creaking armrest

kolosy · 12-03-2014, 04:59 PM

So I'm a bit nuts about any kind of rattling/creaking noise in the car, especially when it's new. Wanted to see if others are seeing this / have suggestions on where to WD40.

If I put any weight on the center armrest, it creaks, fairly noticeably. I don't think it's the hinge, but I'm not sure what else it could be. I don't feel like running to the dealer about this.

F15GorDe · 12-03-2014, 05:14 PM

Have you tried moving one or both of the front seats either direction and seeing if that helps identify which side? Which seats, standard, sport, or Multi- Comfort?

NO WD-40! Talcum powder.

I've been lucky so far and have been able to track down what few we've had.

wdimagineer · 12-03-2014, 05:25 PM

Mine is doing it too. Not on the driver side, just the passenger side. It's incredibly annoying. Heading in for routine service next week, so I'll have them address it at that time.

kolosy · 12-03-2014, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F15GorDe

Have you tried moving one or both of the front seats either direction and seeing if that helps identify which side? Which seats, standard, sport, or Multi- Comfort?

NO WD-40! Talcum powder.

I've been lucky so far and have been able to track down what few we've had.

haven't tried moving the seats, but it sounds like both of them (i can see which half i'm leaning on).

standard seats (whatever's on the luxury line)

midlifecrisis · 12-03-2014, 05:43 PM

There's another thread on this. The dealer should be aware of it and install some sort of shim or cushion on the armrest to stop the squeak.

kolosy · 12-03-2014, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midlifecrisis

There's another thread on this. The dealer should be aware of it and install some sort of shim or cushion on the armrest to stop the squeak.

Got a link? Searching the forums for "armrest" doesn't seem to bring it up.

midlifecrisis · 12-03-2014, 07:53 PM

Now I can't find it, either! I must have been dreaming.

Rene_Fonck · 12-04-2014, 02:02 PM

Same thing happening to my X5 just 11 months in except for its happening on the center console armrest only. Any suggestions for a fix? Perhaps there is a stronger after market replacement option?

kolosy · 12-04-2014, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rene_Fonck

Same thing happening to my X5 just 11 months in except for its happening on the center console armrest only. Any suggestions for a fix? Perhaps there is a stronger after market replacement option?

that's the one i'm talking about

Heden · 12-06-2014, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdimagineer

Mine is doing it too. Not on the driver side, just the passenger side. It's incredibly annoying. Heading in for routine service next week, so I'll have them address it at that time.

I also have this creaking noise, and it is interesting that you only have it on the passenger side. I have it on the drivers side, but as my car is RHD, it leads me to believe that it is a manufacturing fault (obviously) instead of user error. One could think that if it was on the drivers side only, that it could be because the driver has put to much weight on the arm rest.

MJF120 · 12-06-2014, 12:59 PM

My centre storage compartment lid/armrest has always made a noise if i lean on it but I can't be bothered to take it back to the dealer yet. I rolled up some black insulating tape and stuck it on the underside of the armrest and it no longer creeks. Clearly I shouldn't have to do this and seeing as it's done it since day one BMW should have noticed it before they starting selling them. I'm sure they will come up with an official and slightly less fudged looking version of what I've done if they haven't already.

There are a couple of pads fitted that presumably should stop this but they seem to be quite hard plastic rather than softer rubber so they don't stop the noise.

12-03-2014, 04:59 PM	#1
kolosy Colonel 1485 Rep 2,019 Posts Drives: over potholes Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chicago iTrader: (2)	creaking armrest So I'm a bit nuts about any kind of rattling/creaking noise in the car, especially when it's new. Wanted to see if others are seeing this / have suggestions on where to WD40. If I put any weight on the center armrest, it creaks, fairly noticeably. I don't think it's the hinge, but I'm not sure what else it could be. I don't feel like running to the dealer about this.
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12-03-2014, 05:14 PM	#2
F15GorDe Well versed in the care and feeding of BMWs 261 Rep 733 Posts Drives: F15d, F10 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Have you tried moving one or both of the front seats either direction and seeing if that helps identify which side? Which seats, standard, sport, or Multi- Comfort? NO WD-40! Talcum powder. I've been lucky so far and have been able to track down what few we've had. __________________ B&O, parking assistant, executive package, 3rd row seats and the manual rear shades are the ONLY items we didn't order. Having everything else makes our F15d a NICE ride.
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12-03-2014, 05:25 PM	#3
wdimagineer Major 358 Rep 1,377 Posts Drives: 2015 X5 M Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (0)	Mine is doing it too. Not on the driver side, just the passenger side. It's incredibly annoying. Heading in for routine service next week, so I'll have them address it at that time. __________________ Current: 2015 X5 M - Donington Grey/Mugello Red - DINANTRONICS Stage 2 + Free Flow Exhaust - Bimmerpost Featured! Past: Bimmerpost Featured 2014 X5 xDrive50i · 2014 Jeep SRT · 2013 Tesla Model S P85+ · Bimmerpost Featured 2013 F10 M5 · 2012 550 xDrive · 2011 M3 ZCP
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12-03-2014, 05:43 PM	#5
midlifecrisis Major 807 Rep 1,209 Posts Drives: 2017 X5 35d, 2019 230i X Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	There's another thread on this. The dealer should be aware of it and install some sort of shim or cushion on the armrest to stop the squeak. __________________ 2017 X5 35d (Performance Center delivery March 2017) 2019 230i X-drive 2022 M3 base 2000 328i sedan (UUC suspension - still the favorite), 2006 M3 slick top - Alpine White/Cinnamon SOLD! 2008 E90 M3 SOLD! 1991 325iX (both great), 2019 Miata RF - various others not as memorable but gone.
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12-03-2014, 07:53 PM	#7
midlifecrisis Major 807 Rep 1,209 Posts Drives: 2017 X5 35d, 2019 230i X Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Now I can't find it, either! I must have been dreaming. __________________ 2017 X5 35d (Performance Center delivery March 2017) 2019 230i X-drive 2022 M3 base 2000 328i sedan (UUC suspension - still the favorite), 2006 M3 slick top - Alpine White/Cinnamon SOLD! 2008 E90 M3 SOLD! 1991 325iX (both great), 2019 Miata RF - various others not as memorable but gone.
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creaking armrest

12-04-2014, 02:02 PM	#8
Rene_Fonck Private First Class 39 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 16 BMW X5 35d Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	creaking armrest Same thing happening to my X5 just 11 months in except for its happening on the center console armrest only. Any suggestions for a fix? Perhaps there is a stronger after market replacement option?
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12-06-2014, 12:59 PM	#11
MJF120 Private 2 Rep 58 Posts Drives: X5 25D Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	My centre storage compartment lid/armrest has always made a noise if i lean on it but I can't be bothered to take it back to the dealer yet. I rolled up some black insulating tape and stuck it on the underside of the armrest and it no longer creeks. Clearly I shouldn't have to do this and seeing as it's done it since day one BMW should have noticed it before they starting selling them. I'm sure they will come up with an official and slightly less fudged looking version of what I've done if they haven't already. There are a couple of pads fitted that presumably should stop this but they seem to be quite hard plastic rather than softer rubber so they don't stop the noise.
	Appreciate 0 Quote