Half Mad from Crackling Windows.

[Ennui78]

I am posting this in a separate thread as I do not wish to hijack HCL's post on the noise issue, in his 325.Thank you, HCL, for posting. And thank you, Shwepps, for the words of encouragement.I took possession of my E90 320i Sports Edition from AB Penang in March of 2009. The windows emitted crackling noises the first day I bought it. I brought it back on the second day of ownership for them to remedy what I believed was a fault. And to this day, it has the same problems. When I drive on a road with even the mildest of unevenness, the crackling sounds from the windows appear....On all four windows. When I brought the car in, I was told, "It's like that one la....". I found that unacceptable. They fixed it, the car was left with them for three hours. They told me that they 'waxed' the rubber seals on the windows and doors. I took the car and it was fine. Within a week, it happened again. I made the time to go down yet again to AB on Burmah Road, Penang. They 'fixed' it again - or so they claimed. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and drove my car home. And after a couple of days, the same thing all over again.....the crackling noises came back. I'm at my wits end. I can't be driving to Auto Bavaria on Burmah Road on a weekly basis. They has to be a slightly more permanent solution to this issue.I did not shell out this much money for a car that squeaks and crackles while navigating the streets of George Town. But seriously, I love the car to death. It drives like a dream and yes, it so pwetty and all, but this crackling noise is insane. Passengers who ride in the car ask me, "Do you hear that?". And my sighs are followed by, "yes, it's the windows. Can you believe it? I've been told by AB that it's normal.". Tell me, please....am I the only person here who is experiencing this? Is this really something I am to expect from a car that costs close to a quarter of a million ringgit? Please, please tell me I'm not the only one. And if there are others of you out there who have had this experience, please tell me what you guys have done. Please share with me, if any of you had these issues, what does it take for AB to resolve this? What avenues of redress do I have? I really wish to get this sorted out. If I go again to them, it will be my third time. And Auto Bavaria Penang is the only SC in Penang.

 

[E39er]

Bro, get them to bodytape your car. They'll know what you're talking about. Its applied around the frame of the high gloss shadowline. My 320d Sports and my collegue's 320i Sports both had the same problem. It went away after AB Segambut installed the bodytape. Common issue on the Sports package cars with the high gloss shadowline.

 

[Schwepps]

Ennui, I left the radio and aircon off on the drive to work this morning and listened hard to the sounds. The only sounds from my 325i Sports with rock-hard tyres were engine and tyre sounds. Not a peep from within the car.

It seems to me that this issue of door/window rattling has only come up in this year's models. Perhaps they're stinging on insulation (eg, why isn't the bonnet insulation supplied anymore?) or this year's rubber seals from their vendor are ill-fitting or of lower quality. They might even be made up north. I've never ever had to lubricate rubber seals in my cars, whether American, Swedish, French, Italian, Japanese or Malaysian, and I don't see why we have to do it in our (expensive) GERMAN cars!

I would suggest you complain to the Technical Director or After Sales Director of BMWM and tell him that his response will be posted in this forum. I give credit where credit is due, such as the excellent BSRI service I got yesterday, when they replaced things I didn't expect to get replaced for free at 30k - brake fluid change is usually at 60k. But where I get cr*p, heaven help whoever wrongs me!

 

[kl_mafia]

like e39er mentioned, this is a common issue for all sports model with the high gloss shadowline. just go to any BMW dealership, and get them to apply the 'bodytape'. it is like a small thin layer of selotape applied on the surface of the rubber on the inner part of the door.

 

[Ennui78]

Thank you all so much....... Just spoke to someone in AB Penang and am bringing in my car on Friday to check all the doorpanels, clips, seals etc etc. I will mention this 'bodytape' and request for remedial action in writing. I guess I have to give this one last shot before escalating the issue.

And in the event I do, have to take this further, to whom should I be addressing this letter? The After Sales Director?

What do you guys think of Autofoam in cases like these?

 

[Ennui78]

UPDATE: Received a call from AB Penang. They said that they'll try to sort out the matter. But aside from the usual remedies of:

Bodytaping, checking the alignment of the doors, rewaxing the window sills, checking clips, there's not much else left to do.

I believe that if the problem is not rectified this time round, I will have to take it up to BMW Malaysia and enquire as to why I had to pay a premium for a car that creaks.

 

[Spaceman]

also the interior painted plastic parts are prone to chipping as well...dunno where? Center console near seat belt buckles & hand brake, door handles, rear air-cond vent cover, coin box, driver's window switch panel...esp if you're sweaty.

 

[Ennui78]

UPDATE: Car was sent in to AB Penang this morning. Shall revert with news of remedial action taken.

 

[David Yong]

Hmmm... time to change car! How about a Lexus ??? hahaha.... just kidding. Hope everything will be fine after your "few visits".

 

[Ennui78]

RESULT:

Walked over to AB Penang to pick up my car. Yes, I live within a 15 minute walk of the SC, haha.

They re-aligned the doors, applied Teflon tape to the areas where the high-gloss shadowline came into contact with the doors themselves.

And voila.....my Bimba(named after the bimbo-himbo owner) drives like a dream again! Yay.

And in terms of according credit when it's due, I have to say that Yunus of AB Penang gave me outstanding service. And was very patient with me. While I certainly admit to not being perhaps, the sharpest tool in the shed, I am by no means, an easy client. I insisted he sit in the car beside me while I drove around town to verify his claims that the issues were sorted. We drove with neither the radio nor air-conditioning for a part of the trip to check on any noises.....None!

He also took the opportunity to update my keys and program everything to reflect the recent change to Conditioned Based Service BSRI. Hats off to him.

 

[Schwepps]

Wonderful! :top: Conclusion: poor assembly. Result: JOY.

 

[Ennui78]

Hmmm... time to change car! How about a Lexus ??? hahaha.... just kidding. Hope everything will be fine after your "few visits".

To DY: Farnee! Then again, who knows. Tastes change. I used to prefer the three-pointed star!

Haha. Am gonna go for a ride in my oh-so-much-quieter-joy-machine. Check in you guys later.....

 

[David Yong]

Good to hear things are sorted out mate! Enjoy this nice piece of German machine

 

[VKS]

Nice to know the problem is sorted bro....but then just dont keep high hopes, give a week or two...it usually comes back after expose to rain and hot weather...mine is almost a month and it starts but very very minor noise...still waiting if it gets worst..

RESULT:

Walked over to AB Penang to pick up my car. Yes, I live within a 15 minute walk of the SC, haha.

They re-aligned the doors, applied Teflon tape to the areas where the high-gloss shadowline came into contact with the doors themselves.

And voila.....my Bimba(named after the bimbo-himbo owner) drives like a dream again! Yay.

And in terms of according credit when it's due, I have to say that Yunus of AB Penang gave me outstanding service. And was very patient with me. While I certainly admit to not being perhaps, the sharpest tool in the shed, I am by no means, an easy client. I insisted he sit in the car beside me while I drove around town to verify his claims that the issues were sorted. We drove with neither the radio nor air-conditioning for a part of the trip to check on any noises.....None!

He also took the opportunity to update my keys and program everything to reflect the recent change to Conditioned Based Service BSRI. Hats off to him.

 

[Ennui78]

Dear VKS, Thanks for the heads-up. As I said, I live a 'briskwalking' ten-minutes/15-minute stroll away...... Am trying to be positive, haha. Hope triumphs over experience!

And I think AB has seem issues like these and much more, many-a-time. I could actually get used to this. Oh, and the Illy coffee in their lounge ain't bad either.(must Pscyh oneself).

 

[hcl]

Ennui78. I m glad your matters are resolved, however, mine still seems to be in the air...i will be travelling as of Monday, thus I would have to revert to AB once I return later in the week.

 

[tango1800]

Ennui, congrats on your ride feelin all new again........hopefully i can make mine feel brand new again too.

 

[Ennui78]

Be careful....from what I gather, that brand-new feeling is usually shortlived.

Like most coveted things, beauty is a cruel mistress....with a fragile tenure.

 

[hayashikm@aol.com]

RESULT:

Walked over to AB Penang to pick up my car. Yes, I live within a 15 minute walk of the SC, haha.

They re-aligned the doors, applied Teflon tape to the areas where the high-gloss shadowline came into contact with the doors themselves.

And voila.....my Bimba(named after the bimbo-himbo owner) drives like a dream again! Yay.

And in terms of according credit when it's due, I have to say that Yunus of AB Penang gave me outstanding service. And was very patient with me. While I certainly admit to not being perhaps, the sharpest tool in the shed, I am by no means, an easy client. I insisted he sit in the car beside me while I drove around town to verify his claims that the issues were sorted. We drove with neither the radio nor air-conditioning for a part of the trip to check on any noises.....None!

He also took the opportunity to update my keys and program everything to reflect the recent change to Conditioned Based Service BSRI. Hats off to him.

Ennu78, thanks for the updates and the noise issue being resolved. My wife owns the same model as yours and l cant stand these irritating rattling noise. Will you be able to capture snapshots of what has been carried out by AB Penang especially the TEFLON TAPE to the areas where the high-gloss shadowline is? The pictures will serve many purpose to new owners of LCI E90 and myself. You could PM me.

The idiots at AB Glenmarie is making me many trips to get it fix when they can resolve it at one go. Many thanks.

 

[Ennui78]

Hey there....


Can't seem to upload anything right now. Will post the pics I've just taken and some more pics in the evening when the light is a little better.

The tape in question, covers the bottom half of the shadowline - the part which comes in direct contact with the rubber door seals(see pics). As far as I know in my case, the following was/needs to be done:

1. Checking door clips to see if they are loose.
2. Re-alignment of the doors.
3. Application of 3M Teflon Tape on shadowline.

NB: Ask that the service advisor/technician follow you on a test-run(You drive) with the car. Take a quick drive on an uneven patch of road to check that the issues have been rectified.