E46 Cabrio Rattle

[tinovittee]

Hey guys! So I've been hunting for a rattle that seems to be coming from the right rear of my E46. This is the best description I came across on M3Forum.

"there is a rattling sound coming from the vicinity of the rear window on the driver's side whenever I hit a bump or drive on roads that aren't smooth. Any time I hit a bump it sets off a short, fast rattle that is more of a series of vibration-like sounds than a clank. I've ridden in the back seat and unsuccessfully tried to locate the source. I've also opened the top part of the way (when not driving) to explore the mechanical parts of the top and cover to find a possible culprit. No success."

I've checked the exhaust mounts, heat shields, and back 2 rear sub-frame mounts under the car. I've also removed the back seats. I found a few loose nuts that secure the various trim pieces. I've tightened them but this particular rattle persists.

One of the posts suggests that a "pull rod" is loose. This part (no. 5):

Where is this thing? How do I find it?

:ty: in advance

 

[revred]

I had a mini Cabriolet and the rattles drove me crazy...

sorry cant help. Good luck hunting

 

[tinovittee]

haha! Thanks anyways bud. All the other little noises I can deal with... this 1 is driving me crazy..

 

[that_guy_Ettiene]

I had the same damn rattle on my 330Ci!!. Never found the cause and learned to live with it, although it was very annoying.
Good luck.

From my S7_Edge

 

[Peter@AEW]

Jack your car up from the diff.
Put trestles on either side
Put jack down

Get a beer and drink it

Lie under the car where the diff is.
Get out from under the car and have another beer
Get a 16 socket and ratchet with short extension
Get another beer and drink it
Get under the car and tighten the bolts on what looks like 2 bars of steel which are located at a 45 degree angle from the sides of the chassis to more or less the center of the diff.

Get out and have another beer.

Jack the car down and have another beer.

Put the tools away and have another beer,

Get in the car and drive it and I guarantee you the noises will be gone

If not gone you may need another beer

 

[tinovittee]

Haha! Thanks Peter! I'll check that brace. Just curious about this pull rod because it's a different part number to the brace you're referring to?
That brace has 1 part number... its under "rear axle" on realoem.
This 1 is elsewhere. Any idea where it goes?

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[Rotinaj]

Same issue on mine. Battery leaks, rusts the retaining rod and when a battery shops tries to remove the battery they sheer the bolt, put in a new battery and let it hang lose. The thing you are thinking about is those little clamp and nipple rods. No7 kinda points to one of them.

 

[tinovittee]

Thanks for the input bud! I remember checking the battery housing and all seems in order... but it's worth checking again.

This is the brace that Peter is talking about. PN: 33312229899
no. 16

Looks a lot like no. 5 in the following pic, but it's not the same part.... or is it??

So i'm trying to locate where the "pull rods" in this pic goes. No. 6 is called a "vibration damper cover". Does that help locating it ?? :hammerhead: