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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

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Smartbear
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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off. (Solved - maybe...)

Post by Smartbear » Fri Dec 14, 2018 5:12 am

enzed4 wrote: Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:08 am I have just picked up the car from the garage. I took the mechanic out in it this morning and after thinking it was diff rumble he finally heard the noise and said it sounded like a dry piston on the front left shock. It was hard to reproduce as it happens most often when the left and right shocks are articulated differently, ie, not when braking or accelerating in a straight line. We found a nice smooth incline that was a bit uneven (side to side) which made the noise easy to reproduce when going up or down it.
After having the car for most of the day they have said they sprayed some CRC in it and the noise seems to have gone.
I've taken it for a test drive over the same place as this morning and it is definitely not making the clunking noise.
The ride still feels 'strange' compared to the old E85 so it must be the Bilstein shocks - maybe that's just normal but I'm not used to feeling movement in the front end.
Oh well, time to move on - as long as it's not making the noise I'm sure I'll get used to the different ride characteristics.
Hi, how did they manage to spray CRC (whatever that is!) inside the shock? The damper itself is sealed surely & if the piston was dry as they suspect it would have no damping, you would notice that.
It doesn’t sound like a cure to me, I went from an e85 to an e89 and never picked up on movement from the front end.
To be honest my e89 felt tighter handling wise than the e85, I’d take the car to a different garage for a second opinion.
Rob
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e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off. (Solved - maybe...)

Post by enzed4 » Fri Dec 14, 2018 9:31 am

Smartbear wrote: Fri Dec 14, 2018 5:12 am
enzed4 wrote: Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:08 am I have just picked up the car from the garage. I took the mechanic out in it this morning and after thinking it was diff rumble he finally heard the noise and said it sounded like a dry piston on the front left shock. It was hard to reproduce as it happens most often when the left and right shocks are articulated differently, ie, not when braking or accelerating in a straight line. We found a nice smooth incline that was a bit uneven (side to side) which made the noise easy to reproduce when going up or down it.
After having the car for most of the day they have said they sprayed some CRC in it and the noise seems to have gone.
I've taken it for a test drive over the same place as this morning and it is definitely not making the clunking noise.
The ride still feels 'strange' compared to the old E85 so it must be the Bilstein shocks - maybe that's just normal but I'm not used to feeling movement in the front end.
Oh well, time to move on - as long as it's not making the noise I'm sure I'll get used to the different ride characteristics.
Hi, how did they manage to spray CRC (whatever that is!) inside the shock? The damper itself is sealed surely & if the piston was dry as they suspect it would have no damping, you would notice that.
It doesn’t sound like a cure to me, I went from an e85 to an e89 and never picked up on movement from the front end.
To be honest my e89 felt tighter handling wise than the e85, I’d take the car to a different garage for a second opinion.
Rob
Bingo! I think the garage just wanted to be rid of the problem, but at least they seem to have identified it (which I more or less guessed in my first post :roll: ). I won't be using them again, I'll take it to a shock shop.
Hopefully they can be sorted without too much drama
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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off. (Solved - maybe...)

Post by enzed4 » Sun Dec 23, 2018 9:33 am

john-e89 wrote: Fri Dec 14, 2018 1:06 am
enzed4 wrote: Fri Dec 14, 2018 12:08 am
john-e89 wrote: Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:16 am Whilst annoying the fan thing is perfectly normal, they all do that. As you say it’d be nice to be able to cancel it out.
But it makes no sense. Why would the fan turn itself on, when it was switched off the last time the car was driven? Surely it should remember the last state it was in when you turn off the car?
It doesn’t make any sense for sure but that’s how BMW have installed it. I’ve seen many posts on the subject all saying the same thing, you just have to put up with it I’m afraid.
Fixed it via coding in Carly :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
It now correctly remembers the last state of the fan/heater controls when I switch off the car. Meaning if I turn off the fan, it stays off when I start the car again the next day.
Win :)
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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

Post by enzed4 » Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:18 am

Car is booked into a suspension/shock specialist Wednesday. Fingers crossed for this time.
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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

Post by enzed4 » Wed Jan 09, 2019 5:34 am

Took the car to a suspension specialist today. As soon as I described the symptoms, the mechanic asked if I had Bilstein shocks, as this was a common problem they see regularly with Subarus that are fitted with them. Apparently the internal parts (shims/discs?) do wear and the shocks need to be refurbished at least once in their lifetime.
They're off to be overhauled today, so I'm without the Zed until they're back next week.
Really hoping this is the fix, so I can start enjoying the car more (and start looking at other things like the thermostat - car seems to take ages for the water temp to rise :roll: )
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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

Post by enzed4 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 5:28 am

I called the mechanic's today for an update as it's been over a week in the shop. Apparently the shafts are also worn/damaged in the shocks. There are no spares in stock, and lead time from Germany is 2 months :headbang: :headbang:
As an added bonus, the Z4 will be sitting outside in the weather for 2 months (while the battery drains away and probably throws up various faults :cry: ). They offered to cover it, but all I can think of is some canvas tarp smacking and rubbing against the paintwork every time the wind picks up. Probably better to leave it to face the elements as it is.
Not very happy, but what can you do? At least it should fix the 'clunking' noises that have been bothering me since I bought it.
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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

Post by Crazy Harry » Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:58 am

How long :o

Are you not able to source a new pair (of bilstein's) quicker than that or even a second hand pair to keep you on the road - and your Zed code free. I mean even if they are used can they be any worse than the ones which have gone for referb and you can always sell them on when your done with them. If you can find new pair in the UK or the States shipping has got to be days not months.

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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

Post by dans6490 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 9:01 am

Not sure what they’re charging to rebuild the old ones but it may be cost effective to buy new ones. No long wait and you can easily replace your self.

Admittedly I haven’t checked if you can buy just one but it’s got to be worth a try.

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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

Post by enzed4 » Fri Jan 18, 2019 1:07 am

dans6490 wrote: Thu Jan 17, 2019 9:01 am Not sure what they’re charging to rebuild the old ones but it may be cost effective to buy new ones. No long wait and you can easily replace your self.

Admittedly I haven’t checked if you can buy just one but it’s got to be worth a try.
I think it's going to cost about $1000 per shock (was about $600ish before the shafts needed replacing). I doubt I could even find replacement ones easily, and I was told the whole suspension (front and rear) would cost around $7,000-10,000 to replace (divide by 2 to get approx cost in £). The car dealer has also said they will stand behind the sale and make good the repairs, but I haven't heard back from them yet to say they've approved the new repair cost.
Crazy Harry wrote: Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:58 am How long :o

Are you not able to source a new pair (of bilstein's) quicker than that or even a second hand pair to keep you on the road - and your Zed code free. I mean even if they are used can they be any worse than the ones which have gone for referb and you can always sell them on when your done with them. If you can find new pair in the UK or the States shipping has got to be days not months.
Unlikely I could source new Bilstein's the same as what' in it (adjustable). Second hand ones would be even harder to find and I would find it hard to sell them after the 2 months (small market for E89 parts). I am stumped as to why it takes so long to ship them, it's not like they're super large or heavy. Maybe Bilstein have to make them, or there's a backorder for them - I don't know, but it does seem strange in this day and age.
The wife's happy to go for a trip to Germany to pick them up but I'm not sure even my best man-maths can work out an angle to justify that :lol:
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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

Post by road warrior » Fri Jan 18, 2019 1:34 am

in a way its irrelevant, but as i have just tried to get some bilsteins i found nobody has any b4's - all on back order it seems, more investigations reveal that bilstein are a bastard of a company to work for, bad management, and very unhappy workers, all swearing they will never work for them again, so with that in mind i went elsewhere and instead of a projected 31 days :o i had some from elsewhere in 2 days .
If you ever think I'm off my rocker.. Just put me back in it and walk away... It's the kindest thing
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.

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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

Post by enzed4 » Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:23 am

road warrior wrote: Fri Jan 18, 2019 1:34 am in a way its irrelevant, but as i have just tried to get some bilsteins i found nobody has any b4's - all on back order it seems, more investigations reveal that bilstein are a bastard of a company to work for, bad management, and very unhappy workers, all swearing they will never work for them again, so with that in mind i went elsewhere and instead of a projected 31 days :o i had some from elsewhere in 2 days .
And on a similar semi-related note: Bilstein is a German company, so unless my German is way off, shouldn't it be pronounced to rhyme with mine, and not steen?
The garage keeps calling them Bil-steens so it made me wonder what's correct.
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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

Post by road warrior » Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:08 am

enzed4 wrote: Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:23 am
road warrior wrote: Fri Jan 18, 2019 1:34 am in a way its irrelevant, but as i have just tried to get some bilsteins i found nobody has any b4's - all on back order it seems, more investigations reveal that bilstein are a bastard of a company to work for, bad management, and very unhappy workers, all swearing they will never work for them again, so with that in mind i went elsewhere and instead of a projected 31 days :o i had some from elsewhere in 2 days .
And on a similar semi-related note: Bilstein is a German company, so unless my German is way off, shouldn't it be pronounced to rhyme with mine, and not steen?
The garage keeps calling them Bil-steens so it made me wonder what's correct.
I think bilsteins is pronounced "not available " :rofl:
If you ever think I'm off my rocker.. Just put me back in it and walk away... It's the kindest thing
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.

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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

Post by enzed4 » Fri Jan 18, 2019 11:10 am

road warrior wrote: Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:08 am
enzed4 wrote: Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:23 am
road warrior wrote: Fri Jan 18, 2019 1:34 am in a way its irrelevant, but as i have just tried to get some bilsteins i found nobody has any b4's - all on back order it seems, more investigations reveal that bilstein are a bastard of a company to work for, bad management, and very unhappy workers, all swearing they will never work for them again, so with that in mind i went elsewhere and instead of a projected 31 days :o i had some from elsewhere in 2 days .
And on a similar semi-related note: Bilstein is a German company, so unless my German is way off, shouldn't it be pronounced to rhyme with mine, and not steen?
The garage keeps calling them Bil-steens so it made me wonder what's correct.
I think bilsteins is pronounced "not available " :rofl:
:lol:
Actually I googled it - Bilstein is German for 'interminable wait' :x
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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

Post by road warrior » Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:12 pm

enzed4 wrote: Fri Jan 18, 2019 11:10 am
road warrior wrote: Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:08 am
enzed4 wrote: Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:23 am
And on a similar semi-related note: Bilstein is a German company, so unless my German is way off, shouldn't it be pronounced to rhyme with mine, and not steen?
The garage keeps calling them Bil-steens so it made me wonder what's correct.
I think bilsteins is pronounced "not available " :rofl:
:lol:
Actually I googled it - Bilstein is German for 'interminable wait' :x
i bought sachs at a fraction of the price and arrived 2 days later..
hasta la vista baby ! :lol:
If you ever think I'm off my rocker.. Just put me back in it and walk away... It's the kindest thing
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.

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Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.

Post by enzed4 » Tue Jan 22, 2019 1:19 am

Some better news: Turns out the 3 month delay was because gas shocks are treated as dangerous cargo and need special documentation etc to ship from Germany to NZ.
Since they're only sending replacement shafts there's no gas involved, and the turnaround time is now estimated at about 3 weeks.
While it's sitting at the shop I've asked them to replace the spark plugs as it's on 77,000km and spark plugs usually replaced around 80-100,000km.
Air filters were washed and oiled before it went into the shop, and I'll probably give it an oil and filter change when I get it back.
Might be able to start enjoying it then :lol:
(Although, the rear tyres seem a bit rubbish - I bought them cheap second hand and they don't seem to grip very well. Time for some new ones I think).
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Gone: 2010 35i DCT
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