Rattle, Rattle, please go away

[cali_m35]

I have 08 m35 and I was wondering what is the best way fixing the rattle from the rear. It seems that the rattle is coming from the rear struts and wondering if I need to replace them or it there anyway to stop the rattle. Much obliged.

[Ilya]

How many miles on the car? Does it sound like it's mostly in the shelf? Where exactly does it seem to be coming from (ride in the trunk one day while a friend drives the car)...just make sure they let you out lol.

[cali_m35]

I have 73k miles on my 08 m35. The noise happens when I drive over bumps or ruff surfaces. It sounds like creaking when driving over the bump. After researching it seems like the rear struts are the culprit but wondering if I have to replace the whole rear strut or if there is any other way in fixing this issue.

[kmiles]

Also, check to see if you have pebbles on the heat shields over the mufflers or the plastic tray under the trunk. I had a rattle back there and that is what it turned out to be. It's kind of a pain to clean out.

[TDot]

So is it a rattle or a creek? These are two different sounds, sounding like two different issues. Or is it a matter of a creek over a slow bump (speed bump type) and a rattle over a hole? If that's the case, yea I probably say the strut assmbly.

[retho78]

Mine does that little rattle too when driving over bumps but I think it is coming from rear deck panel, by the third brake light area. I am thinking to pull that out and add some dampener to help stop the vibration. Quick question, to pull the rear deck out do I need to remove the side pillars?

Thanks.

[DeanM45]

Mine does that little rattle too when driving over bumps but I think it is coming from rear deck panel, by the third brake light area. I am thinking to pull that out and add some dampener to help stop the vibration. Quick question, to pull the rear deck out do I need to remove the side pillars?

Thanks.

Yes.

[BlackCat81]

I have 73k miles on my 08 m35. The noise happens when I drive over bumps or ruff surfaces. It sounds like creaking when driving over the bump. After researching it seems like the rear struts are the culprit but wondering if I have to replace the whole rear strut or if there is any other way in fixing this issue.

It's not a strut in the rear. It's a shock and a spring.

[retho78]

Okay, thank you.

[happyeds]

2010 M35 w/52K Rattle from trunk area for the last two years. Dealer wanted $135 hr just to locate, min one hour plus a solution. My approx fix time (on the back, on the floor) 90 min. Solution for me was my rear shock mounts where they attach to the body. Although they were tight, not leaking or worn out they were hitting the body. The bracket that attaches the shock to the body must have a design glitch because although it tightens up, it does not fit flush with the body. The solution is a home made rubber gasket (home depot plumbing, item 037155598496 rubber pkg sheets 6"x6" need 2 pkg total 9 bucks). Now we make a donut. OD is 4" and the donut hole is 2 1/8". Using contact cement the two sheets together, using scissors cut the OD 4" circle, then using a very sharp blade edge cut the center out 2 1/8". As if changing shocks unscrew the two nuts 12mm holding the shock in place, slip the rubber donut over the top of the shock and reattach shocks. All gone.

[Ilya]

2010 M35 w/52K Rattle from trunk area for the last two years. Dealer wanted $135 hr just to locate, min one hour plus a solution. My approx fix time (on the back, on the floor) 90 min. Solution for me was my rear shock mounts where they attach to the body. Although they were tight, not leaking or worn out they were hitting the body. The bracket that attaches the shock to the body must have a design glitch because although it tightens up, it does not fit flush with the body. The solution is a home made rubber gasket (home depot plumbing, item 037155598496 rubber pkg sheets 6"x6" need 2 pkg total 9 bucks). Now we make a donut. OD is 4" and the donut hole is 2 1/8". Using contact cement the two sheets together, using scissors cut the OD 4" circle, then using a very sharp blade edge cut the center out 2 1/8". As if changing shocks unscrew the two nuts 12mm holding the shock in place, slip the rubber donut over the top of the shock and reattach shocks. All gone.

Good work!

[Poirot]

I have the same rattle that seem to come from the rear shelf, strut area. After having the dealer replace the rear twice, one for the rattle and one for them leaking the rattle never really went away. It is just very pronounced during the winter. On the 3rd or 4th time I brought it in, at a different dealer this time, the nice was diagnosed as the rear package shelf is separating from the frame. The dealer fixed it, and has been quiet for few years now, and has just started to return. I will take a look at happyeds fix as well.

Poirot

[Amgberg]

I have 73k miles on my 08 m35. The noise happens when I drive over bumps or ruff surfaces. It sounds like creaking when driving over the bump. After researching it seems like the rear struts are the culprit but wondering if I have to replace the whole rear strut or if there is any other way in fixing this issue.

Could be rear sway bar end links or strut mounts