body and interior A-pillar whistle

[KFunk]

I've got a whistle coming from my A-pillar area at most any speed, which I want to stop.    

 

The A-pillar foam/vinyl was recently pulled out of the car when I did a full re-paint, but we opted not to do a new headliner at that time.  I might re-do all the interior in a couple years.  (Most of it wasn't that bad, and costs/hassle were adding up).

The A-pillar inside trim was mostly ripped out by the body shop when I wasn't there (I was OK with that).  But, now I have a loud whistle and some airflow up from where the dash meets the A-pillar.  I tried replacing the foam and covering the inner A-pillar with some 3M adhesive backed vinyl, and it may have quieted it a good bit, but its still there and annoyingly loud.

Could there be air holes from down near where the A-pillar meets the dash that need sealed up?  I don't think the dash has been pulled during the whole re-paint, but maybe something got damaged.

I'm also wondering about where the telescoping antenna mounts to the pillar.  The body shop removed the antenna and put it back, so I'm not sure if there could be some grommets that are old.

I think the passenger side may whistle similarly, though.  I can't hear it over the driver's side whistle, though.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

 

[landon]

Could it be that the small rubber seal that fits on the leading edge of the door came off during the paint work? It is located by the quarter vent window and installs over the the edge of the door from the top. 

[wegweiser]

I have "The Screaming Bottle Rocket of Death" sound on mine at speeds above 40mph. ….and you'd swear it comes from the A pillar / mirror area, but I've ascertained (through the use of strategic, highly scientific duct tape) that it's coming from the hood trim. I think Mike Self also mentioned this as a common source of noise, once. In other words: Don't discount other areas of the car. Try tape on the trim to see if it lessens / eliminates the noise.

 

[KFunk]

49 minutes ago, landon said:

Could it be that the small rubber seal that fits on the leading edge of the door came off during the paint work? It is located by the quarter vent window and installs over the the edge of the door from the top. 

 

Well, we might have a winner right there.  It is not present.  I tried to put back as many of those pieces as I could, but that appears to be one I missed.  I was hoping to avoid buying new of several of them unless it was absolutely necessary.  Perhaps that one is necessary.

 

 

[KFunk]

1 hour ago, wegweiser said:

I have "The Screaming Bottle Rocket of Death" sound on mine at speeds above 40mph. ….and you'd swear it comes from the A pillar / mirror area, but I've ascertained (through the use of strategic, highly scientific duct tape) that it's coming from the hood trim. I think Mike Self also mentioned this as a common source of noise, once. In other words: Don't discount other areas of the car. Try tape on the trim to see if it lessens / eliminates the noise.

 

 

That's also what I found via the search earlier before I posted the thread.  However, I can actually feel airflow around the A-pillar area, heh.  I'm sure once I fix the part in the A-pillar, the trim whistle will be more obvious, hah.  

[KFunk]

2 hours ago, landon said:

Could it be that the small rubber seal that fits on the leading edge of the door came off during the paint work? It is located by the quarter vent window and installs over the the edge of the door from the top. 

Hmmm, OK, I must be confused about this part.

 

Is this the one you mean, except I need a left one?

http://www.rogerstii.com/bmw-2002-rubber-door-corner-cap-guard-right-front-1968-1976/

 

Well, unfortunately rogerstii doesn't list a left one (probably NLA), but I can't find the part number for the left one on real OEM.

I did look thru my leftover bits box that hopefully contains nothing important, and I did find one that looks like that one on Rogerstii except the inverse, so thats awesome.  However, mine is a bit different, and the 'U' slot on the front has a bit of rubber on each side, and so it wont slide on the door.  Maybe I'm doing it wrong, or I have the wrong part still.  

[KFunk]

Is this the part I need, and how do I put it on?

[ray_]

Installation is reversal of removal!

 

 

That's ok, I can find the door.

 

 

[KFunk]

9 minutes ago, ray_ said:

Installation is reversal of removal!

 

 

That's ok, I can find the door.

 

 

When you find the door of your car, take a picture of the front trim cap for me!

[ray_]

[KFunk]

Ah ha, thank you ray!  It looks to me like the both sides of the front U may be entirely in front of the door? 

I couldn't get mine to slide on with the siddha new gripping very tightly because the paint is too thick on my door. I may have to file it some.

[ray_]

I tjink that's the case. Here's a somewhat better view from the front.

 

 

[roadhog0]

I know my mirror whistles from time to time.... That's all I have to offer.

[KFunk]

I finally got to drive the car ( on parental leave and can't safely take baby in 02), and happy to say that the tiny little rubber piece did manage to eliminate most of the whistle.  There's still some, but not super annoying.  Now maybe I should consider replacing the ones on top the vent Windows, in backs of doors, etc.

[ray_]

Also needs F22C.