B Pillar clicking / ticking & door rubber / seal creaking / squeaking

[vwsp]

Thanks fryad. I have mildly squeaking rubbers so I'll give that gummi product a go.

[ConR]

hate to bring this one back up, but has anyone noticed that these creak sounds come back when/after it's been raining?

my car was silent for a couple of weeks after using Krytox...but it's all back now since it's been raining all day long.

anyone know where to pick up that gummi stuff in sydney? guess any BMW dealer could get it for me...

is this the same stuff?

http://www.waxit.com.au/brandproddetail.asp?prod=EZ0007&cat=9&brand=18&desc=Einszett&name=Einszett%20Gummi%20Pflege

[Corey_R]

I think that for many of you guys, the problem may still be the products you're using to clean your car with. Whilst Krytox might resolve the situation for you, once everything gets wet again, the residue from the cleaning products is "aggitated" again, and the creaking returns.

My Polo GTI had creaking fromt he door seals when I first received it from the dealer (it was 11 months old with 11,000km on the Odo). Within 3 months of my ownership with the car and several car washes, the creaking had gone. No need for Krytox or gummi stuff.

[ConR]

thanks corey...funny thing is, I'm using the car wash product the dealer gave me to use...wonder if that's the cause. It's supposed to be non wax based.

any idea what you used to use to wash your car?

[Corey_R]

I use Meguiars Gold Class Car Wash.
I don't specifically use that to clean the door jams, however, as you would know, whenever you do wash your car, water ends up in there. So I then use an old Meguiars Microfibre Chamois to clean the door jams and hatch etc.

The other thing to note is that you SHOULD NOT polish or wax the door jams. I've never done that on any car, and even after 8 years they've still looked "as new" (simply from the few times per month clean with the chamois). I'm not sure if there is anyone that does polish/wax the door jams and can suggest a product which is known not to cause creaking of the seals, but I would find it unnecessary in most parts of Australia.

[ConR]

thanks for the info mate...will head over to Autobarn this weekend and pick some of that stuff up.

I've never polished or waxed the car...the dealer also claims they never did, as they applied a paint protection...odd though, as every time it rains, I get white wax build ups in between the cracks of each metal panel...hard to believe no wax was applied to my car.

I've tried washing the door jams with the soap the dealer gave me each time I heard those creaks, but the sounds were always there...so, yet another reason to make me never use that dealer for anything again =)...like I needed another reason.

[Maverick]

From reading this thread there seems to be two issues. The B pillar clicking and the door seal creaking. The door seal creaking drove me insane on my GTI MkVI and I was also very disappointed that such an expensive German car would have this fault.

You're kidding right??

The Golf is one of the cheapest of the German cars and you're disappointed at some minor noise? You should lower your expectations as they were unreasonably high. It doesn't matter that the GTI is $45K, it's based on the $25K Golf with go faster bits.

[Man In Black (MIB)]

Got the same noise on my new Golf R. As the flagship VW/Golf I think I can be forgiven for being a little dissappointed.

[ConR]

Got the same noise on my new Golf R. As the flagship VW/Golf I think I can be forgiven for being a little dissappointed.

Are you referring to the creaking sound? Or the clicking sound?

It is the same base as the GTI, so not surprised that this is happening across the entire Golf range.

[hooba]

After 3 weeks of ownership, I detected the B pillar noise for the first time on Monday. At the next set of lights, I opened the door and closed it firmly, presto it is gone.

Fingers crossed that is the end of it. FWIW, I use the same Meguiars Gold Wash as Coreying, and I ignore the door jams when washing.

[vwsp]

You're kidding right??

The Golf is one of the cheapest of the German cars and you're disappointed at some minor noise? You should lower your expectations as they were unreasonably high. It doesn't matter that the GTI is $45K, it's based on the $25K Golf with go faster bits.

Maverick, what we're talking about here is not some "minor noise" (either the B pillar clicking noise OR the door seal creaking). Both CAN drive you insane and would be out of place on ANY NEW CAR.

The B pillar clicking noise is a KNOWN fault and is fixed under warranty as was my case.

The door seal creaking is not so much a fault but a characteristic that comes about due to a whole range of factors ... including what the dealer used to wax/polish the car during pre-delivery to after-market paint protections, to what you polish the car with, dust and crap on the rubbers, etc. What's frustrating with this one is that there doesn't appear to be any one solution - just trial and error with different products.

Fortunately, the door seal creaking noise on my car has subsided dramatically over time - every time I wash it it gets better and better. Although I might use some of the product that was recommended in this thread recently and see how that works.

BTW I'm not going to 'lower my expectations' and neither should fryad - but thanks for your advice

[slipshot]

Creaking door rubbers & seals? A solution...

Per this quote in another thread:

I'm now onto the dealer about the creaking in my door rubbers - driving me nuts over any bumps or uneven cornering. You'd think the car was so flexible you could bend it with your hands the way it sounds. I've read that BMWs can have the same issue and some greasing could fix it. Let the experiments begin.....

This is very common. My last car in the UK was a Focus ST (XR5) which also suffered from the same problem, as do many others cars. The stuff I purchased (online) is called Gummi Pfledge, and I purchased it while in the UKline.

I did a quick search and you can buy it here in Aus - see

Waxit - Premium Car Care Products

It's excellent stuff that solves the problem. I cannot say that other things will not do the trick but having used it, and having followed the instructions which from memory were to ensure there's no dust on the seals, do it on a dry day and coat the seals on both door and car, then let it dry, it worked a treat. Certainly lasted for about 6 months on the worst door and another simple application worked again.

Thus from experience I can say it works. Do a search and you will see others rate the stuff too. And I still have lots left so it lasts for a good while. The creaking used to bug the hell out of me. That stuff did seem to do the trick.

[cs^mkvi]

You're kidding right??

The Golf is one of the cheapest of the German cars and you're disappointed at some minor noise? You should lower your expectations as they were unreasonably high. It doesn't matter that the GTI is $45K, it's based on the $25K Golf with go faster bits.

I'm with you..
Try getting what you are getting in a GTI or R in any other German car for the same price. ~$50K is not premium money. Compare it to another hot hatch like the Focus XR5, the GTI is finished much nicer with more features. Not to mention a base model GTI only costs ~$4k more than an XR5, and you are still getting more in the GTI.

I think everyone has to take a step back and stop thinking they have purchased a BMW 7 series, when indeed they have only purchased a Golf. I would be surprised if even a BMW 7 series did not have an odd noise or two.. Why? Because at the end of the day, in a car, we are trying to get things to stay perfectly still in an environment that is constantly moving. Go and put on a leather jacket and for for a ride in a car - do you not hear creaks etc from the leather? Same principle.

As I have mentioned before, time and time again.. You can go an pay $70K + for a Subaru Impreza STi which is more than your average GTI or R and I am certain it will creak and rattle more than the Golf. Why? Because at the end of the day, it is a $23K Impreza GX.. Same as the Golf.. A BMW 7 series on the other hand is not based on a $38K BMW 1 series..

I get a few squeaks and rattles, but it is nothing compared to my STi so I do not really care and the fit and finish of everything else sure makes up for it.

Drive your car, enjoy your car, instead of wasting your time posting about trivial issues.

[Zaul]

In don't know where my creaking is coming from - it almost sounds like the dash. Could be the B Pillars. I'll have to check it out. I've had my GTI for about 6 weeks and it's noticeable when I go over bumps or even up my (steep) driveway into my garage. I don't what cause dit to manifest now. But they ain't minor..they're damn annoying.

[GTICam]

Fixed it!

I've tried just about everything mentioned here and a few other similar threads to eliminate an annoying tick from the B pillar area on my GTI.
Not the black trim on the outside.
Not the rubber door stops.
Not the hinge.
Not the door springs.
Not the rubber seals.
Not the latch (lubricated from the back of the door)
Not the seatbelt height mechanism.
Not the wiring in the base of the B pillar.
Not the airbag at the top of the B pillar.
Not the seat.
Not the driver!
The tick in my car would only occur on the occasional pothole or bump, but was more annoying than an interrmittently dripping tap.
The only regular occurance was when I drove over the 1cm high lip at the entrance to my garage, where it would give me one final resounding "TICK" for the night!
So.This might be worth a go if you've exhausted all other tips.
I removed the door trim. Front Door Panel Removal Write-up - VW GTI MKVI Forum / VW Golf MKVI Forum / VW R20 Forum / VW GTI Forum - Golfmk6.com Thanks!!
Fiddling around, I found the door latch/cable end fitting on the inside of the door trim produced the exact sound when the door release cable was pulled back and forth.
When you remove the door trim completely, you take off the door latch cable from the inner door handle by releasing a small plastic fitting. You'll see it circled in the pics. I found that this removable end piece was rattling and causing the noise.
The fix was as simple as 2 wraps of teflon tape (electrical insulation tape would do the same job) circumferencially around the back end of the door cable carrier. This makes the cable carrier a snug fit when you attach it back to the inner door handle receptical.
It's as quiet as a mouse now!
Cheers,
Cam