Creaking Dash

[Reilly5]

My '05 645coupe with 18,000 mile creaks like an old sailboat with every turn or imperfection in the road. Seems to be coming from the area between the top of the dash and the windshield. Any suggestions?

[ptsales]

This is a known and well documented problem. At least with the 645 Cabrio. Has to do with the struts from the front suspension towers to the center of the firewall. Happens when you twist or torque the body. Check with your dealer.

Frank

[spngd]

See my post below...
My frustration is more of a clunking sound on my 2004 645ci which I am beginning to think is coming from the rain sensor enclosure on the windshield. I will be seeing the dealer eventually and will post any info. BMWNA did call my home and offer to help but I haven't even been to the dealer yet, so I'll wait to get them involved.

[Reilly5]

Dealer replaced the strut brace on center support bracket and the noise went away. Was told there is a service bulletin out on this issue.

[AndrewDP]

in solving problems. Although I have had none in the 6 weeks that I have had my 650i convertible and have no reason to believe that my dealer would not do everything possible to solve any problems it is extremely uncommon for the company to get actively involved in problem solving. That is one very important reason I did not stay with my 2007 Audi S8 order. As much as I like Audi, it is unfortunate that their apparent tendency to ignore owners' problems very likely hurts their sales. When I went to the NY Auto show in April to see the new S8 and listen to the B&O sound system, which was astonishingly good, the Audi representatives could have cared less that I had made a deposit on one for Oct. delivery and only reluctantly agreed to demonstrate the sound system.

[mikegg]

I have an 04/645 and have the same creaking dashboard. It's very annoying as you know.

Do you happen to know the service bulletin that addresses this issue? My service guy doesn't know anything about it.

[Grey.Coupe]

I have a creaking roof since new--it might sort of balance things out...


Some great cars over the years; Yellow 1966 Corvette convertible, '71 240Z, 1978 280Z, '80 MGB, 1986 MBZ 300E,'88 BMW L6, 1990 MBZ 300 CE-24; 1997 E420, 2003 CLK 430, 2004 350Z, 2004 BMW 645 Ci, 1988 MBz 560SL

[mikegg]

I'll trade you one creaking dash for a creaking roof. (:

Seriuosly, at least it appears that my problem has been identified and may be fixed. It's weird that I have to educate my dealer about this stuff.

As I remember you have your car almost as long as I have mine. I have 58,000 miles since March '04. Could be a record.

Mike

[Maverick630]

I have not gotten any notices from BMW or the dealer about any service bulletins. Is this something they don't usually inform us of unless the car is at the dealer?

I do get creaking noise from the dash as well but it seems like it comes from the area above the steering weel or instrument cluster area, not anyplace deep. I have about 3,500 miles on it now and the noise started at about 1,500 miles. Just today I tried to press on the shiny black trimming that surrounds the instrument cluster cover lens and it seemed like it stops the creaking. It almost seems like it makes the noise when this plastic trim rubs against the softer dash material, sticking then releasing.

I will try to push on it more and see if it really is the cause of the noise.

[destro]

I have the same creaking even worse when i go up a driveway at an angle.

I've made an appointment and told them to look at strut bars and stuff like that. We'll see next week.

[spngd]

Mine was fixed first time with tightening of a center strut brace of some sort. See my prior posts for details. All better now!!

[yhofmasp]

My problem was a loud popping in the sunroof area whenever I hit a bump or torqued the body going up an uneven road surface. Dealer tightened center strut brace and it seems to have solved the problem. Dealer has ordered a new brace and is going to replace the brace, but in the meantime just tightening the existing one seems to have take care of the issue for the time being.