Audi A4 B9 Audi Sound System rattle

Syed Shah

Cars are a mans best friend, then dogs..
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hi guys,

just wanted to ask if anyone here with the standard audi sound system experiences a rattle from the speakers..

mine are really starting to pi*s me off now tbh. its mainly the left one but the driver side does it occasionally. its gotten worse now that the car is on nearly 15k

anyone else have this issue? any repairs?
 
I have the 10 speaker set up and mine rattles like crazy at the slightest hint of bass, drives me insane! Always the passenger side left. (Parcel shelf)

Pulled over mid drive the other day to take a look at it and there's a grey wire which bounces off the cone that's causing it. Sticking the wire to the cone might solve the issue but as mines a lease I dont want to make any DIY adjustments to it

Considering taking it to Audi but highly doubt they'll have a fix for it. Now that you've brought it up though I might just do this week.
 
Last edited:
My sub does... it’s awful
 
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From past experience Audi are actually pretty good at fixing this sort of thing - it's a premium brand, rattles aren't tolerated. For all we know the dealers might have a technical bulletin with a known cause/fix.
 
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I have so many issues with the base sound system including the drivers side speaker next to the steering wheel sounding like the cone is torn. I demonstrated it to the dealership but because they can only hear it when I play one particular track ( a quiet solo organ piece by Bach ) they say there’s nothing they can do. The parcel shelf behind the back seats is starting to rattle now too. I don’t have rattles in the door or below the windscreen....yet. It is easily the worst system I have had in a car.


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Then go to another dealer. It's a people thing unfortunately and not all dealers are equal. Can you name and shame the woeful outfit that turned your request down? Equally if you are not happy call Audi Customer Services and tell them - shoddy customer service is not what Audi are about.
 
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It’s my 3rd Audi from this particular dealership and they are a block from my work. The next closest dealership is an hour away. I am in very slow discussions with Audi Of America about the terrible base audio system. I have spent months trying all sorts of things to improve it. Short of replacing and adding components there’s not much to be done. The salesperson did not recommend replacing components on a lease even though the car audio company said they revert back to stock before lease end. I’m happy to post my audio improvement adventures if anyone is interested?


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It drives me crazy man.

Mine is a lease also but I know Audi can do better because the RS3 my cousin has doesn’t rattle at all with the system he has in there..

Really annoys me. I’m going to take it in soon as well.
 
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It drives me crazy man.

Mine is a lease also but I know Audi can do better because the RS3 my cousin has doesn’t rattle at all with the system he has in there..

Really annoys me. I’m going to take it in soon as well.

Yep the speakers in the B8.5 are fine aswell.

Probably Audis way of getting the Last laugh coz we didn't upgrade to B&O
 
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Yep the speakers in the B8.5 are fine aswell.

Probably Audis way of getting the Last laugh coz we didn't upgrade to B&O

Worst thing it most probably will be the case. But I am seeing people with the B&O complain as well.
 
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I think mine rattles without any sound coming from it...
 
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i had an issue with the upgraded system - front dashboard speaker. my dealer replaced the trim and its fine now
 
Either way, it's actually very annoying that such little niggles have not been dealt with.. shouldn't be happening on an Audi.
 
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Unfortunately, although you're right it shouldn't happen to an audi, as any mass produced car, they do. I know someone who has just got rid of their Mercedes GLS because of the poor interior build...
 
Unfortunately, although you're right it shouldn't happen to an audi, as any mass produced car, they do. I know someone who has just got rid of their Mercedes GLS because of the poor interior build...

Its really bad. The speaker system on the Merc is actually very bad unless you upgrade to the Burmester system.

Will get it checked by Audi and hope there is a niggle causing it
 
No one should accept rattles in any Audi, period.

Audi engineer and build the cars properly with high quality plastics and interior fittings, designed to fit together properly and specifically not rattle, buzz, squeak or resonate even if you have the basic sound system installed or any other component for that matter.

Within the international motor industry, irrespective of brand Audi is regarded as the exemplar of interior build quality and material utilisation. So if your Audi has an irritating sound go and have a grumble at the dealer and get it fixed. Audi dealers openly admit that their customers are very demanding, it's a premium product at a premium price and it should be perfect.
 
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No one should accept rattles in any Audi, period.

Audi engineer and build the cars properly with high quality plastics and interior fittings, designed to fit together properly and specifically not rattle, buzz, squeak or resonate even if you have the basic sound system installed or any other component for that matter.

Within the international motor industry, irrespective of brand Audi is regarded as the exemplar of interior build quality and material utilisation. So if your Audi has an irritating sound go and have a grumble at the dealer and get it fixed. Audi dealers openly admit that their customers are very demanding, it's a premium product at a premium price and it should be perfect.

Meanwhile back in the real world, outside of the warm embrace of an Audi marketing leaflet... the speakers buzz and rattle on many of these cars and the dealers aren't really ars3d.
 
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That’s fair tbh... I mentioned before I had a Merc C class with 20k and that had all sorts of squeaks and rattles.
I don’t hear anything of the sort on my A4 after 63k - unless it’s cups in holders, or something left in door pockets that is!

I kinda live with the sub, as my music is rather ‘demanding’ of the sub in that regard! Usually if you turn it up loud enough the door speakers typically drown it out!
 
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That’s fair tbh... I mentioned before I had a Merc C class with 20k and that had all sorts of squeaks and rattles.
I don’t hear anything of the sort on my A4 after 63k - unless it’s cups in holders, or something left in door pockets that is!

I kinda live with the sub, as my music is rather ‘demanding’ of the sub in that regard! Usually if you turn it up loud enough the door speakers typically drown it out!

My OCD means that no matter what I do, I can still hear it. It drives me crazy lol!!
 
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My OCD means that no matter what I do, I can still hear it. It drives me crazy lol!!

Same here mate like someone else said my music is very demanding of the sub so there's not a song I cant play without it rattling unless I turn it right down. Ruins the driving experience.

The grey wires in the picture seem to be the culprit. If Audi cant do anything about it im gonna use some masking tape and stick them down

83a51c3823aed3b6c65e3b5a4217a24c.jpg
 
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Same here mate like someone else said my music is very demanding of the sub so there's not a song I cant play without it rattling unless I turn it right down. Ruins the driving experience.

The grey wires in the picture seem to be the culprit. If Audi cant do anything about it im gonna use some masking tape and stick them down

83a51c3823aed3b6c65e3b5a4217a24c.jpg

Exactly the same with me mate. Unless I turn the music down till I can't hear the rattle anymore, it just continues to get on my nerves.

& if you do go ahead and do that, please let me know if it solves the rattle for you. Because I'll be doing the exact same!
 
For all we know the dealers might have a technical bulletin with a known cause/fix.

There's two:

Technical product information Transaction No.: 2051556/3
Sound, A4/A5: rattling noises from door speakers or subwoofer Release date: 17-Aug-2018

Customer statement / workshop findings
Noises from the door speakers.

Technical background
Software issue

Production change
Saloon: Week 23/18
Avant: Week 23/18
Sportback : Week 22/18
Coupé : Week 22/18
Cabriolet: Week 19/18
Saloon China: Week 24/18

Measure
Complete TPI 2017958 and assess whether the complaint is caused by the speaker itself or by body vibrations. If the
speaker can be identified as the source of the noise after removing it an and holding it in your hand, perform the SVM
code 47A006 in the tester menu under Update.
Check whether the complaint is fixed. If not, replace the speaker.

Warranty accounting instructions
For accounting according to the warranty guidelines with Audi AG/the importer observe the following accounting
instructions:
Service number/damage code: 9140 / 0040
When improving the sound insulation of the speakers, use service number of the noise-causing component.
Groundlessly accounted work/replaced parts will be redebited.

Technical product information Transaction No.: 2051047/2
A4, A5: noises from dash panel speaker cover Release date: 12-Jun-2018

Customer statement / workshop findings
Noises from the middle speaker cover of the dash panel in music or phone operation.

Technical background
Vibration noises because of movement between cover and carrier.

Production change
Speaker cover with nonwoven fabric over whole surface.

Measure
Remove the speaker cover with a small plastic wedge.

Note:
In winter the cover should not be removed when it is cold, as the clips could break and fall into the dash panel.
This could cause noises when driving.

Replace the cover with a new with integrated nonwoven fabric.
The part numbers are 8W1819899 or 8W2819899.
 
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Same here mate like someone else said my music is very demanding of the sub so there's not a song I cant play without it rattling unless I turn it right down. Ruins the driving experience.

The grey wires in the picture seem to be the culprit. If Audi cant do anything about it im gonna use some masking tape and stick them down

I can almost guarantee that those wires are not the culprit. The rattles will relate to vibrations of the grill covers or the parcel-shelf elements or both.
 
Looks like I'm going to take a trip down to the dealer so that I can get this sorted tbh. I though that my car didn't have the rattle from the parcel shelf, however upon further inspection, I hear the extra vibrations come in from the parcel shelf as well. So annoying. Hopefully I can get a fix for this.
 
I had a rattle on the left side. Took it in under warranty, got push back.
But to their credit they suggested I sit in the car with the technician and demonstrate it. Once he heard it, they were happy to fix it. Took the door apart, tied everything down.

The problem with sound is things only resonate (vibrate) at certain frequencies. If they just turn on the radio during a test, they may not spot it.

I knew tunes that caused the issue, so that’s what I played when I showed the problem. The issue became apparent immediately.

Problem got fixed and now the sound system sounds as it should.
 
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I had a rattle on the left side. Took it in under warranty, got push back.
But to their credit they suggested I sit in the car with the technician and demonstrate it. Once he heard it, they were happy to fix it. Took the door apart, tied everything down.

The problem with sound is things only resonate (vibrate) at certain frequencies. If they just turn on the radio during a test, they may not spot it.

I knew tunes that caused the issue, so that’s what I played when I showed the problem. The issue became apparent immediately.

Problem got fixed and now the sound system sounds as it should.

You can download tone generator apps for your phone. Fine the frequency that causes the rattle and show the dealer. No argument then.
 
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There's two:

Technical product information Transaction No.: 2051556/3
Sound, A4/A5: rattling noises from door speakers or subwoofer Release date: 17-Aug-2018

Customer statement / workshop findings
Noises from the door speakers.

Technical background
Software issue

Production change
Saloon: Week 23/18
Avant: Week 23/18
Sportback : Week 22/18
Coupé : Week 22/18
Cabriolet: Week 19/18
Saloon China: Week 24/18

Measure
Complete TPI 2017958 and assess whether the complaint is caused by the speaker itself or by body vibrations. If the
speaker can be identified as the source of the noise after removing it an and holding it in your hand, perform the SVM
code 47A006 in the tester menu under Update.
Check whether the complaint is fixed. If not, replace the speaker.

Warranty accounting instructions
For accounting according to the warranty guidelines with Audi AG/the importer observe the following accounting
instructions:
Service number/damage code: 9140 / 0040
When improving the sound insulation of the speakers, use service number of the noise-causing component.
Groundlessly accounted work/replaced parts will be redebited.

Technical product information Transaction No.: 2051047/2
A4, A5: noises from dash panel speaker cover Release date: 12-Jun-2018

Customer statement / workshop findings
Noises from the middle speaker cover of the dash panel in music or phone operation.

Technical background
Vibration noises because of movement between cover and carrier.

Production change
Speaker cover with nonwoven fabric over whole surface.

Measure
Remove the speaker cover with a small plastic wedge.

Note:
In winter the cover should not be removed when it is cold, as the clips could break and fall into the dash panel.
This could cause noises when driving.

Replace the cover with a new with integrated nonwoven fabric.
The part numbers are 8W1819899 or 8W2819899.


Thanks for this does this include B&O set ups?
 
I can almost guarantee that those wires are not the culprit. The rattles will relate to vibrations of the grill covers or the parcel-shelf elements or both.

You were right. I decided to put some tap on the wires and its not made any difference!
 
My car is booked in for the 29th of this month. So we will have to see how this goes
 
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Is this something they will do while you wait?
 
Is this something they will do while you wait?

Nope, I have a courtesy car booked in as they want it for a day or more depending upon the resolve.
 
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Hope you guys find a fix as this type of thing drives my OCD nuts too . I have to make sure I have nothing in the door bins , glove box and centre arm rest that may rattle on top of the vibrations from the sound system
 
Wouldn’t be viable. Most of the work involved is fault-finding. You’d be there for hours.

Yep, hence why I have a courtesy car booked in.

Hope you guys find a fix as this type of thing drives my OCD nuts too . I have to make sure I have nothing in the door bins , glove box and centre arm rest that may rattle on top of the vibrations from the sound system

Mate, this is 100% me as well. My car is empty as hell because of the rattle. It just irritates me big time
 
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I only got the rattle / resonation with talk radio - music was fine - when i took my car in the dealer said it was a known issue and it was dealt with under warranty. Now its great.