Object rolling around inside cabin?

SpaceJ · 11-08-2021, 02:52 PM

Hi all, I just picked up a 2015 m235i a week ago and I'm excited to join this club!

I've been enjoying the car, but noticed this sound while driving slowly around parking lots that's been driving me crazy. The only way I can describe it is that it's like a round object is rolling around a plastic surface somewhere inside the cabin. For example, if I stop suddenly while driving in a parking lot, the rolling sound will begin and continue for several seconds after the car has come to a complete stop, when the object eventually loses momentum.

I've completely emptied out the cabin but the noise still continues, so I have no idea where it could even possibly be coming from. It sounds like it might be coming from the rear, but it's hard to place since it's very quiet.

The only solution I see is to rip out all the interior trim and hope I find a stray bolt somewhere. I might be on my own for this one, but I'm posting this in case anyone has had a similar problem and might be able to direct me on where to look first

Thanks in advance for your help!

overcoil · 11-08-2021, 05:24 PM

Have no clue…but maybe this https://www.eautotools.com/product-p...shoppingengine

John in VA · 11-08-2021, 09:06 PM

It could be something in the plastic floor vents under the front seats. The opening is in the rear footwell. Happy hunting!

TrboMike · 11-10-2021, 11:19 AM

You've got to localize the sound. Have someone sit in the pass seat, fold the seat back, stick their head by the back seats, while you do what you need to do to make the noise. See if its coming from the back or front of the car, right or left side.

I'd even have someone lay in the trunk and hopefully you can do what you do at low speeds to make the noise.

cooolone2 · 11-11-2021, 08:19 AM

Sound travels, so it's going to be hard to find it... You'll need someone else to drive the car and let you listen and try to pin point it's location. Front, rear, top or bottom, then you'll maybe be able to try and see what's up. Could be anything! Something in the roof, vents, underside. I had one car where those little Chipmunks took some nuts inside my hood, in the little holes of the structure/frame and it made noise too, but I had to pick them out one by one, over time! Or I could have taken to hood off and tilted it to get them. Point is ... It's not fun! Hahahaha

Good Luck

SpaceJ · 11-14-2021, 02:39 AM

Update: there was a loose screw in the vent in the footwell John mentioned. Who knows where the screw came from, but I'll ignore that for now.

Thanks for the help! I literally would never have guessed there were vents under the front seats- It seems like their main functional purpose is to attract crap that will rattle around and make noise.

TrboMike · 11-15-2021, 02:34 PM

Hopefully thats not the screw that keeps the car from splitting into two

Kernel Kurtz · 11-15-2021, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrboMike

Hopefully thats not the screw that keeps the car from splitting into two

I hate when that happens!

Pbdeed · 11-29-2021, 04:19 PM

I had a similar problem and it was a 50ct coin inside the subwoofer behind the driver seat. Don't know how the hell did it get there.

11-08-2021, 02:52 PM	#1
SpaceJ New Member 0 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2017 M2, 2002 + 2014 Boxster Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Seattle, the city of rain iTrader: (0)	Object rolling around inside cabin? Hi all, I just picked up a 2015 m235i a week ago and I'm excited to join this club! I've been enjoying the car, but noticed this sound while driving slowly around parking lots that's been driving me crazy. The only way I can describe it is that it's like a round object is rolling around a plastic surface somewhere inside the cabin. For example, if I stop suddenly while driving in a parking lot, the rolling sound will begin and continue for several seconds after the car has come to a complete stop, when the object eventually loses momentum. I've completely emptied out the cabin but the noise still continues, so I have no idea where it could even possibly be coming from. It sounds like it might be coming from the rear, but it's hard to place since it's very quiet. The only solution I see is to rip out all the interior trim and hope I find a stray bolt somewhere. I might be on my own for this one, but I'm posting this in case anyone has had a similar problem and might be able to direct me on where to look first Thanks in advance for your help! Last edited by SpaceJ; 11-08-2021 at 03:00 PM..
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11-08-2021, 05:24 PM	#2
overcoil Major General 3074 Rep 5,577 Posts Drives: M235i 6spd Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (0)	Have no clue…but maybe this https://www.eautotools.com/product-p...shoppingengine
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11-08-2021, 09:06 PM	#3
John in VA Colonel 983 Rep 2,193 Posts Drives: 2015 228i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Leesburg, VA iTrader: (6)	It could be something in the plastic floor vents under the front seats. The opening is in the rear footwell. Happy hunting! __________________ ____________________________________________ 2015 BMW 228i in EstorilBlau II Metallic / Terra Dakota Leather - 6-speed manual, M Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package, Premium Package, Harman Kardon premium sound, Anti-theft alarm system, Blue Metallic Matt Accent Moldings, Aluminum Hexagon Interior Strips, Anthracite Headlining
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11-10-2021, 11:19 AM	#4
TrboMike First Lieutenant 142 Rep 345 Posts Drives: BMW M240ix Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: 07508 iTrader: (0)	You've got to localize the sound. Have someone sit in the pass seat, fold the seat back, stick their head by the back seats, while you do what you need to do to make the noise. See if its coming from the back or front of the car, right or left side. I'd even have someone lay in the trunk and hopefully you can do what you do at low speeds to make the noise.
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11-11-2021, 08:19 AM	#5
cooolone2 Captain 624 Rep 706 Posts Drives: 20' M240iX B58, 01' 330XI E46 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: NY, USA iTrader: (0)	Sound travels, so it's going to be hard to find it... You'll need someone else to drive the car and let you listen and try to pin point it's location. Front, rear, top or bottom, then you'll maybe be able to try and see what's up. Could be anything! Something in the roof, vents, underside. I had one car where those little Chipmunks took some nuts inside my hood, in the little holes of the structure/frame and it made noise too, but I had to pick them out one by one, over time! Or I could have taken to hood off and tilted it to get them. Point is ... It's not fun! Hahahaha Good Luck
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11-14-2021, 02:39 AM	#6
SpaceJ New Member 0 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2017 M2, 2002 + 2014 Boxster Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Seattle, the city of rain iTrader: (0)	Update: there was a loose screw in the vent in the footwell John mentioned. Who knows where the screw came from, but I'll ignore that for now. Thanks for the help! I literally would never have guessed there were vents under the front seats- It seems like their main functional purpose is to attract crap that will rattle around and make noise.
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11-15-2021, 02:34 PM	#7
TrboMike First Lieutenant 142 Rep 345 Posts Drives: BMW M240ix Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: 07508 iTrader: (0)	Hopefully thats not the screw that keeps the car from splitting into two
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11-29-2021, 04:19 PM	#9
Pbdeed Private 11 Rep 72 Posts Drives: M240i Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: EU iTrader: (0)	I had a similar problem and it was a 50ct coin inside the subwoofer behind the driver seat. Don't know how the hell did it get there.
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