[2022M550i]

So sometimes I hear a rattling sound on the passenger side. I was going nuts thinking it was a door panel or something loose behind the panel. As it turns out, the passenger side headrest rattles. Anyone else experience this?

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

So sometimes I hear a rattling sound on the passenger side. I was going nuts thinking it was a door panel or something loose behind the panel. As it turns out, the passenger side headrest rattles. Anyone else experience this?

Check the pass seatbelt bud. The metal clip and side hard plastics can bounce onto the plastic B pillar in corners, bumps, acceleration, etc. Push it all the way up top (or down) and you will be noise free. I had this same issue. Several others have as well.

If you've already done this, it might be something else. My Passenger headrest does "bounce" a bit, but I've never heard it make a noise.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

Check the pass seatbelt bud. The metal clip and side hard plastics can bounce onto the plastic B pillar in corners, bumps, acceleration, etc. Push it all the way up top (or down) and you will be noise free. I had this same issue. Several others have as well.

If you've already done this, it might be something else. My Passenger headrest does "bounce" a bit, but I've never heard it make a noise.

It's definitely the headrest. If I smack the headrest around it makes that rattle sound. If I hold the head rest, the noise stops.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

It's definitely the headrest. If I smack the headrest around it makes that rattle sound. If I hold the head rest, the noise stops.

Damn. Does it still do it if you raise/lower the headrest to different levels?
If so I would not accept that and make them fix it.

[NGT2]

I haven't noticed anything like that. I'm sure it's very aggravating though.

[2022M550i]

I'll try moving it to see if it stops…. If not, then I'll probably try to fix it myself. I don't want them taking it on a high mileage hell ride (you know what I mean), sitting in their lot for days for something like this. It sounds like cheap plastic rattling.

[Antec800]

My 22 the headrest rattles also super annoying goes away when someone sits in the pass seat tho

[Mandingo9]

Oddly enough I just looked up "active headrest" couple days ago there's alot of components in there. May be helpful to look at video but I'm not sure if G30 is similar.

[turbobeagle]

Are you sure it’s not just some friction at the rods? I had what I thought was a rattle coming from the passenger headrest, but realized that it was more just a noise from where the rods meet the housing (sorry I don’t know the right words). I put a tiny drop of lube on a paper towel and wiped down the rods (after raising them as high as possible) and the noise disappeared. I have to do this every few months as the noise does return but it’s a painless fix.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by Antec800

My 22 the headrest rattles also super annoying goes away when someone sits in the pass seat tho

If I hold the headrest, the noise stops. I'm going to be looking at the entire assembly probably tomorrow.

[2022M550i]

I checked it out a little closer today. The back and sides of the headrest is a plastic housing. If I tap on the sides, it rattles, whether it's all the way up or down. I did a google search and this has been an issue for many years...go figure. Several posts about this in the other forum.

Here's another post same issue. Mine is definitely the headrest and not the sunroof.

https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1717228

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

I checked it out a little closer today. The back and sides of the headrest is a plastic housing. If I tap on the sides, it rattles, whether it's all the way up or down. I did a google search and this has been an issue for many years...go figure. Several posts about this in the other forum.

Here's another post same issue. Mine is definitely the headrest and not the sunroof.

https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1717228

I was hoping you'd have a little more trouble so you'd dukes of hazzard your car into the marsh.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by Mandingo9

I was hoping you'd have a little more trouble so you'd dukes of hazzard your car into the marsh.

Ha ha! No way. Not this car. This car is the pinnacle of comfort for me. Plus my spine would probably split in half now. I'm quite domesticated in my older age.

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Ha ha! No way. Not this car. This car is the pinnacle of comfort for me. Plus my spine would probably split in half now. I'm quite domesticated in my older age.

Lol.

[Joe-BMW33]

If you wedge something on the bottom between the seat top and the headrest, does it stop? The headrests do not go all the way down to meet with the seatback flush, which annoys me. Maybe try wedging and wrapping a towel in the space just to see if it is related to the two posts going into the seat or something loose inside the headrest. I would think the towel would secure the posts, but would still leave the headrest guts exposed to rattling. Process of elimination I guess. Hope you get what I am suggesting.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

If you wedge something on the bottom between the seat top and the headrest, does it stop? The headrests do not go all the way down to meet with the seatback flush, which annoys me. Maybe try wedging and wrapping a towel in the space just to see if it is related to the two posts going into the seat or something loose inside the headrest. I would think the towel would secure the posts, but would still leave the headrest guts exposed to rattling. Process of elimination I guess. Hope you get what I am suggesting.

If I push down on the headrest, put my hand under it with an upward force or push on the side of it, the noise stops. It sounds like it has something to do with the way the rods connect inside the headrest.

If I push down on it hard, the headrest seems like it gets seated....the noise stops unless I hit a serious bump.

I'll see if I can get the housing off to get a look inside. Just have to figure out how to do that without breaking it. The video posted earlier will probably help.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

If I push down on the headrest, put my hand under it with an upward force or push on the side of it, the noise stops. It sounds like it has something to do with the way the rods connect inside the headrest.

If I push down on it hard, the headrest seems like it gets seated....the noise stops unless I hit a serious bump.

I'll see if I can get the housing off to get a look inside. Just have to figure out how to do that without breaking it. The video posted earlier will probably help.

Does it rattle the same if it is fully raised or halfway? I think I would pull it out and then raise or lower the motor all the way and see if it recalibrates. Sounds like the rods are not connected to the motor the right way. Just a guess.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Does it rattle the same if it is fully raised or halfway? I think I would pull it out and then raise or lower the motor all the way and see if it recalibrates. Sounds like the rods are not connected to the motor the right way. Just a guess.

It makes the sound regardless of position. I think its just a bad design. The housing is like a piece of plastic crap. The headrest can't be removed from the seat to do that recalibration thing you're recommending....If I'm understanding you correctly.

It is what it is. If I ever have to bring the car in for something major, this will be on the list.

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

It makes the sound regardless of position. I think its just a bad design. The housing is like a piece of plastic crap. The headrest can't be removed from the seat to do that recalibration thing you're recommending....If I'm understanding you correctly.

It is what it is. If I ever have to bring the car in for something major, this will be on the list.

Have you tried popping off the hard plastic backing of the seat? To my understanding there's a couple of clips that can be undone with plastic pry tool.
Something like this

[G30 545e]

Had this same problem with my 540i. Then I changed that out for a 545e and guess what, the same problem. As above, if I hold my hand against the headrest then noise dissappears but this fix cannot be maintained.

IMO the problem is not with the headrest at all but where the backrest meets the seat at the bottom. It's as if whatever is holding these two in place, BMW forgot to torque the two nuts and the whole thing rattles when there is nobody in the passenger seat. My solution to this is whenever the passenger seat is empty to put the seat at furthest point forward in the cabin and set this position as seat set up No.2. When I do this the rattling dissappears. Awkward I know, but a necessity.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by G30 545e

Had this same problem with my 540i. Then I changed that out for a 545e and guess what, the same problem. As above, if I hold my hand against the headrest then noise dissappears but this fix cannot be maintained.

IMO the problem is not with the headrest at all but where the backrest meets the seat at the bottom. It's as if whatever is holding these two in place, BMW forgot to torque the two nuts and the whole thing rattles when there is nobody in the passenger seat. My solution to this is whenever the passenger seat is empty to put the seat at furthest point forward in the cabin and set this position as seat set up No.2. When I do this the rattling dissappears. Awkward I know, but a necessity.

Why not just tighten the nuts?

[G30 545e]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Why not just tighten the nuts?

Brought my 540i in to the dealer when same thing happened. They said yea! all fixed now. Yea right! I wasn't two miles down the road and same noise coming from the seat. I believe that it's a design fault that has been inherited onto my 545e. Why should I try and fix it? The car is still under warranty.