dirving it 5 minutes ago ITS FRIGIN LOUD!!) and quite embarrasing.

Quote:

Originally posted by nukeduster@May 2 2005, 01:21 PM
also, a common prank i know of is putting marbles in peoples gas tanks... doesnt mess anything up but the rattles drive people to wanting to kill themselves trying to figure out what it is... dont rule that out.. even with a locking gas cap

and dont rule out loose brake shields.. they rattle like the dickens when you hit bumps.

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The Deuce · 05-02-2005, 02:22 PM

I can't remember exactly what they make contact with, but if you take the wheel off and hit the hub, you should be able to hear the noise and pull it back a little until the noise goes away.

It may be contact with the bottom shock mount.

superdeadman · 05-02-2005, 08:13 PM

how about a bushing?

Bigron · 05-15-2005, 06:49 PM

i have the same problem on a 530i 1995. can't find the fucking thing for anything. sounds like it could be the brake backing plate, but they are tight. is it possible the brake backing plates are an inferior design and resonate? also, is it possible the brake pads are loose?