rear rattle mystery

[djbeatz08]

I've searched and found no solution thus far. The Driver side rear rattles like a mofo whenever I run over a bump. I've replaced rsm's, secured loose heat shield, replaced loose muffler bracket. Went over bumps riding brakes to make sure it wasn't the caliper rattling. I checked the dust shield, it is intact and not making any noise. I went over bumps with the ebrake slightly engaged to see if that mechanism was loose and it still rattled. The welds on the subframe look gooood. Wut am I missing here?

You can only hear it when the windows are down.

[ImportFanatic]

Check security of trunk items, especially in the spare tire department. If you reinforced the rsm and exhaust, then my guess is good as yours. You cant emulate the sound by pushing down on the rear?

[subzero32]

The RTAB's are a possible cause of rear "clunk" sound.

[djbeatz08]

Check security of trunk items, especially in the spare tire department. If you reinforced the rsm and exhaust, then my guess is good as yours. You cant emulate the sound by pushing down on the rear?

I have some tools in the trunk and can hear them move around but this noise is a very distinctive rattle from the underneath of the car separate from the things in the trunk moving. The only noise I can get from pushing down on the shocks is a little squeak from the driver side rear. Other than that I got under the car and tried to shake whatever i could get my hands on and nothing would budge. and ideas?

[djbeatz08]

The RTAB's are a possible cause of rear "clunk" sound.


I've installed m3 rtabs within the last 5k miles or so so i don't see it being that. plus its much more of a rattle than a clunk

[skiboard06]

rsm

[SebsBlackBimmer]

I seem to be having the same sound come from the rear. I asked my mechanic to check the suspension and anything else it could be. He was stumped. Sometimes I hear it and sometimes I dont. Im just waiting for the day I see my rear tires pass me on the highway.

[keepontruckn]

I had this too. Thought it was the RTAB but it wasn't. The spring had actually broken. I figured it out by hitting the rear brake drum with a hammer. Have a good look around the spring and try tapping nearby with a hammer.

[RoaderBi]

I had this too. Thought it was the RTAB but it wasn't. The spring had actually broken. I figured it out by hitting the rear brake drum with a hammer. Have a good look around the spring and try tapping nearby with a hammer.

I have this "rattle or more like a jingle type sound" ( only started about 3 wks ago). Can you tell me what spring you checked?

Took it into the dealer (drove the car with the shop foreman) and they said it was worn handbrake shoe???

Noise is there over bumps, handbrake up will not stop the noise. If this were a motorbike I'll tighten the chain lol.:banghead:

03-325 no mods.

[TCarlisle]

I had a sound coming from the rear when going over bumps. It was more of a higher pitched jingle, almost like the sound of change jingling in your pocket. For me, it was an adjustment on the parking brake. To test for this, engage the parking brake slightly, like raise the lever by about 2 notches and see if it stops the noise. If so, adjust the e-brake cable at the e-brake handle. If there is too much slack, the parts on the other end of that cable that connect to the parking brake assembly rattle.

[slickav]

I had a sound coming from the rear when going over bumps. It was more of a higher pitched jingle, almost like the sound of change jingling in your pocket. For me, it was an adjustment on the parking brake. To test for this, engage the parking brake slightly, like raise the lever by about 2 notches and see if it stops the noise. If so, adjust the e-brake cable at the e-brake handle. If there is too much slack, the parts on the other end of that cable that connect to the parking brake assembly rattle.

If I may ask, how the hell do you adjust the e-brake cable at the e-brake handle?

I have this same problem as well.

To exactly replicate mine, reach into a bag of plastic spoons/forks and shake your hand around.

I hear this over any "less" than perfect pavement.

[pbclax423]

same noise for me, but from front left (driver side).

[gpupp]

i have the same thing but more of a clack between 20-40 mph...i'm thinking spring...plus the right side sits a little lower.

[ergo///M3]

Try removing the rear mud flap thingies in front of the rear wheels on the underbody. I had similar problems until one of these fell off and then the rattle dis-appeared. The screw tabs on these are not very robust.

[BimmerChuck]

If I may ask, how the hell do you adjust the e-brake cable at the e-brake handle?


Remove the ebrake boot cover. There are four 10mm nuts in there. Pretty self explainatory once you are looking at them.
I had to adjust mine at the rear wheel though. I think if you have the BMW Jedi force within you, you can adjust it with the wheel on the car through a removed lugnut in the 12 o'clock posistion with a flat blade screw driver. I have not reached this level of BMW mechanical discpline and must remove the wheel and rotor and fight to see and turn that little vertical cog.
I am curious if anyone has mastered tightening the e-brake at the rear with the wheel on the car?

[pbclax423]

Remove the ebrake boot cover. There are four 10mm nuts in there. Pretty self explainatory once you are looking at them.
I had to adjust mine at the rear wheel though. I think if you have the BMW Jedi force within you, you can adjust it with the wheel on the car through a removed lugnut in the 12 o'clock posistion with a flat blade screw driver. I have not reached this level of BMW mechanical discpline and must remove the wheel and rotor and fight to see and turn that little vertical cog.
I am curious if anyone has mastered tightening the e-brake at the rear with the wheel on the car?

how do you know which lugnut hides the ebrake adjustment screw?... i did it once, but i can never figure out which lug nut it is and i usually find it after i have 3 or more lugnuts out and by then its pointless not to just take the rest off...

[Goon]

how do you know which lugnut hides the ebrake adjustment screw?... i did it once, but i can never figure out which lug nut it is and i usually find it after i have 3 or more lugnuts out and by then its pointless not to just take the rest off...

Lol, just take one nut off and rotate the wheel around until you can see the adjustment hole for the handbrake.

OP - Have you looked for the anti-rattle clip on the caliper? Just taking a stab in the dark here.

[djbeatz08]

my rattling was coming from the mechanism on the ebrake that expands the shoes to engage the brake. It started after i adjusted the ebrake. I just took it all apart and cleaned it with cue tips. Then glued it together. I can't even find the part to replace online. It doesn't look broken. Just loose. But its not making noise anymore.

[fixture]

I have a rattle and appears to be the upper rear deck and its bugging the hell out me.

[bandit177]

Remove the ebrake boot cover. There are four 10mm nuts in there. Pretty self explainatory once you are looking at them.
I had to adjust mine at the rear wheel though. I think if you have the BMW Jedi force within you, you can adjust it with the wheel on the car through a removed lugnut in the 12 o'clock posistion with a flat blade screw driver. I have not reached this level of BMW mechanical discpline and must remove the wheel and rotor and fight to see and turn that little vertical cog.
I am curious if anyone has mastered tightening the e-brake at the rear with the wheel on the car?

Thanks for the laugh. It's a very accurate description.

[steveng1993]

I get a rattly clunky sound going over bumps too.
I think I finally figured it out. I have an m3 muffler but the stock 3 exhaust hangars. So the muffler is bouncy in the back and bumps into the bumper a little.