Dear fellow MINI Maniacs,

I've have quite a few, mostly minor, but still very irritating, rattles in my '05 MC. One was...ALMOST handled by the dealership, and the others I'm still playing with. One of these problems was a creaking type of "rattle" from the top left side of the dash, right by the driver side "A" pillar. (I think I have my nomenclature right. I certainly SHOULD, after all the times I've posted here. )

Anyway, in order to temporarily quiet this disturbing noise, I tried wedging different items (such as bits of weather stripping, etc.) into the join crevice between the driver side "A" pillar, and the top of the dashboard. I did this, because wedging my finger in that spot applied enough pressure to quiet the creak. But, I certainly couldn't drive around with my finger in there all the time! None of this seemed to work...until I tried sticking one of those wedge shaped liquid lip balm type applicators (with the top screwed on, of course, about 2/3 full) into the crevice, back where the joint meets the front windshield. It was a Carmex brand applicator, but it's no different in shape than many other such product applicators. (It's just what I happened to have on hand to experiment with.)

I was pleasantly surprised that this seemed to work. The problem with this solution being that as the car would vibrate during a drive, the plastic applicator tube would work it's way out, and so I'd have to keep wedging it back in, which was becoming irritating all by itself. I decided I would search for a better means of achieving successful results, so I took the Carmex tube out of the dash, and put it way.

The strange thing is, that even without the little tube wedged in there, the creaking noise is now gone, for good! And I now don't have to bother with finding a better looking, more permanent fix, because...I apparently already had! (It's been a few weeks now, and still no noise from that area of the car...other than the top driver side speaker, but that's a whole other issue!)

I can't tell you how glad I am that particular noise is gone. Now I've got only 3 or 4 others to go. *sigh* At this rate, perhaps they'll all be gone in...a year...or maybe two. I don't know if something like this might work for you, but it's certainly worth a try. (Just don't OVER wedge.)

What I'm mildly curious about, is WHY this turned out to be a permanent fix, even after the tube was permanently removed (after a few weeks)? Maybe it shoved down some wires that were up a bit too high in that location right under the front windshield, so that they no longer rubbed in some horrendous noise making way? Or, maybe two bits of plastic in that area were rubbing, because they weren't tight enough, and now there's some space between them, from a slight permanent flex, so they no longer rub noisily? The noise was constant, though relatively mild, pretty much regardless of road conditions, and had been with the car from day one, hot or cold. (Or, maybe two loose bits got shoved together?)

Heck, for all I know, I somehow inadvertantly (in some comletely unrelated way) pleased the rattle gods.

I wish you all the best of luck with all your rattle problems. May the rattle gods have mercy upon thee, and me. (I still could use a few more miracles in that area.)

P.S. I still think an exclusively rattle (and other funny noises) section to this site would be a really cool thing. Any other votes for that out there?

 

Maybe your fix just squeezed the parts into their proper position. And I agree, the squeaks and rattles are a PIA, but I figured it came with the stiff suspension and Runflats.

I second the creation of a rattle section, and I ask that the rattle gods have mercy on us all!

regards,
Red

 

Thanks Red.

Yesterday we got about 2 feet of snow here in Reno, and my poor MINI almost made it through with my having to put chains on (DSC is a pretty handy option)...until I got stuck in my own parking spot. Two hours later, the cable chains were on, and the MINI was back in action. I was worried that driving around with chains on might bring out even more rattles from this poor little car, but she seemed to survive ok. (Better than if I went without any longer and crashed into a few snow banks, eh? )

So, Red, have you been checking out the forums for some rattle solutions? I used to do quiet a bit of that, but I can't say I've had much luck with any of the recommendations I've read so far. I'm just learning to live with things the way they are...until my next service at the dealership. (Not that I'm holding my breath when it comes to them, as they seem to be worse than I am at solving rattle problems. I hope they are better at cracked windshields. )

Hmmm...if you could drop those runflats, you might be able to cut down on some of your rattles. As to the Sport Suspension Plus...well, nothing much to be done about that. (At least that increases your driving fun factor, so that seems an ok compromise.) If it's any consolation, I have just standard (non-runflat) tires, and the base model sport suspension, and I still (clearly) have some rattle noise issues.

Good luck. :smile:

P. S. Is it Red because of your car's color? Or, is it a hair thing?

 

It's Red because of a red 69 Caddy Convertible I have for 14 years.

And my MINI is rattle free because of the help here. But when I first got it....wow! Some adjustments to the glovebox, hatch and rear seat backs cured most of it.

Any picture of your MINI with the chains on? Never saw it. Thanks!

regards,
Red