This guide focuses on common problems that can cause cabin noise, squeaks, and rattles on a BMW.
For a BMW owner, there is nothing more irritating than the interior, dashboard, and trim rattles. If you own a high-mileage BMW, you can’t escape rattling noises in the cabin.
At first, it may be hard to tell where that buzzing noise is coming from but finding the source of the problem is not as hard as you think.
Steering Wheel
BMW steering wheel rattle is often caused by loose plastic trim pieces, buttons, or switches. The rattle gets worse as the vibrations in the cabin increase, which is typical during acceleration.
You may also notice that the rattling noise worsens when the car stops moving. When you hear the sound, apply pressure on the following components to determine where the noise comes from.
Steering Wheel Buttons
The steering wheel buttons, especially the volume button, may wear out and cause rattle noises. Try putting your hand over the steering wheel buttons when the noise occurs to find the noise source. If the rattle goes away, the problem is your steering wheel buttons. Follow the tutorial below to learn how to fix this problem.
Turn Signal Switch
The small buttons on the turn signal or the wiper switch may cause the problem. Place your hand over these buttons to see if the noise goes away.
If any of these switches are damaged, they will need to be replaced. Follow this guide to change the BMW turn signal switch or this guide to learn how to change the BMW windshield wiper switch. This rattle may sound coming from the dash and often gets worse at idle.
Steering Column Trim / Dashboard
If the rattle doesn’t come from the steering wheel buttons or any of the switches, it is very likely that it’s coming from the steering column plastic trim.
The next time you notice the vibrations, apply some pressure to the steering column. If the noise goes away, you have found the source of the noise. We have seen members apply foam to stop the noise. Often separating the trim and securing the existing screws will fix this problem.
Instrument Cluster
A rattling noise could be emitted by the instrument cluster as well. This would be a common issue if the instrument cluster was removed and reinstalled in the past.
Shifter Bazel Trim
The plastic trim in the center console or the trim around the shifter lever may become loose over time, causing strange noises.
We hope you find the BMW Interior Cabin Noise guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your BMW.