Boxster rattles?

lee fulford · Sep 7, 2004

Hi

I don't wish to cause a fight with my observations but I have just picked up a 2003 3.2 S only to discover that it has more rattles that my 4 month old Nephew....

Is this normal?

I know there is a lot of comparisons made against SLK. Performance and road holding are one thing but rattles and squeeks are non existant in the SLK.

i would welcome your opinions

lee

Mark_Bennett · Sep 7, 2004

Mine doesn't rattle or squeak - and as it has sport suspension I would think it more likely to than most.

There is a little squeaking from the roof for a few minutes after raising it on rough surfaces, but apart from that, nothing significant.

(Sorry!)

thboxster · Sep 7, 2004

I have a few squeeks and the odd cable rattle, but it's always been explainable.

What noises are you experiencing?

NicD · Sep 7, 2004

lee,

just book it in with the OPC and get them to fix the rattles/squeaks - I have done this with each of mine. Just a question of adjustment, maybe a little lubricant.

oliver · Sep 7, 2004

All roadsters and cabriolets are inevitably more susceptible to rattles and squeaks. Some come and go, others can be eliminated. Best way to get rid of them is to keep the roof down. Trust you have heated seats.

Guest · Sep 8, 2004

Lee,

You are not on your own, my '02 Boxster S has more rattles than Mothercare. OPC have tried once to cure them to no avail. I shall be rather more insistant when it goes in again soon. Mine seems to rattle an awful lot from what sounds like inside the passenger door and also from the rear bulkhead and front header rail also.
You are not alone, I have driven others that are silent which makes me think rattling cars are definitely not on.

Ian B

GreigM · Sep 8, 2004

Mine rattles a bit, but depends wholly on road-surface. The opc will put small felt pads around the car to help, or you can do it yourself....get someone else to drive while you locate and correct the rattles.

Alternatively keeping the car above 5,000rpm cures rattles [

]

lee fulford · Sep 8, 2004

Yes ..This car rattles from everywhere and became more apparent when someone else drove it and I sat as passenger.

OPC.....Here I come

lee

JCB.. · Sep 8, 2004

Lee

It's surprising what you can find that causes noises.

The window rubbers - they need to be kept dry and clean.

The sun visors tend to creak after a while.

All the components of the windstop - look out for lost pads on the mounting points.

The plastic bit on the dash that is part of the alarm.

Knees! (I have 030 also).

CD cases in the door!

JCB..

Guest · Sep 9, 2004

I had a serious rattle from the exhaust which I understand is common. The two heat shields, one on each side, are fixed with three bolts into trapped nuts. These were modified somewhere around 2002 models with a serious upgrade of the bolt and nut. One of the three bolts is prone to falling out and hence the rattle. The modified bolts and nuts cost about £10 (for two bolts and nuts!). They are well made and stainless steel. After fitting it was like a different car. I fitted them myself and it was not too difficult but access is limited. My car has done 23K and has very few other rattles, it was new Jan 2001.

sotoole · Sep 14, 2004

My S, which I sold recently, a 03MY car, had multiple rattles all from the hood. With roof down, it was very quiet. I had it at the OPC about 5 times in 2 years to cure the rattles but the fixes were never long lasting. My suggestion is to clean the rubbers regularly, lube them with silicone spray and I found dropping the tyre pressure slightly to improve ride also reduced rattles with no major impact on increased tyre wear.
I think the problem is that in the 03 MY, they made the roof more rigid with an additional strengthening bar above the glass window so when the body flexes, the more rigid roof has less play than before leading to rattles and creaks. Watch out for the passenger seat shaking a bit or the top of the headrest rubbing against the roll over hoop - these contribute to the noises in the cabin.
If they make any improvements on the 987, I hope it is to the roof and interior build quality, especially the rattles. OPC didnt like when I said that their £44k premium roadster rattled more than an old £4k Fiat run around I used to have!
S

Carl.Young · Sep 15, 2004

All the rubber seals round the hood (around windscreen and doors) cause numerous squeeks. BMW Gummipflege (part number BM82.14.9.407.015) which BM use to lubricate seals etc on their hoods (presumably because they squeek just as much as Porsches) works a treat. I clean all the the seals and apply gummibears [

] every few months and my hood is squeek free.

A lot of rattles come from the hood ties, which seem to be dry assembled and rattle like mad behind your head. Adding some grease to the 'cups' at the end of the ties makes big difference. Amazing how quiet my cabin went after I did this.

And the easist fix of all - turn your stereo up louder ... [

]