gsrider

I've had a rattle in my b-pillar since I bought my '06 e320cdi as a cpo about a year and a half ago. I've been to the dealer a few times, each time they hear and acknowledge the rattle, say they fixed it, and give me the car back with the same rattle. I went to another dealer twice and had essentially the same exact experience.

The rattle isn't on the surface, like the plastic pieces around the belt adjuster, but it seems to be inside the pillar. It doesn't rattle over every bump, or even just big ones, but occasionally I'll hear the noise as I go over a bump, or an expansion joint, or even if I'm going slow and there's chassis flex like when I back out of my driveway, or turn up a ramp in a parking garage. The rattle is more like a dull thunk or a muted clunk than a consistent or buzzing kind of rattle.

Anyway, I'm looking to troubleshoot and fix it myself now as I'm tired of asking someone else to do so. (I don't want this thread to be about dealer bashing or 'go fight the dealer and make them own it' kind of discussion). My first question is, how do I disassemble the b-pillar? I don't see any obvious clips or screws so I'm inclined to pry/pull the cover off, but before I go hamfisted at my car I thought I'd ask for some wisdom from this group.

Thanks,
Steve

Silly_me

It's the tell tale heart!

notallthere

I'd like to know this too. My 08 550 has a similar noise there.

Vik888

I have some sort of rattle but only when playing music w/ heavy bass.

gsrider

Very funny, Silly_Me. Good thing I'm not very sensitive about my madness

I got the info I need to get started via a pm, so I promise I'll follow up after I try to fix the rattle. Just to level set though, between Easter and some motorcycle-related commitments it'll be at least a few weeks before I have time to look at this...

Cheers!

notallthere

Took a PM to get info on how to remove the B-pillar interior covers?

Wouldn't have guessed that had to be secretly communicated, but what do I know......

Silly_me

I spare no quarter for BMW riders, you are all mad I tell you mad!

DubVBenz

rattles are everywhere in this car. The diesel resonance can make interior pieces buzz when the engine is cold or at low RPMs, but I can't believe the number of things that just rattle for no reason whatsoever (headrests, seatbelt tensioners, sunroof shades when the car is idling at 1mph). I feel like I'm discovering more every day. My 420 SEL rattles when I go over a bump, my car just never stops rattling, and when I hit a bump, my sunroof Pops! Jesus.. I'm ranting, but I'm just getting disgusted. I love the engine, power and fuel economy, but why can't this thing be of decent quality? I'm sick of getting into friend's mid 2000's Japanese econo cars and feeling like they're of a higher quality. How bad is a 335d? That's the only decent diesel alternative I can think of...

mgzych

Anyone else have...and hopefully solve...this problem? I've got the same one or something similar and I'd like to fix it. (Mine sounds like something rather heavy rattling against the inside of the pillar plastic.)

Thanks!

bsvensson

SAME FREAKING NOISE here, would love the DIY!!

05e320cdi

I do have some rattles, however this is by far the most solid and rattle free car I have ever owned. My lexus has far more rattles and don't get me started about brand new american cars a week after buying them. I am very annoyed by rattles and the few that I have found in the diesel have been the passenger headrest which goes away with a passenger or weight on the seat. The passenger rear ashtray vibrates so I leave it open, and the passenger under seat compartment buzzes so I filled the compartment and now that is gone. As long as I have a passenger, I have a completely silent car and with 110k miles that is astounding to me.

06e320cdi

Ditto. Mine was coming from the plastic cover tha slides up and down with the seat belt adjuster. I moved it a click up and back down and now the rattle/buzzing is gone

Ichabod

Back around 1970, when there were a lot of labor problems in GM plants, they had a great increase in complaints about rattling in rocker panels, especially from one plant in Ohio; then they discovered that the assembly line people were dropping their pop cans and bottles into the rockers before they welded them in place.

Did M-B have any strikes looming when your cars were built?

AzCamel

same here, 05 E500. Shoulds like his inside the dirver B pillard, something is loose

goncaloareia

Same here...
Help!! It's a cracking noise that drives me crazy!

Doug11

Anyone solve this ?
I have the same annoying cracking sound when accelerating from the seat belt retractors.
Thanks
Doug

Plutoe

Why not simply take the covers off and inspect the retractors!!

Doug11

I thought about that - but the covers look stuck tight - another thread said you pry from the top, so i might try that.

Plutoe

First remove the weather strip---then you can see the clips that have to be pryed off!!

65aircooled

^^^ This exactly. I just replaced my B-pillar cover and took a bunch of pictures.
Very simple job. I have a write up at Pelican Parts.
Follw this link

justaloco

I've had this same rattle on-and-off on my passenger side B-pillar for years now. It sounds like its up by the seat belt shoulder height adjuster. Anybody get it cleared up?

konigstiger

See attachment to remove b-pillar.