Convertible - noise from hood/hood cover?

[oneblueleg]

I get the most annoying metallic knocking noise from over my right shoulder with the hood up or down - when I'm going along, bumpy roads are worst. I think it might be the hood cover catch, but I can't see any obvious way of ajdusting it, and it seems OK anyway... trouble is, I can only get the noise to happen when I'm going along... when I'm stationary it's OK... nothing seems loose... any ideas?

[BrAdZ]

hmmm are you sure its the hood? i had this noise on my cabby and it turned out to be the rear wheel bearing! even though it had 0 play in it

[andyp]

my rear hood cover [ shelf] does the same thing just got used to it now.

[JAMZ]

Is yer Hood shelf engaged properly when your shutting it?

If its just got play init,you would feel it when pressing down on it,you could cure that with some adhesive foam patches or something like them..

but you say you cant get it to make the noise when stationary..so maybe its not even yer hood shelf..but try that first

[oneblueleg]

I can't feel any play in the hood cover/shelf... it clicks down really nicely and yes, it is definately shut (both sides), and the cable release gives a good strong click on operation, and the springs holding the catches are there and working... the noise though is definately from that area... trouble is, you can't see under that cover with it shut... it's like does the fridge light stay on when you shut the door... arrrrrggghhh!
I've tried putting insulating tape round the catch loop to no effect, other than the catch tearing it off... which is obvious...

[chu346]

Have you check the rear top shocker mounts. I had the same problem.

[oneblueleg]

Have you check the rear top shocker mounts. I had the same problem.

Will do... cheers... and wheel bearings poss....

[nav786]

try drivind down a bumpy road with someone in the back holding the hood cover open. see if they can spot any play. if not its probably a loose hood cover or something.

[billyboy193]

I had this problem and it was the boot opening slightly everytime I went over a bump because of the M3 spoiler it would not allow it to open yet the boot locked ok with a key - never did find out why it was like that just sprayed a bit of wd40 and it resolved itself!

[DaveD]

I presume we are talking about a manual top, if so have you checked the cables that lock the flap down ...I think they do adjust like on the electric roof

[oneblueleg]

The Zone does it again... (or more accurately chu346)
You're right, it's the damper. The two 12mm nuts are tight, and so is the 17mm Nyloc nut on the top of the damper... but the top end of the damper is floating around in the top housing... it all rotates freely... can I replace the top bit only (the actual housing)? is a whole new damper needed?
It would be nice to be able to hold the threaded middle bit sticking through the top of the 17mm Nyloc nut and tighten the nut, but it's like doing surgery in the narrow aperture through which you're working... but would this solve the problem?
Annoying thing is, the damper works perfectly, if I load that corner of the car and let go, it returns to level without any bouncing.
I spose it's just broke and need a new one...

[Ziggy]

Glad you worked it out!

Mine makes a very annoying squeaking sound with the hood up; apparently (from a back seat passenger!) it sounds like it's coming from under the flap or maybe in the boot Any ideas? I'll investigate further when I next have someone in the car with me, but this seemed like a good opportunity to ask!

Also, I've got another annoying rattle that sounds like it's coming from the same place as yours oneblueleg, but it's just a light tapping / rattling noise so I doubt it's the same thing?

[DaveD]

It looks like you can

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=33&fg=45

[oneblueleg]

Cheers DaveD


Just thought, if the damper is floating around in the top housing, and it works OK, could the spring have broken, or softened. If the corner of the car have sagged slightly as a result it would give the impression the damper is too long wouldn't it?

I can't get out there and get my hands dirty on it at the moment, so it's all just running round in my mind... is it all rubbish?

[oneblueleg]

OK... I thought I'd replace the whole strut, seeing as the gsf catalogue says Ԛ£19-75 + VAT... (I'd do both as you're spose to... but still pretty cheap I thought)... when I phone they don't do rear shocks for e30 convertibles!... cheapish place near by will replace two shocks for Ԛ£120.... sod that, the gas strut works... so I'm off to the stealer later to pick up the top mount parts for Ԛ£15 and fixing it myself...

[oneblueleg]

Ԛ£13...and apart from having to cut the old nut off, easy to do... Oh how lovely and quiet it is now... aahhhh

[DaveD]

well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!