I am keeping my 2004 MCS forever that has been very solid for the past 21 years except for a leaking valve cover gasket that was replaced in 2012 but I have been dealing with the dash rattles/creaks probably for the past 8 years now.
Has anyone attempted to dissect the dash panels and solve or reduce the rattle noises? How and what solution to the noise did you use?

 

following

 

I should also say (maybe you know this already), the braces / bars that go on the front end seem to help. that is second hand information. I have not tried it yet.

 

My biggest rattle was from the dashboard pillars that go down from the radio / ac panel. I ended up sticking some velco strips on the bottom that goes into the centre console.

Is your dash 3 or 5 pieces?
Since your make / year is right in the facelift year.

 

A strut brace eliminates a lot of rattles and provides much better handling.

 

Its the main panel panels and those down tubes. Genuine MINI Felt tape is what MINI used back in the day to fix all those places were they snap in.

 

5 panels

 

Saw this YT video. Lots of work to remove dash panels.