Squeaks and rattles

[coopman]

The interior of 1989 Cabriolet squeaks and rattles like crazy. It sounds like it's full of old cans and angry rodents.

My questions are:
- Is this normal for an E30? I know it's an old car, but in comparison my 1993 Renault 19 felt much more solid (and that was a heap of crap).
- I intend to do the following to try to improve things - service the seat rails/mechs, replace the cracked/missing window weather strips, replace various missing trim retainer clips. Is there anything else I should look at?

Cheers

[paultv]

I know this one! Mine was terrible - seats are a big problem - missing felt strips on the rear window edges - probably all the felt which is fitted to the centre consol where it meets the dash is worn away causing horrible creaking. I've found the front window rails in the doors (vertical) are worn or incorrectly/loosely fitted making the windows rattle when partialy lowered. On mine the bonnet catches at the windscreen end of the car were dry - there's a sprung metal "rubbibng strip" on the bonnet - one each side, that on a long drive, start to squeek on the slightest body flexing - they rub on the bonnet guide rails metal work.

When there's no passenger in my cabby - the empty seat back leather creaks against the squab - answer to this is loud music.

Don't get me started on the roof rattles!

The car was never very quiet in the first place - my Ma in Law had one new and says mines not as noisy as hers was!!

Paul

[Tzantushka]

Paul's right.
The cabriolets weren't the quietest cars from new as there's a lot of things working against you.

1. It's a 30+ y.o. car
Designed & tooled in the late 70's & early 80's.
Yes, it's when BMW over-engineered things, but design, plastics technology, fixings, sound deadening and overall assembly has improved dramatically.

2. It's a cabriolet
Yes, it was a modified & strengthened chassis, but there's an inherent amount of wind noise, some scuttle shake & body flex

3. A couple of problem points that can be addressed
As Paul's highlighted, plus also

Rubbers
I found when I replaced the door window seals that helped remove some of the rattling noise when the windows are up.
The vertical rear window seal was a noticeable improvement.
Correctly adjusted windows also help

Dashboard
Most dashboards would be rock hard by now.
I found replacing or adding self-adhesive felt strips to strategic places helped minimise plastic squeaks
- transmission console to dashboard interface
- handbrake console to transmission console

Convertible top
Needs to be correctly adjusted.
And the leading seal (the expensive one that seals the windscreen frame) is another noise source if not sealing properly

Suspension rubber
Tired & worn control arm bushes, sub frame bushes, strut/shock mounts (especially rears) , spring perch rubbers, anti roll bars all contribute to NVH.
Changing tired suspension components was the biggest step change for me

Seats
Especially replacing 4x seat shocks for each seat help reduce rattles

Even ensuring the jack and tool kit is secured problem eliminated a few extra rattles.

Next thing for me is engine mounts and trans guibo.
Centre prop shaft bearing is a bit noisy too.

[paultv]

and my BMW leather key fob knocking against the steering column housing - turn up the DRUM N BASS man!!

Paul

[coopman]

Thanks guys, good tips. Glad mine isn't uniquely noisy.

And I would turn up the music, but the speakers/wiring is f**cked too.

[Satan]

Mine is fine.

[coopman]

Replacing the weather strips on the rear windows and giving the seat mechs a clean and lube has made a massive difference. It's now much more pleasant to drive - previously I was wincing every time I hit a bump in the road.

[Tzantushka]

That's great!
What weather strips did you replace?
a) inner & outer horizontal weather seals
or
b) vertical weather seal

I found a) helped stop the rattling over bumps and b) + correctly adjusted rear glass stopped the wind noise

[Tedswagon]

Mine is fine too - when parked!!!

[boingk]

Weather strips, door rubbers, window felts and rubbers, anything of that nature goes hard over time, or simply compresses and won't isolate effectively any more. Boot rubbers do this too, as do underfloor linings and even sound deadening which goes rock hard over time and needs to be chipped off.

Under the car you have bushings and suspension to worry about, as well as exhaust mounts etc. Check those for obvious signs of loose components.

In the engine bay you're up against the same things - isolating rubbers and seals are either perished from heat or simply age and prolonged temperature changes degrading them.

[fixedwheelnut]

BMW do a Rubber Care compound called Gummiphledge, which is great for stopping creaks as the body flexes, still available at the Dealers.

[coopman]

BMW do a Rubber Care compound called Gummiphledge, which is great for stopping creaks as the body flexes, still available at the Dealers.

Yeah, I have the stuff - have been applying liberally.

[coopman]

That's great!
What weather strips did you replace?
a) inner & outer horizontal weather seals
or
b) vertical weather seal

I found a) helped stop the rattling over bumps and b) + correctly adjusted rear glass stopped the wind noise

Outer horizontal, which were in appalling condition. The other strips are ok for now, but will replace over time.

[minesapint]

They’re 30+yr old cars.........it’s called character!

Although having said that my squeaking heater blower motor had become very annoying, so took it out today and sorted...all as in the Wiki, now quiet as a church mouse.

[Brianmoooore]

I've always found that a bit of forwards preload when fitting the two centre consoles prevents a few squeaks. Push them hard towards the front of the car as you tighten the screws.

[coopman]

I've always found that a bit of forwards preload when fitting the two centre consoles prevents a few squeaks. Push them hard towards the front of the car as you tighten the screws.

The centre consoles are almost certainly part of the problem in my car. The two little plastic tabs at the front of the console around the handbrake have snapped off - the PO has "fixed" this issue with wood screws. I've bitten the bullet and ordered a new one, as couldn't find a decent second-hand one - quite expensive. The other centre console (storage partition?) is cracked beneath the vinyl covering... possibly from excessive forward pre-loading . And the felt strips are long gone.