Liftgate/Cargo area clunk

mjcecil · 12-28-2015, 03:22 PM

All, I've been tearing my hair out over a clunking noise in either the rear cargo area or the liftgate itself.

The sound happens when the car rocks side to side when going over laterally uneven surfaces, or when bumps are relatively sharp.

The sound is very much like if you had something hard rolling around in a compartment somewhere, banging up against hard plastic or painted metal. It's usually just one "clunk" per motion, and doesn't "bounce," like a rattle.

I've cleared out the spare tire/nicknack well, and looked behind all the panels for loose stuff, to no avail. Is there anything that typically makes this noise on a 60K+ E70 35i?

Thanks!

Mark

UglyBuzzard · 12-28-2015, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjcecil

All, I've been tearing my hair out over a clunking noise in either the rear cargo area or the liftgate itself.

The sound happens when the car rocks side to side when going over laterally uneven surfaces, or when bumps are relatively sharp.

The sound is very much like if you had something hard rolling around in a compartment somewhere, banging up against hard plastic or painted metal. It's usually just one "clunk" per motion, and doesn't "bounce," like a rattle.

I've cleared out the spare tire/nicknack well, and looked behind all the panels for loose stuff, to no avail. Is there anything that typically makes this noise on a 60K+ E70 35i?

Thanks!

Mark

Check rear seat latches - same noise and that was issue - noise gone

socale39 · 12-29-2015, 11:24 AM

^^^ +1
I too thought the noise was coming from the hatch but it was actually the right rear seat latch. Sit in the back and rock back and forth, forward and backward and you should be able to replicate the sound.

mjcecil · 12-29-2015, 11:29 AM

Sounds like we have a strong candidate. I'll check it when I get back with thevehicle on Monday. Thanks, Y'all!

So, how did you guys manage to fix it, socale39 and UglyBuzzard ?

Mark

UglyBuzzard · 12-29-2015, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjcecil

Sounds like we have a strong candidate. I'll check it when I get back with thevehicle on Monday. Thanks, Y'all!

So, how did you guys manage to fix it, socale39 and UglyBuzzard ?

Mark

Warranty repair.

socale39 · 12-29-2015, 12:14 PM

Haven't had mine done yet but next service visit I'll have it done under warranty as well.

KennyKong · 12-31-2015, 06:08 PM

Do you have the rear cargo cover? I took that out and the rattling went away.
Been doing some research and it sounds like felt tape is on order to try and cure this rattling issue.

Diesel X5 · 01-01-2016, 11:03 AM

That can be a tough one to find.My daughters suv had the same kinda noise and I looked all inside and underneath and found that there was a rock stuck inside one of the springs. Problem solved noise gone.

mjcecil · 01-05-2016, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KennyKong

Do you have the rear cargo cover? I took that out and the rattling went away.
Been doing some research and it sounds like felt tape is on order to try and cure this rattling issue.

Ahhh. Good thought! If felt tape eludes you, I often go to the fabric store and get stick-on velcro in black, and just use cuts of the loop-side. Do this virtually every time for my seatbelt sockets where they bang up against the console or the seat base.

Thanks!

Mark

RustyX5M · 01-07-2016, 02:44 PM

There are two adjustable bump stops on the hatch surround. T25 (?) torx screw to adjust them outward/inward. Make sure they are the same offset and outward enough to contact the hatch when it closes but not enough to make it go back up/stop before latching.

This should fix the clunk.

Tritan84 · 01-08-2016, 04:07 AM

Also check the actual latch on the tailgate. Mine was loose from the get go. Just needed to tighten 2 bolts and the clunk was gone. Seems obvious, but even the techs at BMW didn't catch where it was coming from. They just assumed it was from the cargo cover.

12-28-2015, 03:22 PM	#1
mjcecil Sometimes, I wear a cape... 158 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 2014 M5 Black Sapphire Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: New Orleans, LA iTrader: (0)	Liftgate/Cargo area clunk All, I've been tearing my hair out over a clunking noise in either the rear cargo area or the liftgate itself. The sound happens when the car rocks side to side when going over laterally uneven surfaces, or when bumps are relatively sharp. The sound is very much like if you had something hard rolling around in a compartment somewhere, banging up against hard plastic or painted metal. It's usually just one "clunk" per motion, and doesn't "bounce," like a rattle. I've cleared out the spare tire/nicknack well, and looked behind all the panels for loose stuff, to no avail. Is there anything that typically makes this noise on a 60K+ E70 35i? Thanks! Mark __________________ Now: '14 ///M5 Black Sapphire Metallic Past: '15 ///M3 Mineral Grey, '11 X5 35i, '08 ///M5, '06 [S]4, '05 Mini *CooperS*, '07 [S]4 DTM, '03 ///M3, '99 ///M3, '78 530i, '71 2002
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12-29-2015, 11:24 AM	#3
socale39 Major 209 Rep 1,044 Posts Drives: 04 545i SMG Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: California iTrader: (0)	^^^ +1 I too thought the noise was coming from the hatch but it was actually the right rear seat latch. Sit in the back and rock back and forth, forward and backward and you should be able to replicate the sound.
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12-29-2015, 11:29 AM	#4
mjcecil Sometimes, I wear a cape... 158 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 2014 M5 Black Sapphire Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: New Orleans, LA iTrader: (0)	Sounds like we have a strong candidate. I'll check it when I get back with thevehicle on Monday. Thanks, Y'all! So, how did you guys manage to fix it, socale39 and UglyBuzzard ? Mark __________________ Now: '14 ///M5 Black Sapphire Metallic Past: '15 ///M3 Mineral Grey, '11 X5 35i, '08 ///M5, '06 [S]4, '05 Mini *CooperS*, '07 [S]4 DTM, '03 ///M3, '99 ///M3, '78 530i, '71 2002
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12-29-2015, 12:14 PM	#6
socale39 Major 209 Rep 1,044 Posts Drives: 04 545i SMG Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Haven't had mine done yet but next service visit I'll have it done under warranty as well.
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12-31-2015, 06:08 PM	#7
KennyKong Private 8 Rep 54 Posts Drives: E70 xDrive35d Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: MD iTrader: (1)	Do you have the rear cargo cover? I took that out and the rattling went away. Been doing some research and it sounds like felt tape is on order to try and cure this rattling issue. __________________ 2011 BMW 535i xDrive - Dark Graphite Metallic 2007 BMW 335i Coupe - Space Gray 2002 BMW M3 Coupe - Alpine White 2001 Honda S2000 - Spa Yellow Pearl 2001 Acura Integra Type R #01-686 - Phoenix Yellow
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01-01-2016, 11:03 AM	#8
Diesel X5 Private First Class 37 Rep 136 Posts Drives: X5 35d X Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Earth iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X5 xDrive 35d [10.00]	That can be a tough one to find.My daughters suv had the same kinda noise and I looked all inside and underneath and found that there was a rock stuck inside one of the springs. Problem solved noise gone.
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01-07-2016, 02:44 PM	#10
RustyX5M Private 3 Rep 65 Posts Drives: e70 x5m Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	There are two adjustable bump stops on the hatch surround. T25 (?) torx screw to adjust them outward/inward. Make sure they are the same offset and outward enough to contact the hatch when it closes but not enough to make it go back up/stop before latching. This should fix the clunk.
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01-08-2016, 04:07 AM	#11
Tritan84 Private First Class 24 Rep 195 Posts Drives: 2011 535i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Also check the actual latch on the tailgate. Mine was loose from the get go. Just needed to tighten 2 bolts and the clunk was gone. Seems obvious, but even the techs at BMW didn't catch where it was coming from. They just assumed it was from the cargo cover.
	Appreciate 0 Quote