It’s been a while…

[ScottR]

Hi all,

Three or so years ago I sold my Sterling Grey E85 3.0 Manual via this forum. I’ve been dropping by the forum pretty frequently regardless.

Fast forward and my son is about to turn 4, my wife and I work exclusively from home and we have very sensible motors, mine being a 640d GranCoupe.

This got me thinking about wanting something a little more enjoyable for the summer. After a number of different ideas you can guess what I ended up back in…

So, after a 6 hour train journey, yes, you guessed it Sterling Grey E85 3.0 Manual number 2 - the only car I’ve ever returned to.

This one is specced rather more luxuriously than my previous iteration -

Sat Nav
BMW Advanced 10 Speaker Stereo
Electric Heated Sports Seats
MSport MFSW
Cruise
Cup holders
GapTech
Electric folding mirrors
Extended Leather Dash, A-Pillars

My last one had 107’s this one has 108’s and that’s probably the only thing I’d swap between them, I’ve always had a soft spot for 107’s on Sterling Grey Z4’s.

A smashing 7 hour drive home from North Wales back to Bournemouth using mostly B-Roads was a fantastic reintroduction to these cars.

I did a fair bit of tinkering with the last one and was acutely aware of how temperamental certain aspects can be, which meanders me to a question for you such knowledgeable folk.

I placed a booster seat in the passenger seat, set the seat all the way back and on start up - an airbag light. It brought back lots of memories of C110+ and clearing codes.

I’ve gone and bought the latest iteration Creator 410 and it’s showing a 98EB error code. Photo below.

Having searched the forum and the wider web, surprisingly few hits. It clears, may stay away for a restart or two but more often than not reappears immediately on start up.

Anyone wise on where to start? Seems the error is for Drivers side door airbag? Nothing to do with me moving the passenger seat?

Pics for the needy of course!

 

[bigwinn]

Always loved a sterling 3.0!

I 100% had this code and it was inconsistent.

It was slight corrosion in the door connector. A spray with contact cleaner solved it

Just remember to take the battery off before disconnecting etc

Stuart

 

[bigwinn]

And get some 107s on it!!

oke:

 

[Mr Tidy]

Welcome back to Z4 ownership Scott.

I'm not sure why but IMHO 107s look better on a Roadster than 108s, which don't tend to look good for too long anyway!

 

[ScottR]

Thanks bigwinn! I was surprised that on search there were only 2 hits! When you say door connector is it the connection into the airbag itself? Does the airbag need to come off or can it be disconnected in situ?

I am keeping an eye out for 107’s in various places so will do

 

[bigwinn]

Scott

It’s the multi plug that sits in the a pillar covered by a rubber thingy and trunk.

8mm bolt holds it in the door frame, pop it off by levering it up, then you can see the plug which is a slide type, very similar to those under the seats. Pop a screwdriver into it to unlatch the mech- clean and spray contact cleaner into it

 

[bigwinn]

 

[RMB]

Welcome back, from a fellow Bournemouth Zeder.
See you on the road.

 

[ScottR]

Ah yes, got it! Thanks I’ll get to it over the next week and report back. Otherwise I’m just hoping this sunny weather persists a little longer :driving: Thanks all

 

[Mike6]

Do you know how old the battery is. They throw all manner of error codes when past their best.

 

[ScottR]

Had a moment to give the door connector a blast with contact cleaner this afternoon. 30 minute job including waiting 20 mins post battery disconnection and it appears to have done the job :driving:

Multiple restarts today and the pesky light hasn’t returned so far, glorious…for now :rofl:

 

[ScottR]

Glad to report the airbag light issue appears to is still be fixed. However, my next gremlin has appeared in the last couple of days - when I press the unlock button on the key fob my doors (both) unlock as one would expect but then immediately lock themselves again, it’s so rapid you can’t physically get the door open. Seems to be intermittent in that I have managed to get in the car each time by persisting with a mix of cycling open the boot and doors (boot unlock works fine). Any ideas?

Thanks all,
Scott.

 

[buzyg]

Enjoy your return to fun driving Scott.

 

[ARCS]

Glad to report the airbag light issue appears to is still be fixed. However, my next gremlin has appeared in the last couple of days - when I press the unlock button on the key fob my doors (both) unlock as one would expect but then immediately lock themselves again, it’s so rapid you can’t physically get the door open. Seems to be intermittent in that I have managed to get in the car each time by persisting with a mix of cycling open the boot and doors (boot unlock works fine). Any ideas?

Thanks all,
Scott.

I'd guess it's the GM5 on its way out. Had the same issues with my e85, so sent it off for repair. Came back working a treat.