I will be picking mine up in a couple weeks. Are people still having the door/speaker rattle problem in recent builds? What is the best way to test for it during pickup?

 

My 2004 does it (obviously). I just picked it up from my dealership 2 days ago and they replaced the speaker for me, with them thinking that would fix it. I didn't get more that 5 yards away from the service bay and it started buzzing again.

Now I have given up and am going to take apart the whole door again and tape the snot out of it, using any method I can figure out.

To answer your ?? though, I have no idea about he 05's.

 

We have a September built 05 and a November built 05 with H/K and both of them have the dreaded passenger door rattle. I also have a January built 05 with H/K sitting at the dealership right now waiting for me to pick it up, and I'll bet good money that it has the same problem as well.

The best way to test for it at pick up is to take a CD with you that contains a song you like that has a lot of bass in it. You'll hear it immediately once you turn up the volume.

 

I just went through this in my 05. I followed these instructions... http://www.jwardell.com/mini/hkdoor.html
...located this thread which instrcuts how to remove the armrest on the 05, since the above walkthrough does not. http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...+panel+removal

A word of caution...the tweeter cover on the 05 seems different, as it has a "lining" on the cover itself. I broke two of the clips, superglued one back on and it is fine...but be careful when removing the cover. Anyways, completed yesterday, and everything sounds good now. I think perhaps I will get some Dyna Mat and place it inside later on.

If ya got the buzz, the above will fix it.

 

Well what I want to do is test for it when I go to pick it up, and have THEM do the fix, I don't want to break and clips (went through that already on my other cars). So I'll bring some bass discs and do a quick rundown, and bring some felt for them to apply if needed. I cannot believe the factory hasn't fixed this by now though!

 

I have a late nov build MCS with the h/k and havn't had the problem yet! I'm not going to speak too soon though. The system sounds wonderful other thant the fact for a 320 watt amp, they should have put some better speakers in there so that the volume limiter wouldn't be so dang low. That's the only part about the whole system I don't like.

 

I've got a late 05 build MCS with H/K and it has the passenger door speaker rattle among others. To much damn plastic in the car
Mike

 

I’m with MINI USA. I’m sorry your service experience was not what you expected. We are here to work with you and your Dealer. If you need our assistance, please phone us at (866) ASK.MINI or email us at MINI.Assistance@askMINIUSA.COM and mention Reference # 200506600160 so that we can help you more efficiently.

 

I have to revise my post of a couple days ago. at 300 miles my passenger door did indeed develop the rattle. It's going in wed. to be fixed, along with the problems with the windows not doign the 1/4" drop/raise properly.

MINI USA - Very glad to mee you monitor the site! Do you know what dealer repair procedures are for the rattle? My concern is I don't want them to simply remove the panel for a temporary fix or adjustment.

Has anyone sucessfully had the rattle repaired by the dealer yet? I know it's doable by yourself, but I REALLY don't want to be tearing into the car right now.

 

The H/K door rattle, isn't. It's the loudspeaker itself. The material they chose for the speaker frame is CRAP, and flexes, causing the voice coil to rub on the magnet, and sounding like a rattle. The only fix is to keep replacing the speaker until you get one that doesn't suck. (don't hold your breath)

BTW - this is for all model years that have the harman/kardon option.

 

Well, I've asked this before and never had a good answer. Why is it ONLY passenger sides that do it?

 

.. the hell out of the door. It'll make the door feel better as well, not as flimzy. Though if it's the actual speaker, then get an aftermarket set..

D.

 

I noticed a vibration on some songs and putting a bit of pressure on the edge of the speaker frame resolved it. This leads me to believe that it is not the speaker but how it fits and lack of adequately applied insulation materials. It sounds like others have solved it by adding material to tighten up the fit in the door panel. (They had a similar problem in the E46 HK setup except with the sub in the rear parcel shelf and that was much harder to fix.)

 

I appreciate that you are taking the time to post this but am disappointed in how the issue has been addressed by ASK MINI and my local dealer. Four months ago I took delivery and had this rattle from the start. The dealer had the car for an entire day with a printout I gave them of the $0.99 fix listed on www.motoringfile.com. I gave them the printout because the SA said no one had ever brought in their car for this though I know many in the local club who have. After they pulled and reinstalled the door panel, which did not fix the issue, I called 866 ASK MINI whose response was to go back to the dealer - no intervention to tell the dealer how to fix it. Why should we have to leave our cars at the "expert" dealer multiple times to fix something that is so well known that the internet is littered with complaints about it?

I fixed it myself out of frustration. What are you doing to ensure that your dealers REALLY know how to fix this? I'd expect you would issue a technical service bulletin addressed to each service manager, mechanic, and SA at each and every dealer. Maybe you should pay your dealers more to fix these issues so they'll care enough to actually do it. I know I am not alone.

 

Volume is limited by the stock speakers? Am I correct then, in guessing that I can get more volume (play music louder) simply by upgrading my speakers? It's amazing how much I just don't know.

I have noticed that some CD's will play "adequately" loud, while others leave me tap tap tapping the "+" sign trying to WISH more oomph out of the system. I believe I have heard lower powered systems that seemed louder (rougher though, if that makes sense, not as crystal clear)...

Last question then: Once a speaker is removed, is there sufficient information printed/stamped someplace on it, so that I'll know what needs to be DIFFERENT with my new speakers? Can this be figured out (by a layman) simply by looking?

Gratefully,
Tatt

It just occurred to me that maybe I should have started a new thread... I defer to the NAM Powers That Be, to decide - In any event, I intended no hijacking - Tattman23

I just found the sticky at the top of the forum - it was a tasty read - Tatt