Creaking HVAC surround & lower glovebox panel

psamtik · 02-19-2015, 04:09 AM

I notice that when I drive, plastic pops and creaks amplify the sound of me going over any road imperfections. It's bad enough with the run flats. It's worse with H&R Sport Spring & Koni Yellow shocks.

I noticed that my HVAC surround (the plastic piece that goes around the AC controls) and the interior trim underneath the glovebox that wraps around to the side of all the central controls - both squeak and creak under pressure.

I want to take them out, tape up the friction points + lube them with some silicon and re-install them.

I got the HVAC surround out but am stuck on the lower glovebox. I removed the long horizontal piece of fancy trim, unscrewing all the screws that are now exposed, and I've taken out the lower-most panel in the footwell. Taking off the HVAC surround exposed a screw that aids in holding the lower glovebox panel into place...

For the record, i am talking about piece #3 in this diagram:

Dackelone · 02-19-2015, 07:02 AM

I use to get a one time CRACK after parking the car and then driving on a cobble stone road. My sound seems to be coming from the center of the dash or glovebox area. I actually think its from the metal accent strip(I have silver metal trim) that runs on the front of the dash. My car hasn't made this sound for a while... so I think it must have "fixed" itself over time.

RedRanger · 02-26-2015, 11:21 PM

If it is one pop coming from the passenger side while driving it is the heater flange opening up. At least that is what I have been told. I know there is a topic within the general discussion about this.

JHZR2 · 09-24-2015, 05:54 PM

I get creaking from the dash area too. Never happened before this year, and I've owned the car since new.

Two spots where I can make noise:

YouTube video of the noises:

02-19-2015, 04:09 AM	#1
psamtik Involuntarily BMW 31 Rep 184 Posts Drives: 09 E82 135i Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: San Jose / Cupertino iTrader: (1)	Creaking HVAC surround & lower glovebox panel I notice that when I drive, plastic pops and creaks amplify the sound of me going over any road imperfections. It's bad enough with the run flats. It's worse with H&R Sport Spring & Koni Yellow shocks. I noticed that my HVAC surround (the plastic piece that goes around the AC controls) and the interior trim underneath the glovebox that wraps around to the side of all the central controls - both squeak and creak under pressure. I want to take them out, tape up the friction points + lube them with some silicon and re-install them. I got the HVAC surround out but am stuck on the lower glovebox. I removed the long horizontal piece of fancy trim, unscrewing all the screws that are now exposed, and I've taken out the lower-most panel in the footwell. Taking off the HVAC surround exposed a screw that aids in holding the lower glovebox panel into place... For the record, i am talking about piece #3 in this diagram: __________________ 1997 328i / sold 1999 M3 / sold 2009 135i / current
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02-19-2015, 07:02 AM	#2
Dackelone European Editor 10626 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	I use to get a one time CRACK after parking the car and then driving on a cobble stone road. My sound seems to be coming from the center of the dash or glovebox area. I actually think its from the metal accent strip(I have silver metal trim) that runs on the front of the dash. My car hasn't made this sound for a while... so I think it must have "fixed" itself over time. __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
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02-26-2015, 11:21 PM	#3
RedRanger Lieutenant 74 Rep 541 Posts Drives: 2008 128i Sedona Red Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: St. Louis, MO iTrader: (2)	If it is one pop coming from the passenger side while driving it is the heater flange opening up. At least that is what I have been told. I know there is a topic within the general discussion about this. __________________ 2008 Sedona Red 128i Black Chrome powder coated VMR 710's 18's, Carbon fiber engine bay cover and intake, Carbon fiber interior trim, Demon eyebrows, euro intake, performance brace, black grills, Magnaflow exhaust, Stage 3IM, AA Tune
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09-24-2015, 05:54 PM	#4
JHZR2 Major 74 Rep 1,001 Posts Drives: 91 E30, 11 135i cv Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	I get creaking from the dash area too. Never happened before this year, and I've owned the car since new. Two spots where I can make noise: YouTube video of the noises:
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