Loud cracking sound from door?

DigiSage · 06-10-2006, 10:04 PM

Today I was opening a door on my car, which was parked on a hill, nose down. I opened the front passenger-side door and accidentally lost my grip on the door. The gravity from being parked on the hill pulled the door open. Once it got all the way open, there was a loud cracking sound. It was pretty startling. I looked over as much of the door mechanism as I could see and opened/shut it a few times, and I can't find any sign of what made the sound.

You guys have any ideas?

skins · 06-10-2006, 11:42 PM

YES this did happen to me too!!

Unreal!...

You just never know what will come up in these forums, things you think only happen to you?!?
I opened the drivers door on a very windy day and it just kept going forward and I heard this horrible "CRACKING NOISE" and I too cringed..something must have snapped or broke off. But like you, I can't seem to find any problems with the door at all..

Opened and closed it many times opened it to it's full range and nothing, can't repeat that sound. Maybe some kind of over opening threshold relief mechanism..who knows. The good thing is, all seems fine with the door. Maybe someone else has expeirenced this too and might have more details.We shall see if there is any long term effects, I guess..
Good Luck

Krill · 06-11-2006, 08:04 AM

Yep, happened to me too... Sounded like the door had just snapped off of the car. Almost shit myself but no problems so far..

espo · 06-11-2006, 08:27 AM

I would check the body panel just forward of the door for a small vertical crease (ever so small, you have to look down the car to see it). This happened on my old 325 and that was the result. Never did notice it until I turned the car in from lease and my CA pointed it out, but I didn't get charged for it though, I don't think the inspector saw it (We have third party inspections in NY).

The sound you heard most likely was metal bending...

visor · 06-11-2006, 02:27 PM

there were similar complaints on some e46's

problem is weakness in the metal where the door hinge is attached to the car's body

go to your dealer and they can strengthen this part

bmwexecutive · 06-17-2006, 09:04 PM

This just happened to me tonight. But I remembered seeing this thread so I didn't worry about it too much. When I leave in a little bit to go get some washer fluid I'll check for a crease.

06-10-2006, 10:04 PM	#1
DigiSage First Lieutenant 143 Rep 394 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: May 2006 Location: Albany, New York Metropolitan Area iTrader: (0)	Loud cracking sound from door? Today I was opening a door on my car, which was parked on a hill, nose down. I opened the front passenger-side door and accidentally lost my grip on the door. The gravity from being parked on the hill pulled the door open. Once it got all the way open, there was a loud cracking sound. It was pretty startling. I looked over as much of the door mechanism as I could see and opened/shut it a few times, and I can't find any sign of what made the sound. You guys have any ideas?
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06-10-2006, 11:42 PM	#2
skins CAG 3 Rep 49 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Sparkling G. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta iTrader: (0)	YES this did happen to me too!! Unreal!... You just never know what will come up in these forums, things you think only happen to you?!? I opened the drivers door on a very windy day and it just kept going forward and I heard this horrible "CRACKING NOISE" and I too cringed..something must have snapped or broke off. But like you, I can't seem to find any problems with the door at all.. Opened and closed it many times opened it to it's full range and nothing, can't repeat that sound. Maybe some kind of over opening threshold relief mechanism..who knows. The good thing is, all seems fine with the door. Maybe someone else has expeirenced this too and might have more details.We shall see if there is any long term effects, I guess.. Good Luck __________________ E90- 325i Prem pkg/Sport pkg/Sparkling G/loaded/Blk Dakota leather:heated/park cntrl
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06-11-2006, 08:04 AM	#3
Krill Second Lieutenant 40 Rep 219 Posts Drives: G30 520d Xdrive - M Sport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gothenburg iTrader: (0)	Yep, happened to me too... Sounded like the door had just snapped off of the car. Almost shit myself but no problems so far..
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06-11-2006, 08:27 AM	#4
espo Captain 12 Rep 715 Posts Drives: 2014 M235i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sugar Land TX iTrader: (0)	I would check the body panel just forward of the door for a small vertical crease (ever so small, you have to look down the car to see it). This happened on my old 325 and that was the result. Never did notice it until I turned the car in from lease and my CA pointed it out, but I didn't get charged for it though, I don't think the inspector saw it (We have third party inspections in NY). The sound you heard most likely was metal bending... __________________ E46 325xi Oxford Green/Sand Leatherette/Myrtle Wood Auto ZCW - Retired E90 330xi Mystic Blue/Black Leather/Aluminum 6sp Manual ZSP/ZPP/ZCW/CA - Retired F22 M235i Mineral Gray/Red Leather/Aluminum 6sp Manual ZPP/ZTP
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06-11-2006, 02:27 PM	#5
visor BMW, can I have some LSD please? 88 Rep 1,591 Posts Drives: 2017 F30 340i xDrive Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada iTrader: (0)	there were similar complaints on some e46's problem is weakness in the metal where the door hinge is attached to the car's body go to your dealer and they can strengthen this part __________________ 2006 330i \| TiAg \| Black \| Al \| 6MT \| Sports Package \| Logic 7 retired 2008 335i \| AW \| Black \| Al \| 6MT \| Sports Package \| Logic 7 retired 2013 328xi \| Red \| Gray \| Al \| 8AT \| Sports Line \| Premium \| Executive \| Heat Pkg retired 2017 340i xDrive \| Estoril \| Black \| Al \| 8AT \| M Package
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06-17-2006, 09:04 PM	#6
bmwexecutive Banned 241 Rep 2,453 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: East Coast iTrader: (4)	This just happened to me tonight. But I remembered seeing this thread so I didn't worry about it too much. When I leave in a little bit to go get some washer fluid I'll check for a crease.
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