[pawarrant]

I took my E90 in for first oil change on Friday. While it was in I complained that I hear a noise that sounds like something is sliding or rolling around when I accelerate or brake. I had told the SA the same thing last time my car was in for state inspection. At first I had told them the sound was coming from the passenger side door (that's where it sounded like it was coming from to me when driving). During that first visit the SA said they removed the door panels and found nothing. This time they agreed to drive with me to listen for the sound themselves. We discovered the sound was coming from the center console (steptronic, non iDrive). I left my car and they said they will look at it. Shortly thereafter the SA called me and said that coins had somehow gotten into the holes underneath the rubber tray in the center console and are out of reach. They said it would be $129 to have the coins removed. I told them not to fix the problem, and that I would live with the noise (even though it is annoying). When I picked up my car I asked the SA how coins could have gotten inside the console. He claimed that coins must have somehow slide down the side of the removable rubber tray and then went underneath the tray falling down the holes into the console (see pics below). I do store my coins in the rubber tray, but have never removed the tray (I never knew it could be removed) and it is so tight that it is impossible for me to intentionally push coins down the side of the tray. Has anyone had this problem? Could it be something else that would be covered under warranty and they were just trying to get me to pay for something? Does anyone know an easy D.I.Y. way to get into the console to look for and remove these "coins"?

[firstkill]

are you sure they are in there? can you see them?


It is a common problem for coins to fall out of your pocket or passengers pockets and end up in these vents under the driver/passenger seat.

I used a flash light and a chopstick to dig them out from under the seat.


Fk

[pawarrant]

Originally Posted by firstkill

are you sure they are in there? can you see them?


It is a common problem for coins to fall out of your pocket or passengers pockets and end up in these vents under the driver/passenger seat.

I used a flash light and a chopstick to dig them out from under the seat.


Fk

No, I can't see them. That is their theory. I'm sure if I paid them the $129 they would make sure some coins were "found" in the console. In the second photo I attached, the square hole that is furthermost to the front of the vehicle goes down pretty deep and continues forward out of site of even a flashlight. The only way they could have seen anything that I cannot is with a borescope.

[E90330iS]

Is the removal of that storage DIYable?

[pawarrant]

Originally Posted by E90330iS

Is the removal of that storage DIYable?

If you mean the rubber trey, it apparently just pulls out. I never knew until the SA showed me. I never pulled it out before. I am wondering if the removal of whatever I need to get underneath the storage area is.

[firstkill]

So i would skip the area you are looking at and look under your seats first.

There is a vent under your seat that has no cover/grate over it so coins can slide in.

It makes the sound like your saying in the same manner you are saying.

Easily reproducable if you accelerate and then brake.

~fk

[firstkill]

find the source?

[pawarrant]

Originally Posted by firstkill

find the source?

No. I have looked under the seats and everywhere else I can think of. Again, there is no way the coins came from where they said. I tried to push a coin down there and can not, so I can't see how any "fell" down under there.

[firstkill]

They arent in the vents under the seats? thats weird.....perhaps try to feel them in the vents with a stick and flashlight.



fk

[obscura]

Originally Posted by firstkill

It is a common problem for coins to fall out of your pocket or passengers pockets and end up in these vents under the driver/passenger seat.

Fk

+1, Same thing happened to me. Drove me nuts. Coins finally came out under hard acceleration. I would seriously be willing to bet this is where it's coming from.

[850CSi]

I have the same problem!

[pawarrant]

Originally Posted by firstkill

They arent in the vents under the seats? thats weird.....perhaps try to feel them in the vents with a stick and flashlight.



fk

I used some tools and a flashlight today, and you were right. Two quarters were in the vent under the passenger seat. And BMW was going to charge me all that money for coins that were not even in my console. Thank you!!!

[firstkill]

and you are now 50cents richer



fk