Another example of BMW shoddy design/build quality..

[Maniac]

So as the rain has stopped, I thought I'd tackle that long standing tick/crack noise from the rear deck.

I thought I'd narrowed it down to the somewhat common roll hoop plastic rubbing. Sort of.. Look what greeted me once I'd got the roll hoop apart..

This over tightening and constant pressure from the roof mechanicals has snapped this brittle plastic in multiple places. Cheap plastic being held in place by insufficient means. There are two of these tiny tabs along the whole length of plastic behind the hoops and into the boot. I see this being very common as these cars age.

This is the plastic strip along the boot edge that the two tabs hold in place (the trim tool edge is resting on it);

These cars are really starting to get on my Christmas enhanced tits.. And as its trim its not covered under insured warranty.

 

[mr wilks]

Yeah . agreed
MOT last week & mine needed both horns replacing & apparently its a known fault , never ever heard of anyones car needing a new horn let alone 2 :thumbsdown:

 

[TitanTim]

Its a shame but all manufacturers are going the same way, granted your supposed to be paying more for a premium brand :x This is why I love cars such as the new Suzuki Swift Sport etc, cheap as chips to buy new but still great build quality for the money and if things do fall off it doesn't feel as though you've been ripped off

Look at this way, as the plastic has cracked just shows how well its screwed together

Tim.

 

[andysat]

FFS!!!! -they would of said its not guaranteed anyway now because you have removed the trim yourself,are they a cheap replacement?-even though they may go again in the future

 

[Maniac]

FFS!!!! -they would of said its not guaranteed anyway now because you have removed the trim yourself,are they a cheap replacement?-even though they may go again in the future

It's BMW, it won't be a cheap part to replace. I'm going to take it to the dealer tomorrow to see if I can get a goodwill replacement, or if it can be wangled under insured warranty. I don't see why my opening the roll hoop cover can void any claim on this trim, in any event I've put it all back together and they can see that the plastic just moves around.

Failing that ill take it off and glue the parts instead, I've had enough of all the expense and running around. Never ever had so many problems with any car I've owned and this one cost £48,000! Three times what I've ever paid for cheaper brands I've owned and haven't had half the issues. I'm going with Tims approach next, a cheap car.

 

[bigdog]

If you glue them. also make sure to add a larger washer top and bottom or fashion your own to match the shape. That will greatly add to the strength. If you have that rear deck off. Seems you could also put on a few little silicon self stick anti slip pads. That way you may not need to crank down that tab so much to keep it from moving and making noise.

 

[Anonymous]

BMW build quality is crap! I think they are riding the crest of the wave in terms of reputation built up years ago, whilst at the moment they are crap.

My replacement car doesn't leak, but intermittently rattles! It's not what you expect from a 39k car!

 

[TitanTim]

BMW build quality is crap! I think they are riding the crest of the wave in terms of reputation built up years ago, whilst at the moment they are crap.

My replacement car doesn't leak, but intermittently rattles! It's not what you expect from a 39k car!

I wouldn't say its exactly crap Kevin but it could be better, I find it disapointing when reading threads on other forums, e.g. rusty seat bases on the new F20, to me that smacks of using cheaper parts suppliers and cost cutting whilst still charging a premium in the end product. Compared to what I've owned before, Vauxhalls and Peugeots, BMW to me is still miles ahead, the two Pug 207CCs I had brand new were appalling in build quality and aftersales experience. Apart from odd the water drips on the Z4 I seem to have evaded any rattles etc. The two 1 Series I had were great, ran faultlessly and nothing rattled or broke on them. I think though as Maniac mentioned when your spending nearly 50K you would expect better. End of the day the top of the range Z4 won't be any better built than the bottom range model.

Tim.

 

[srhutch]

Yeah . agreed
MOT last week & mine needed both horns replacing & apparently its a known fault , never ever heard of anyones car needing a new horn let alone 2 :thumbsdown:

I know gannet had to replace his, and I did on my wifes Astra. Bloddy thing had just filled up with watre being the snail type and had been fitted with the exit facing up

 

[Maniac]

On the plus side it appears to be a £40 part (the entire top trim) so perhaps not scarily expensive should I have to cough up for it... :?

 

[andysat]

On the plus side it appears to be a £40 part (the entire top trim) so perhaps not scarily expensive should I have to cough up for it... :?

Anything under three figures is a cheap part!

 

[aquazi]

Could you not try a plastic weld?

Soldering iron and and left of cd/ dvd cases should do it.

Then dremel and redrill a hole.

 

[andysat]

Could you not try a plastic weld?

Soldering iron and and left of cd/ dvd cases should do it.

Then dremel and redrill a hole.

Its a shame you have to faff at all with a car costing nearly 50k!

 

[Anonymous]

BMW build quality is crap! I think they are riding the crest of the wave in terms of reputation built up years ago, whilst at the moment they are crap.

My replacement car doesn't leak, but intermittently rattles! It's not what you expect from a 39k car!

I wouldn't say its exactly crap Kevin but it could be better, I find it disapointing when reading threads on other forums, e.g. rusty seat bases on the new F20, to me that smacks of using cheaper parts suppliers and cost cutting whilst still charging a premium in the end product. Compared to what I've owned before, Vauxhalls and Peugeots, BMW to me is still miles ahead, the two Pug 207CCs I had brand new were appalling in build quality and aftersales experience. Apart from odd the water drips on the Z4 I seem to have evaded any rattles etc. The two 1 Series I had were great, ran faultlessly and nothing rattled or broke on them. I think though as Maniac mentioned when your spending nearly 50K you would expect better. End of the day the top of the range Z4 won't be any better built than the bottom range model.

Tim.

I would Tim. I've now had 2 brand new e89's. Both worth £39,050 (before discounts)...about £33k after discount.

The first one had a leak that they couldn't fix and the second one has rattles.

I'm sorry, but my perceived expectations from a nearly £40k car from a premium brand are that it should be perfect.

I appreciate I am expecting too much, but I am disappointed. Why cant they get simple things like trim right? Audi seem to do pretty well.

When we got our 1'er in 2011 it was brand new and had rattles. That went in and to be fair, has been silent since. I am now considering taking the Z in for them to look at the rattles, but have held off due to the nightmare with the submarine version I originally got!

In my opinion, BMW no longer deserve the "premium German" brand image that they have. That is just my opinion based on 1 series, Z4 etc. I would expect perhaps that 5 series, 7 series etc still deserve it...am I wrong?

 

[micz4]

It's a great shame that such a beautiful car has so many issues for so many owners.I was lucky with reliability but unlucky with the abysmal residuals when i came to part with it.I just checked the leading trade website and 2012 model 2.0 M Sport's are changing hands for £22000

 

[Maniac]

Don't get me wrong, I still love my car, but dear god BMW really need to hear about these problems and do something about it!

 

[OwenT]

Mines been in for 2 rattles... One solved (a-pillar), one not (under instrument binnacle)... Annoying & there are other annoying minor buzzes & rattles in the cabin, but it's far better than any other convertible I've had...


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[ronk]

If you consider how many components, sub assemblies and assemblies are combined to make a car - some of them cosmetic, some of them highly stressed and some in a very hostile environment - then the odd rattle or glitch can be forgiven - providing they are fixed of course!

 

[Maniac]

If you consider how many components, sub assemblies and assemblies are combined to make a car - some of them cosmetic, some of them highly stressed and some in a very hostile environment - then the odd rattle or glitch can be forgiven - providing they are fixed of course!

I'd agree if I hadn't had;

A new exhaust due to a rattling exhaust flap (common on 35i/is), a new heated rear screen as it stopped working, a new high pressure fuel pump (common on 35i/is), numerous rattles fixed, three cracked 296 wheels (common), new roof stowage tray as bracket broke, new rear lamp clusters due to water ingress (common), new DCT gearbox due to a slight vibration in stop start traffic, new steering column due to a slight knocking noise when warm, plus the usual software updates... I've had all the common issues and a few besides.

Essentially its a bad idea to get a 1st gen model, wait a few years for the bugs to be worked out or you'll spend numerous trips to the dealers while they sort 'em out...

edit: edited to clarify list and why.

 

[andysat]

A new exhaust!!