What to do next...

Hey everyone,

I've posted on here a few times about the problems I'm having with the brushed aluminum trim in the car. It creaks like crazy, especially with the AC or heat on. Or just normal driving. It doesn't have to take me going over a bump for it to make noise.

So I've taken it to the dealership about 6 times now to try to get it fixed and there has still been no resolution. The last time I took I took it in, i called a ahead of time and asked them to just replace it. He said cool, no problem, but called me back 3 days later saying they couldn't...because if it turned out that it could have been fixed he would be smacked with the bill. (Valid?)

So it seems they got more serious when I took it in that time. I didn't have the time or patience to take them on a worthless test drive and them not hear anything. So I get the car back and thought it was fixed, after the pulled the entire thing off and re-insulated it, a long with fixing a rattle in the passenger door pocket.

Niether were fixed and I'm still having the problem today. I e-mailed my SA saying I really want this replaced. I think 6 times in the shop is enough evidence that it's not going to be just fixed with insulation. It's the trim itself. He said in so many words that they won't replace it, and that i can just bring it in again and do another test drive.

So what do I do here? I'm really not happy with the thought of taking my car in every 3 months to have this done. There is a thing on the BMW of Austin website with the GM of the dealership saying that he wants feed back. So do I go to him with my problem? I really don't' want to sever the relationship with SA, he's a really good guy in spite of the fact, but I don't know if it's worth it.
Should I go back to the guy who sold me the car and get advice or should I just go straight to BMW NA? The dealership blames it on the "harsh suspension." Well when I'm sitting in the garage with the heat on and it's doing it, I don't think it's the suspension.

Just curious. Any thoughts help. I've thought of getting a recording on my phone while I'm driving to get an accurate description of what its doing, but I don't know how much that's worth. It's obvious it has a problem just by pushing down on it. You can see how loose it is and it creaks when you touch it.

Also if anyone else has had the same issue and got it resolved, would love to hear how.

Thanks

Consider Carbon Leather trim?

SamS wrote

Consider Carbon Leather trim?

Now that all this is happening, wish I had gotten Carbon Leather Trim.
If no one will fix it, I'm thinking about just shelling out the money and replacing it myself-probably with Carbon Leather.

Maybe I've missed it but I've never heard of this issue before and am not experiencing it with my aluminum trim. Certainly unusual... Are you certain the creaking is not from the doors? Had the creaking door seals on two E60's and my M3.

kscarrol wrote

Maybe I've missed it but I've never heard of this issue before and am not experiencing it with my aluminum trim. Certainly unusual... Are you certain the creaking is not from the doors? Had the creaking door seals on two E60's and my M3.

Positive. If you saw it and messed around with it, it's positive that the noise is coming right about the middle air vents. Although it does creak on the door's to. Just not as much.

And the part that no one else has experienced it is kicking me in the ass. I just don't' understand how the main strip across the dash, little piece on the left, and the left door piece all do the same thing. I could see one bad strip, but not 3. Really cheap.

I understand the frustration, particularly with a dealer that won't correct the issue. All I can suggest is trying to get BMWNA involved to see if that forces the dealer's hand.

And I wonder if this is really just an aluminum issue. Almost sounds like the the trim is not seated properly. If not, swapping to the carbon leather may not solve the issue....

kscarrol wrote

I understand the frustration, particularly with a dealer that won't correct the issue. All I can suggest is trying to get BMWNA involved to see if that forces the dealer's hand.

And I wonder if this is really just an aluminum issue. Almost sounds like the the trim is not seated properly. If not, swapping to the carbon leather may not solve the issue....

That's what I've been afraid of...new trim not solving the issue.

browse the for sale section and pick up the carbon leather interior trim.
Don't buy it from the dealer you will get raped.

I really doubt it is because of the aluminum trim, I have it with zero problem.

There is DIY in m3post for replacing the trim. Just remove your aluminum trim and drive your car to see if it fixes the problem. If it does, then you are sure the trim was the issue.

Prince_of_Persia wrote

I really doubt it is because of the aluminium trim, I have it with zero problem.

There is DIY in m3post for replacing the trim. Just remove your sluminium trim and drive your car to see if it fixes the problem. If it does, then you are sure the trim was the issue.

Great idea! I occasionally have that creaking sound but appears to come from near the driver's side air vent. I'm not sure if it's the trim, but I know it's starting to get on my nerve. I also have aluminum.

It might well be the center air vents...I get something similar with the standard trim.
Pushing down hard on the trim in front of the Nav screen stops it. Running hot air out of the center vents stops it eventually.

Why not just get the IND color matched trim?

You could try another dealer, or ask for a different mechanic. I had a terrible dash rattle. Took it in 2-3 times but they couldn't solve it. Then when my car was in for an idle control valve, I mentioned the rattle again. This time the chief mechanic checked it out, and solved the rattle w a bit of felt tape. What a difference no rattle makes!

Oh, and it's carbon leather trim.

1. Agree on the idea of driving it without the trim. Great idea !!!!

2. Agree that it likely has more to do with the trim attachment points than the trim itself, but it could be plugs on the trim piece too.

3. If you are going to replace with something else, go all out and get the performance real carbon fiber. Looks absolutely stunning.

I agree with the remove the trim and see if the rattle goes away.
Check the DIY area, replacing trim is not hard to do. It pops into sockets ( not glued)

M3maniac20 wrote

Hey everyone,

I've posted on here a few times about the problems I'm having with the brushed aluminum trim in the car. It creaks like crazy, especially with the AC or heat on. Or just normal driving. It doesn't have to take me going over a bump for it to make noise.

So I've taken it to the dealership about 6 times now to try to get it fixed and there has still been no resolution. The last time I took I took it in, i called a ahead of time and asked them to just replace it. He said cool, no problem, but called me back 3 days later saying they couldn't...because if it turned out that it could have been fixed he would be smacked with the bill. (Valid?)

So it seems they got more serious when I took it in that time. I didn't have the time or patience to take them on a worthless test drive and them not hear anything. So I get the car back and thought it was fixed, after the pulled the entire thing off and re-insulated it, a long with fixing a rattle in the passenger door pocket.

Niether were fixed and I'm still having the problem today. I e-mailed my SA saying I really want this replaced. I think 6 times in the shop is enough evidence that it's not going to be just fixed with insulation. It's the trim itself. He said in so many words that they won't replace it, and that i can just bring it in again and do another test drive.

So what do I do here? I'm really not happy with the thought of taking my car in every 3 months to have this done. There is a thing on the BMW of Austin website with the GM of the dealership saying that he wants feed back. So do I go to him with my problem? I really don't' want to sever the relationship with SA, he's a really good guy in spite of the fact, but I don't know if it's worth it.
Should I go back to the guy who sold me the car and get advice or should I just go straight to BMW NA? The dealership blames it on the "harsh suspension." Well when I'm sitting in the garage with the heat on and it's doing it, I don't think it's the suspension.

Just curious. Any thoughts help. I've thought of getting a recording on my phone while I'm driving to get an accurate description of what its doing, but I don't know how much that's worth. It's obvious it has a problem just by pushing down on it. You can see how loose it is and it creaks when you touch it.

Also if anyone else has had the same issue and got it resolved, would love to hear how.

Thanks

Sounds like you have your share of issues not only with the trip also with the dealership.

I would do two things ...

First; Go to this site here Click here to open then put this dealership on the board for what it is (link this site here to it).

Second; I would find another dealership. Perhaps the link I give you above will point out one near you that has provided good service.

If all this fails I would purchase and install another trim and sell the original one. It seams to me that with all the chances you gave the original dealership they either ignore your issue or they don't know what they are doing.

Going thru BMW NA would be a waste of your time they only will refer you to the dealership. So the key here is to actually find a dealership that cares and will resolve your problem one way or the other.

Good Luck !

I have the Alum trim and, like most, I do not have any noise or creaking issues.

Removing the trim and then going for a drive is an excellent idea. I'd definitely give that a try before heading back to the dealer. Good luck!

Thanks for all the feedback guys. So if I take the trim off amd no noise, then just get new trim but if there is still noise what do I do?

M3maniac20 wrote

Thanks for all the feedback guys. So if I take the trim off amd no noise, then just get new trim but if there is still noise what do I do?

Then get onto the dealer (hard) to resolve the issue.

I had this problem and it was driving me nuts. I took all trims off like advised and rattle went away. I reinstalled everything with extra pressure and it's perfect now. I guess something was loose.

How would I do the IND color match trim? Do I buy just normal trim and have it painted?