Have been getting this clicking/popping noise which can best be described as a stone hitting the windscreen coming from behind the dashboard. Has anyone experienced this?

 

Yes, I get this now it's cold out. Once the car warms up inside something pops in the dashboard. I think it's just everything expanding with the heat and something is popping into place.

My 530i and my Dad's VW Passat do exactly the same thing. It really bugs my old man. I just turn the radio up.

 

Do you happen to have anything in the cupholders when the noise happens? Maybe a bottle of Diet Coke?

 

nope nothing in the cup holders at all!

 

You probably think I'm nuts for asking that question! Here's the deal...

The shape of a Diet Coke bottle (plastic 20 ounce) plays havoc with the cupholders. There is a little spring-loaded flap that hinges up or down 90 degrees when you insert something in the cupholders. If you put something cylindrical into the holder, the flap either stays down or stays up, depending on the size of the object. A Diet Coke bottle is tapered so what happens is that the flap is pushed down when you insert the bottle but then the flap will often times snap back up where the bottle is narrower than the bottom.

Very often, depending on how the bottle is leaning, the flap will stay down for a long time and then, without any notice, it will snap up (probably if the bottle moves a little due to normal g-forces). When this thing snaps up, it sounds exactly like a stone hitting the windshield!

I'm betting there are others who have seen this happen -- anyone?

 

Rudy

right there with ya man!!! Every morning drive to work, my sheets coffee mug pops up and down as I drive over the mountains. It used to drive me nuts until I jst gave in to the engineering of the coffee mug in relation to my cup holder! I think the spring may be a little too tight as well leading to "poppage" of the beverage. Ah well. If this is the only complaint I have.......

 

Yup, those cupholders are sure quirky!

One thing I forgot to mention about the Diet Coke is that once the flap has snapped up, you can't just pull the Coke bottle out by lifting it straight up. Instead, you have to pull the bottle towards the flap to flip it down first and after that, you can lift the bottle out. I can't tell you how many times a passenger almost ripped the thing out of the dash because they didn't know this little secret...

 

I have the same noise. I took a tech on a ride and he said it was a support bracket under the hood that needs to be tightened. it happens most when driving into a driveway or something that would twist the frame. I havn't had a chance to leave it with them to find out if that's what it is. Does this sound like your problem?

 

Oh yes! Every winter!

My car was like a ice brick this morning - had the heater on but I did drive the car yseterday.
A lot of snow had fallen so all the window sealings etc was icy.

The dash, rear windows, all doors made a hell of an noice.

Did melt the car in the company garage - and no noice.

 

Rudy - I wern't taking the P I promise although I was amused at the question - now you clarified it makes sense


toddk - The loose bracket thingy it certainly isn't - it seems more like what furtive said as i notice it only happens when the heating is on!