Damaged thread on suspension mount - avoid?

H

houseofscouse

Member
Hi all.

I am due to view an '04 E85 this evening that mentions a damaged thread on a suspension mount. How "bad news" is this? I assume this means the top mount and therefore would in theory be replaceable, or am I missing something?

There is also mention of an airbag light being on, but I intend to plug in to see what code it's throwing.

thanks for any feedback.
 
If its a top front mount the strut needs to come out and compress the coil spring to remove the mount...they are not too expensive.
If its the tread on the centre nut of the strut then its a new front shock unit.
Rear shock mounts / shock is easier :thumbsup:
 
What a bizarre thing to mention. Generally bolts borked in the process of getting them in or out tend to be kept quiet about - it's the next mug with spanners that gets the joy of sorting it.

Only two reasons to mention it that I can think of:

1) he's ridiculously honest in mentioning trifles

or

2) it's not actually done up properly and it's a vague indication that things need doing sharpish before the entire strut comes adrift on the motorway.
 
He didn't post the full reg on the ad as he once had a car cloned. As a result he's listed the MOT advisories in the ad instead. Off to see it tomorrow night now due to last minute family stuff at my end tonight.
 
houseofscouse said:
He didn't post the full reg on the ad as he once had a car cloned. As a result he's listed the MOT advisories in the ad instead. Off to see it tomorrow night now due to last minute family stuff at my end tonight.


So the damage is something the MOT has picked up?
Click to expand...
 
I'm sorry???! Mentioned in the MoT?!! Honestly???? I've never heard of the state of a bolt getting reported.

Thinking about it he must be paraphrasing and using the word "thread" instead for something else. $deity knows what tho. One has to assume a reasonable benign thing for an advisory (ever car I've ever run is littered with them) but if you're traveling any great distance, I'd demand the reg so you can look it up. Nothing more irritating than getting there and finding he mistyped "terminal rust."
 
I recall someone posting something very similar to this some time ago.. It was the big nylock nut on the top of the strut that was damaged or to be more accurate the hex key in the end of the damper rod that had been mullered.

Incidentally posting your reg number in public is actually a very good defence in case you do get cloned.
 
That seems unlikely at an MoT, unless someone asked for it to be inspected. For a start there ought to be a dustcap (no lifting covers to inspect things.) But even allowing for it being missing, unless something is obviously loose it's not a fail or particularly noteworthy. A mullered hex doesn't even stops the strut being dismantled (impact gun or mole grips on the ram.)

(Not being argumentative, just fascinated. And I spent the day doing new springs!)
 
For all I know it might have been sold by the time I am available to view it tomorrow. I am intrigued too. Will let you know how I get on either way.
 
Okay.....so..........

Got the reg plate off him. No mention of the damaged thread. Only advisories are Oil Leak (standard!) and rear discs worn.

Bit more of a chat has revealed:
- SRS airbag light on;
- intermittent bulb warning light comes and goes;
- rattle on the drivers door when closing it.

I've seen threads for all of the above. The drivers door doesn't concern me and the intermittent bulb light issue sounds like it could be something as simple as a dodgy filament. The SRS airbag light though...hmmm. Worried this could be the central module.

96k on the clock so mileage is low for age.

What do you reckon? Still worth a visit?
 
houseofscouse said:
Okay.....so..........

Got the reg plate off him. No mention of the damaged thread. Only advisories are Oil Leak (standard!) and rear discs worn.

Bit more of a chat has revealed:
- SRS airbag light on;
- intermittent bulb warning light comes and goes;
- rattle on the drivers door when closing it.

I've seen threads for all of the above. The drivers door doesn't concern me and the intermittent bulb light issue sounds like it could be something as simple as a dodgy filament. The SRS airbag light though...hmmm. Worried this could be the central module.

96k on the clock so mileage is low for age.

What do you reckon? Still worth a visit?
Click to expand...
Even if it is the central module its relatively straightforward to swap and code. Speak to bigwinn or street.
But it could even just be because the battery was disconnected or left to run flat.
Had exactly that recently on a friends car and my code reader cleared it.
Though it wouldn't have passed the MOT with that lit would it?
Ask if the battery has had any issues or been disconnected after the MOT.
 
houseofscouse said:
Hi all.

I am due to view an '04 E85 this evening that mentions a damaged thread on a suspension mount. How "bad news" is this? I assume this means the top mount and therefore would in theory be replaceable, or am I missing something?

There is also mention of an airbag light being on, but I intend to plug in to see what code it's throwing.

thanks for any feedback.
Click to expand...

Were you seeing the car advertised?

As Martin says it shouldn’t have passed the mot with airbag light on

Not a huge job… but not ideal
 
I am, yes. Viewing it tonight bigwinn. About an hour or so's drive from me. I'm trying to lend a better obd scanner than mine so I can get a read on the airbag fault for this evening.
Car is SORN which I'd expect as he seems to have a number of cars. He'd said he's had it 18 months and the V5C reflects that online.
I suspect the airbag light is since the MOT in Feb - that's what I'm expecting him to say.
Just nervous due to the cost of the safety information module new from BMW ( c.800 quid)
 
Airbag lights are funny things. Because they lock on it's hard to diagnose a permanant or intermittent fault. I can imagine a helpful garage resetting it for the MoT and it staying off for a day or two before coming back. However, that usually makes it a ba$tard of a fault find.

If it was me, I'd practise my plumber's face (imagine sucking a really sour lemon thru a gap in your teeth) and go along with £1800 in twenties and say "take it or leave it."[1]



[1] I really wish I could be that hard nosed buying cars!
 
houseofscouse said:
I'm up for the work...awkward as it is. Just reeling from the cost of a new module having spoken to BMW this morning.
Click to expand...
Funnily enough, between me, bigwinn and umfaan we have helped out a girl in Norwich who needed a replacement centre airbag module.
She was quoted £655 from BMW (maybe she missed the VAT bit?)
Anyway, she now has a good second-hand compatible module which will just need coding (as would a new one).
So don't let that put you off. You should be able to sort it for a fraction of the price.
 
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