A Columns squeak-->A column replacement guidance needed!

[VENDAR]

Hi everyone! Just as the title says i have one last squeak to solve before i am 100% soundproof. The plastics of the windshield columns squeak ( red circle on photo) when i go over uneven road or small holes etc. If i push the column plastic with my hand i can easily move it. Is there any way to remove it and insert some felt tape? Anyone had this before? Anyone knows what to do?

I am afraid and frustrated when i think i need to go to bmw because they will charge me a huge amount of money and i am sure that they won't fix anything.... They don't bother to check seriously, most of the times they just spray some silicone spray and say "give it some time to heal and if it happens again bring the car back" .

I have found all squeak problem solutions inside here and i am grateful for this!Thank you all!

 

[VENDAR]

Anyone?

 

[PerryGunn]

Try

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22927

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2193

 

[VENDAR]

First of all thank you for your answer! Now i know they are called A pillars which is quite helpful thank you for that as well. I checked the topics that you sugested and i think they will help me solve my problem. I will give feedback when i fix this.

I read something in one of the two topics about hood alignment. How much does this cost? Is there a way to validate that the bmw stealership will actually do the alignment if i leave the car and go pick it up after they are done or only good faith? I hear a bit of wind from the driver's window and hood alignment could fix it. ( i tried to align window but i didn't get 100% soundproof so i think aligning the hood might do the trick).

 

[VENDAR]

Can someone tell me how to remove and replace the A pillars? It seems pretty straight forward but i am afraid i might brake anything unintentionally. Anyone done it before?

 

[VENDAR]

Tried to find the TIS e-book but it says i need to have 32bit windows for it to work but i have 64 home windows 7 meaning that i can't run it. Anyone who has TIS can take a screenshot on how to change A column and post it here? I would be forever grateful!

 

[markeg]

Can someone tell me how to remove and replace the A pillars? It seems pretty straight forward but i am afraid i might brake anything unintentionally. Anyone done it before?

Yep- assuming you mean the internal a-pillar trims, it's fairly straight forward. You need to remove the screws from the top (look around the sun visor) and the rubber seal around the door. Then it just up clips and removes upwards - it's slotted behind the front dash at the bottom.

 

[Mau]

It is extremely easy (forgive me for the extremely poor quality Blackberry photos).

Only thing you need is a Philips screwdriver. Each visor is attached with two screws:



1. Undo these four screws, remove the visors.

2. The centre upper part of the A style can now be removed by simply wiggling a bit either left or right and pushing a bit up and using very little force. When this entire bit has become loose, unclip the wiring from the light in the middle. You will then be left with this view:



and have this as a seperate bit:



3. simply lift out the plastic side bits of the A pillar. You will note there is a clip at the bottom holding these in place in your dash. This is why you have to lift them up, in line with teh A pillar. This is the left one:



4. Insulate ans put beg together. You will find there is virtually no insulation in these plastic bits, touching the metal of the A-pillars directly. I used quite a bit of these dampening bitumen mats used for door isolation as well. Both on the platsic bits and at the points where metal and plastic touch on the metal as well:



Works like a charm and nothing more than 30 minutes of work, including a small beer ...

 

[VENDAR]

THank you both for your replies. Why did you insulate the holes and how did the insulation help with squeaking? I was thinking of puting some felt tape at the points the plastic meets the car body, is this the same thing?Can you pinpoint any cheap ebay seller for the material you used to insulate?