Sounds like front end loose, about to fall off.
- Thread starter enzed4
- Start date
enzed4 said:
Jack the car up then pull and push the wheel enzed, there shouldn’t be any movement. Also if you take the wheel off you’ll see if the tab is knocked in, it looks like a chisel mark on the nut ring. Even if it’s knocked in it doesn’t mean to say that the nut is up to specified torque which is crucial, I don’t know the size of nut offhand, something approx 32mm, but if you could borrow a socket and torque wrench it would be worth trying it, cost nothing.
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Tomorrow morning the car goes back into the garage. I'll take the mechanic out in it and make sure he can hear/feel the clunking. I don't know how he didn't spot it after he thought it was fixed last week, you can feel it in the pedals (and my son told me he could feel it through the firewall on the passenger side). Easiest way to reproduce it seems to be when either rolling on a smooth surface (rather than the 'rougher' chip seal) or when pulling up to the lights or stop/give way sign.john-e89 said:
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep you updated after tomorrow's work.
While we're playing 'diagnose Enzed4's Z4 issues' something else has been bugging me:
Every time I start the car, the fan turns on to the last setting that was active. Nothing unusual there, except it never remembers if I've turned the fan off, so I need to manually turn off the fan every time I start up the car (unless I actually want it working).
Seems like a bug, but I've checked with Carly and it didn't find any outstanding errors (except ones to do with the iDrive/bluetooth as the module's been removed and will be replaced with an updated version in a few weeks).
Anyone else heard of this? I haven't had the car long enough to know if I'm missing anything obvious :?
Every time I start the car, the fan turns on to the last setting that was active. Nothing unusual there, except it never remembers if I've turned the fan off, so I need to manually turn off the fan every time I start up the car (unless I actually want it working).
Seems like a bug, but I've checked with Carly and it didn't find any outstanding errors (except ones to do with the iDrive/bluetooth as the module's been removed and will be replaced with an updated version in a few weeks).
Anyone else heard of this? I haven't had the car long enough to know if I'm missing anything obvious :?
I have just picked up the car from the garage. I took the mechanic out in it this morning and after thinking it was diff rumble he finally heard the noise and said it sounded like a dry piston on the front left shock. It was hard to reproduce as it happens most often when the left and right shocks are articulated differently, ie, not when braking or accelerating in a straight line. We found a nice smooth incline that was a bit uneven (side to side) which made the noise easy to reproduce when going up or down it.
After having the car for most of the day they have said they sprayed some CRC in it and the noise seems to have gone.
I've taken it for a test drive over the same place as this morning and it is definitely not making the clunking noise.
The ride still feels 'strange' compared to the old E85 so it must be the Bilstein shocks - maybe that's just normal but I'm not used to feeling movement in the front end.
Oh well, time to move on - as long as it's not making the noise I'm sure I'll get used to the different ride characteristics.
After having the car for most of the day they have said they sprayed some CRC in it and the noise seems to have gone.
I've taken it for a test drive over the same place as this morning and it is definitely not making the clunking noise.
The ride still feels 'strange' compared to the old E85 so it must be the Bilstein shocks - maybe that's just normal but I'm not used to feeling movement in the front end.
Oh well, time to move on - as long as it's not making the noise I'm sure I'll get used to the different ride characteristics.
enzed4 said:
Hi, how did they manage to spray CRC (whatever that is!) inside the shock? The damper itself is sealed surely & if the piston was dry as they suspect it would have no damping, you would notice that.
It doesn’t sound like a cure to me, I went from an e85 to an e89 and never picked up on movement from the front end.
To be honest my e89 felt tighter handling wise than the e85, I’d take the car to a different garage for a second opinion.
Rob
Bingo! I think the garage just wanted to be rid of the problem, but at least they seem to have identified it (which I more or less guessed in my first post :roll: ). I won't be using them again, I'll take it to a shock shop.Smartbear said:
Hopefully they can be sorted without too much drama
Took the car to a suspension specialist today. As soon as I described the symptoms, the mechanic asked if I had Bilstein shocks, as this was a common problem they see regularly with Subarus that are fitted with them. Apparently the internal parts (shims/discs?) do wear and the shocks need to be refurbished at least once in their lifetime.
They're off to be overhauled today, so I'm without the Zed until they're back next week.
Really hoping this is the fix, so I can start enjoying the car more (and start looking at other things like the thermostat - car seems to take ages for the water temp to rise :roll: )
They're off to be overhauled today, so I'm without the Zed until they're back next week.
Really hoping this is the fix, so I can start enjoying the car more (and start looking at other things like the thermostat - car seems to take ages for the water temp to rise :roll: )
I called the mechanic's today for an update as it's been over a week in the shop. Apparently the shafts are also worn/damaged in the shocks. There are no spares in stock, and lead time from Germany is 2 months :headbang: :headbang:
As an added bonus, the Z4 will be sitting outside in the weather for 2 months (while the battery drains away and probably throws up various faults
). They offered to cover it, but all I can think of is some canvas tarp smacking and rubbing against the paintwork every time the wind picks up. Probably better to leave it to face the elements as it is.
Not very happy, but what can you do? At least it should fix the 'clunking' noises that have been bothering me since I bought it.
As an added bonus, the Z4 will be sitting outside in the weather for 2 months (while the battery drains away and probably throws up various faults
). They offered to cover it, but all I can think of is some canvas tarp smacking and rubbing against the paintwork every time the wind picks up. Probably better to leave it to face the elements as it is.Not very happy, but what can you do? At least it should fix the 'clunking' noises that have been bothering me since I bought it.
How long 
Are you not able to source a new pair (of bilstein's) quicker than that or even a second hand pair to keep you on the road - and your Zed code free. I mean even if they are used can they be any worse than the ones which have gone for referb and you can always sell them on when your done with them. If you can find new pair in the UK or the States shipping has got to be days not months.
Are you not able to source a new pair (of bilstein's) quicker than that or even a second hand pair to keep you on the road - and your Zed code free. I mean even if they are used can they be any worse than the ones which have gone for referb and you can always sell them on when your done with them. If you can find new pair in the UK or the States shipping has got to be days not months.
I think it's going to cost about $1000 per shock (was about $600ish before the shafts needed replacing). I doubt I could even find replacement ones easily, and I was told the whole suspension (front and rear) would cost around $7,000-10,000 to replace (divide by 2 to get approx cost in £). The car dealer has also said they will stand behind the sale and make good the repairs, but I haven't heard back from them yet to say they've approved the new repair cost.dans6490 said:
Unlikely I could source new Bilstein's the same as what' in it (adjustable). Second hand ones would be even harder to find and I would find it hard to sell them after the 2 months (small market for E89 parts). I am stumped as to why it takes so long to ship them, it's not like they're super large or heavy. Maybe Bilstein have to make them, or there's a backorder for them - I don't know, but it does seem strange in this day and age.Crazy Harry said:How long
Are you not able to source a new pair (of bilstein's) quicker than that or even a second hand pair to keep you on the road - and your Zed code free. I mean even if they are used can they be any worse than the ones which have gone for referb and you can always sell them on when your done with them. If you can find new pair in the UK or the States shipping has got to be days not months.
The wife's happy to go for a trip to Germany to pick them up but I'm not sure even my best man-maths can work out an angle to justify that :lol:
in a way its irrelevant, but as i have just tried to get some bilsteins i found nobody has any b4's - all on back order it seems, more investigations reveal that bilstein are a bastard of a company to work for, bad management, and very unhappy workers, all swearing they will never work for them again, so with that in mind i went elsewhere and instead of a projected 31 days i had some from elsewhere in 2 days .
i had some from elsewhere in 2 days .
