I know I must not be the only one who has an R56 with inner door handles/armrests that feel kinda junky when you grab them... right? The entire assembly (which is somewhat integrated into the nearest speaker) rattles when listening to music at louder-than-average volume. I'm trying to figure out what to do about this. It mostly bugs me because the music just doesn't sound as good when the assembly rattles. It may help to mention that I have the Harmon Kardon audio.

Anybody else experience this? Have any ideas as to how to anchor the assembly better to stop the rattles?

I have found that if you either press or pull on the armrest near the speaker it stops the rattle. I was considering stuffing something in between the door and the armrest to stop the rattle, but that's kinda bootleg! Sigh. :-\

Thanks for any input!

 

Yep, mine does that too. I hate it

 

Dealer fixed mine under warranty and has been solid for a few months now. I expect it to rattle again.

I have a habitual rattle in my driver side door lock now. If I drive with my doors unlocked, I don't get much rattle. Locked, it makes all kinds of noise. I can jiggle the lock and feels lose compared to the passenger side. Anyone have that? There are so many cheap plastic parts in these interiors...

 

How did you get the dealer to fix it? What did you tell them? Do you know how they fixed it? No charge to you, right? Sorry for all of the questions.

I don't have the rattle-y door locks... I hope not to in the future!

 

I have this too. Very annoying. Or it was, since my car is quite louder now compared to stock, I rarely notice/care.

But I really hate the cheapness of the door panel and handle.

 

Yes, under warranty at no cost to me. I had it for my last oil change under the maint warranty and told them I had a few rattles -- another was the hatch lock assembly rattling. They took care of it with no problem. What I don't understand is that when they fixed the door arm rest, it made the lock rattle noticeable. I guess you just couldn't hear it over the armrest and once they fixed that, you could hear the lock rattling more. What I don't get is why they didn't take the initiative to fix the lock after testing to see if the arm rest still rattled....lazy. Not sure exactly what they did, but I remember him saying there was a broken tab somewhere behind the door. Every time I pull the door shut, you hear those cheap plastic door parts rubbing, flexing and chirping/squeaking. I'm pretty sure it's only a matter of time before it happens again.

 

Yep I had the drivers door fixed under warranty already. I was told by the tech that they installed some foam around the center speaker to keep it from rattling. Its been a about two months now and so far so good. I need them to do the same to the pass side and take a look at the glove box now too.

Guess I will have the fixed when I go in for my first free oil change.

 

I had this rattle in my 09. Road vibration and audio bass would make the door lock **** buzz. I drive with the doors unlocked, so not sure if it rattled when locked too. Putting my finger on the **** would make it stop. Last time it was in for service, dealer replaced the lock ring 51212756213 and the buzzy rattle is now gone.

 

My driver side door lock buzzed and rattled pretty bad. I ended up sliding some black electric tape under the plastic ring around the lock ****, trimmed it carefully with an exacto knife. That solved it for me, no more buzzing. Now onto the tach......

 

Yep, I have the same rattle (actually more like a buzz) coming from the passenger door panel. Pressing in on the armrest quiets the buzz a little but pushing in on the middle speaker cover really shuts it up. The thing is, I can't tell if it's the plastic speaker cover or the speaker inside that's buzzing. Trying to decide if I want to dissect the panel on my own or take it in. Might be less trouble doing it on my own time.

Here's a video for those of you who want to try it yourselves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z3ouJl7NVU

 

Thats exactly what mine does.

 

Rattles are what kept me from fully loving my Hondas and now my clubbie has rattles in the door. I just noticed them at about 1,100 miles. I'm one of those super sensitive to noise people so this will drive me insane. :( I'll start trying to figure out where it is coming from and hope like crazy I can fix it.

 

I am exactly the same way. Rattles and squeaks drive me nuts... hence why I posted this thread!

I am trying to accept the fact that all cars will have rattles... If even a Honda has rattles, then every other car out there surely will.

 

Dont know how much it bugs you or the other folks here but i used felt tape to cover most metal to plastic contact areas, a couple places got super thin rubber washers around the clips, works like a charm

 

Interesting idea! Where can one find that type of tape?

 

http://www.amazon.com/JVCC-FELT-06-P.../dp/B000QC6HVS

 

Love Amazon, thanks for the link. It is most definitely worth a shot. Yes, my beloved (but boring) Accord had irritating door rattles and the Insight had a ton. I tend to focus on it and go mad.
I will try some of these fixes!

 

Hey... could you take some photos/videos if you plan on attempting the desqueaking endeavor? I would love to see how you did it. I will also share my insight on the matter once I try to fix it.

Thanks!
Chris

 

Sure! I am going to try with tape and such first. I saw the video on removing the panel and I think I might have to do that but will wait to see if anything else works.

 

I didnt take photos when i accomplished this but the door panel removal is fairly easy. I used the tape to outline the door panel, and rubber thin washers maybe 1mm thick around the snap clips, worked like a charm

 

Thanks! I saw the video posted up thread and will have to try that in a few weeks as I am going out of town soon (ugh a rental car for the first time since my Mini came!).

 

someone make an anti rattle kit!

 

3 trips to the dealer with one more upcoming to try to fix these door panel rattles... I'm losing my love for MINI.

 

I just rolled 4,000mi this week, and mine has been into the dealer a number of times already (random engine codes, battery discharging). I'm making another appt this week for the rattles, its just ridiculous. Both doors, the rear speaker grills, the rear seatbelt reels... Come on. We have a 5yo Scion with 75k mi that rattles less than the Mini with 4k.

 

Your sig says it all, LessPeople... bummer.

I still love my MINI - has way more character than anything else I test drove and looked at, but I'm gradually regretting not getting the Subaru WRX.