On a seek and destroy mission today, I discovered the dash rattle ( often thought to be the secret compartment) may not be completely the fault of the dash or secret compartment

While searching for the rattle, I discovered a small piece of plastic trim near the fuse box under the dash is rattling up and down. The noise this makes then sounds like its coming from the secret compartment or above it at the dash level. Here is my "fix"

I rolled a piece of the soft side of velcro against itself and pushed it in between the leading edge of the 2 offending pieces of trim above the fuse box (see pic) and 90% of the rattling is gone.

Not sure if this is all of it but it does remove most of the RATTLE. Still have an occasional noise from the secret compartment but I will let MINI deal with that at my first service.

I hate rattles.

 

Nice work Emtrey!
I haven't heard that rattle yet myself but I'm sure it will come sooner or later. I'll be sure to remember this fix.

 

Whenever I hear a rattle, I just assume it's the rocks in my head banging against each other.

 

I've got a rattle/buzz in the dash area and it seems to be near the vent between the SAT/NAV display and the steering wheel. I'll try to see if it's really coming from where described and fix if so. Thanks.

 

Just turn the radio up louder, open the windows, or rev the engine harder, or all of the above :-)

 

i noticed the same rattle -- i'll see if the velcro trick works!

 

Great post !

 

thanks...that panel was a major noise maker. My dealer replaced the shelf/upper latch mechanism of the secret compartment and that helped too. I noticed the tech put some padding on the backside of the door along the leading edge where it bumps against the area on the face of the opening.

Not perfect quite yet BUT its getting close. New sunshade on order.
May never be dead silent but its 95% better. The other 5% is likely the ROCKS IN MY HEAD....I'LL VELCRO MY EARS SHUT.

ps..Still seems like some noise is coming from upper dash near center vent but I can not quite get zeroed in on it.

 

I have a rattle seems like it's coming from the vent between the speedo and the windshield... Anyone solve that rattle?

 

that is the one I am talking about..can not solve it either

 

Only rattle I get is from the passenger seat belt banging against the side when I am doing spirited driving.

 

I have an irritating squeak that seems to be from the piece under the steering wheel. I'm going to try putting a felt piece to try and stop it. Anyone else have the squeak?

 

I've got the same squeak. Haven't tried any tricks yet. Maybe it's simply a little too much pepper in our pepper whites, Penny? (Let me know if the felt stops it.)

 

Try setting a mouse trap.

Actually, I had a mouse make a nest in the heater of an Integra. Nasty. It was impossible to get at to remove -- without spending $$Ks to tear the dash apart.

 

You might want to check the screws that hold the top of the speedo ring and the plastic pieces that cover them:


The circles in this image show the locations of two snap-out vent look-alikes that cover the retaining screws.

I didn't have a rattle there, but discovered these while installing my Kuda mount

 

I think I WILL set a trap for that mouse!

 

 

After my suspension upgrade, I now have a little squeak coming from I think the left rear part of the cabin.....must be from the stiffer springs and shocks.

 

I'm convinced that rattles are standard equipment on MINIs.

 

I got an assortment of double sided and other weather stripping. First thing to tackle is the trim ring around the sunroof. I am sure, by the time I'm done, I'll have added a few pounds to the car. And I am sure some new rattles will pop up. I had less rattles in my Vega. I am really starting to tire of this car.

 

I shoved some felt in a couple of places and the squeak seems to be gone. Hopefully it will stay gone!

 

where was the sqeak coming from and where did you place your squeak remover felt??

 

Service added some padding for my noisy sunroof and it works as long as the temps are above 70F. Heat expands and cold contracts or something like that. I was told by one person to just keep the roof open. hat's okay as long as it is not Winter and you are going slow. I will take all the suggestions for the dash rattle. Drives me nutz and it is not a far trip. Help is why I belong to NAM and other clubs.

 

I have had numerous rattles that have been addressed. The squeak that you're referring to is the panel under the steering wheel that is probably loose. Just gently tug it down to see if there is any play and push it back up. My dealer took the whole dash apart searching for various rattles and spent about 1+ week everyday checking and reassembling it back. I've even had the speedo replaced but the slight ticking sound is inherent I'm told. My rattle under the dash like some had said was mainly a 'plastic vent arm link' that they lubricated. bascially mini in designing the R56 dash bolted everything down because of prior generations so there should be minimal dash rattles I'm told.

 

As minigt3 said "the panel under the steering wheel" is the offending piece. I put folded felt on either side and that cured it for now. When I bring him in for the first service, or if I have another issue prior to that, I'll let them do a permanent fix.