Z4M Engine Mounts / Bolts - **ALERT ALL Z4M DRIVERS**

J

jamiez

New member
Hi

So I think I have the dreaded engine mount bolt issue as described below - car is going into the Dealer tomorrow afternoon to be looked at under extended warranty.

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=22166

I have done some searching but could find any decent photos of the actual engine mounts on the engine and thus their bolts - can anyone help here?

How do you see them / get to them?

For those of you who have torqued existing bolts, replaced snapped bots or even replaced the complete mounts - is this a big labour job? I’m just trying to pre-determine my wait time and what this has cost people in time and parts for those of you out of warranty.

**UPDATE 07 06 2013**

Car went into dealer yesterday and I showed them the SIB http://www.shipkiller.com/SI%20B%2022%2001%2009%20-%20Engine%20and%20Gearbox%20Suspension%20-%20Engine%20Vibration%20-%20Feb%202009.pdf

10 mins later they confirmed that on the right side engine mount bracket - 2 bolts had worked free and were missing and as a result all the strain was placed on the remaining 2 bolts on that side. As a result and extended driving a 3rd bolt snapped which cause the engine to slip down (around the final bolt on the bracket) and thus the vibration/noise was being cause due to the engine sump touching the anti roll bar (ARB).

They didnt have the correct bolts in stock and also needed to drill the snapped bolt out so I am rebooked back in for 2 weeks for the full job to get done. They said they would need the car for 2 days in order to strip it down and see if anything else neded to be replaced and to then submit the claim to Mondial BMW warranty.

In the short term they used some bolts for the 2 empty slots and torqued them to the correct settings - no more vibration.

I cannot see why this would not be covered under warranty - but am armed and braced just in case.

Wanted to make others aware again (i know others have) - but this is a serious issue which can hit anyone at anytime and no check or service will catch this. Shocking BMW didnt do a recall on this!!

Will keep you posted with my claim

Cheers
Jamie

Cheers
Jamie
 
I did mine myself and changed the mounts .... Took me 6 hours but on my back... Using a lift no more than 4 hours.... If they have completely failed get the car inspected as other damage may be done ...


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Are we talking about the mount that also holds the bracket for the Vanos pressure cylinder?

EDIT -> ok, I've been reading the links and it is indeed the same mount.
I was under my car recently and noticed the vanos cylinder dangling free in the air :? , shortly after I found two engine mount bolts that had come lose :o
I assumed it was a fault of the previous owner/mechanic but now I know this is a feature of the Z4 M :|

In my Lotus the rearview mirror would fall off and silly stuff like that, but the Zed is in a different league...
 
Beedub said:
I did mine myself and changed the mounts .... Took me 6 hours but on my back... Using a lift no more than 4 hours.... If they have completely failed get the car inspected as other damage may be done ...


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Click to expand...


Cheers for this - hopefully it will be less time if its just a bolt - but this is good info just to know.

When you say on your back - i presume under a jack and axel stands?
What tools were needed?

Any pics of their location on the car?
 
Here is a couple sources of information. I did my passenger side with some Nordlocs driver I only replaced the one I could reach. The others will have to wait until I change out motor mounts.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3887169&postcount=39

or here about 3/4 down the page.

http://www.billswebspace.com/bmwmc.htm
 
jamiez said:
Beedub said:
I did mine myself and changed the mounts .... Took me 6 hours but on my back... Using a lift no more than 4 hours.... If they have completely failed get the car inspected as other damage may be done ...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Cheers for this - hopefully it will be less time if its just a bolt - but this is good info just to know.

When you say on your back - i presume under a jack and axel stands?
What tools were needed?

Any pics of their location on the car?
Click to expand...


yup on my back with axle stands, ramps and a floor jack, it was a total pain in the ass but im really pleased i did it myself.... i needed Tq wrench, numerous and i mean numerous lengths of extentions, UJ joints and wobble ends, frame blts are Tq'd to 21nm and the motor mounts are 44nm....
 
How expensive would these be to get replaced by an Indy as a sort of preventative maintenance?

6 hrs labour + parts?
 
StevenH72 said:
How expensive would these be to get replaced by an Indy as a sort of preventative maintenance?

6 hrs labour + parts?
Click to expand...

I know that how long it too bedub - but i imagine it would be less time if you have the car up on a ramp and all the correct tools - circa 4 hours maybe. i will post up how long it took BMW when they do it
 
Have we got any pics of this? would like to look out of interest now! havent noticed any strange noises or anything though.
 
jimmybell said:
Have we got any pics of this? would like to look out of interest now! havent noticed any strange noises or anything though.
Click to expand...

Some pics here: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3887169&postcount=39

Although they are not obvious where on the car they are - so need more zoomed out pics - if you want to take some when you check? :) :poke:
 
So is it the bolts that are the problem? Would replacing the bolts (as a preventative measure) fix the issue for the long term, or would it just buy you a bit of time before the replacement bolts potential snap also?
 
Hah - i don't recognise anything in those pics so gona be a bit of fun trying to find them! ..if i do .. ill take a pic if it's light enough!
 
jimmybell said:
Hah - i don't recognise anything in those pics so gona be a bit of fun trying to find them! ..if i do .. ill take a pic if it's light enough!
Click to expand...

If you do, I may be calling upon your services later in the summer :wink: :thumbsup:
 
UPDATE -

12th June - BMW said "Sorry, BMW are unable to assist at this time"

12th June - I wrote back "....please resubmit as a Warranty claim and not Goodwil....and find out why this was not recalled in the 1st place....link to SIB etc "

13th June - BMW said "BMW insured warranty covers mechnical defects of a component and would not cover this failure, hence our goodwill request.......however we appriciate your position and will resubmit"

14tth June - BMW said "Good news!!! BMW have agreed to cover repairs in Full...."

Car booked in for 25th June - not sure what else they will need to replace - poss ARB arm.

RESULT!

So those of you with BMW warranty/extended warranty - get this sorted ASAP!

Cheers

Jamie
 
Cheers guys - it angers me when they refuse generall on 1st attemp and then approve on the 2nd after kicking up a stink! Terrible customer service - but just imagine how many valid claims get rejected with this service.

I asked for a written reason as to why this fault was not officially recalled....given the danger associated - imagine if all 4 bolts came loose / snapped!
 
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