The gift that keeps on giving e86 woes

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Ilogik

Active member
Have owned the car since 2012, I’m good at routine maintenance, but it feels like I’ve been hit with the bad luck wand atm.

2022 had rocker cover gasket changed along with Vanos solenoids, had brake lines replaced due to corrosion.

Was having handbrake issues, had it in, garage who told me it was the shoes, took it to a bmw specialist, they’ve the proceeded to tell me

Pads, discs are screwed, so I should really do the all.

They also said the rocker gasket was leaking, I think they’d forgetten they’d done it.

Also saying my rear brake lines are corroded, but I had them all done. Or maybe it was just the fronts, I need to check paper work.

So should brake lines rust that quick? Gasket screwed already? They said the plastic rocker covers can warp over time? How many of you lots have experienced this? I don’t mind getting work done just don’t wanna get ripped off.

Then I’ve got an elderly parent / kid now so holding onto a 2 seater is becoming more of a heated debate in the house is it wrong to love a car so much 🤣🤣🤣
 
I’ve owned my e85 since 2007, and out of your list, only needed brake pads. A few gaskets have leaked and been replaced, and a few bottom oil leaks fixed, only to have them reappear every few years. Headlights (xenon’s) have been a constant headache; So many bulbs, igniters and controllers have been replaced. The never ending battle of condensation and water pooling in the headlights is infuriating. I sealed every nook and cranny and they still condensated inside. I bought new rear headlight covers, same result. Putting large silica packets in the bottom of the headlight assemblies has helped, but that’s only a bandaid solution. The Convertible top pump has failed repeatedly, so I eventually made it a manual top. Why waste $1,500 every 2-3 years on replacing the hydraulic pump? I’m on my 2nd twill-blend top and the third set of windshield cowls, which crumble into dust. My keys no longer remotely lock or unlock the car, and the alarm when manually locked will randomly sound in the middle of the night for no reason.

I love my car and hate BMW and their $36.00 screws which can be had at Lowe’s for $0.12.
 
Had my valve cover replaced once at ~80k miles, but mine was an aluminum cover N52. Handbrake needs to be adjusted after brake jobs (which I always forget to do, so mine never work, I just leave the car in gear). Never had to replace a brake line even with track abuse.
 
Ilogik said:
Have owned the car since 2012, I’m good at routine maintenance, but it feels like I’ve been hit with the bad luck wand atm.

2022 had rocker cover gasket changed along with Vanos solenoids, had brake lines replaced due to corrosion.

Was having handbrake issues, had it in, garage who told me it was the shoes, took it to a bmw specialist, they’ve the proceeded to tell me

Pads, discs are screwed, so I should really do the all.

They also said the rocker gasket was leaking, I think they’d forgetten they’d done it.

Also saying my rear brake lines are corroded, but I had them all done. Or maybe it was just the fronts, I need to check paper work.

So should brake lines rust that quick? Gasket screwed already? They said the plastic rocker covers can warp over time? How many of you lots have experienced this? I don’t mind getting work done just don’t wanna get ripped off.

Then I’ve got an elderly parent / kid now so holding onto a 2 seater is becoming more of a heated debate in the house is it wrong to love a car so much 🤣🤣🤣
Click to expand...

Where do you live? If the roads are salted then everything rusts.
 
My second E86 was registered in 2006, but by 2015 was getting advisories for corroded rear brake pipes so I had them replaced in kunifer. But then it did spend it's early years in the Manchester area!

They tend to corrode just in front of the passenger side rear wheel. They are in a plastic cover most of the way to the back, but road dirt accumulates in the end of the cover and holds any moisture on the pipes.

Anyway there is nothing wrong with loving an E86 - I'm on my third since 2014. :D
 
If you have to choose between family and a Z4 Coupe, there's only one winner........:rofl:... and a braver person than me might even say which it is 🤣
 
I had my leaking rocker cover gasket replaced over three years and 35k miles ago and so far it has held out well.
My mechanic advised me to replace the rocker cover at the same time to give a better seal and then I'd have a new PCV membrane as well.
The only issues I've had since then in that area is oil leaking past the eccentric shaft sensor seal which is really bad news if the oil gets into the sensor as they are not cheap to replace. Luckily, I managed to discover the oil leak in time and the order some better fitting ESS seals off ebay.
Sounds like you're just having a lot of issues cropping up at the same time. Hope you get them sorted :thumbsup:
 
Well she's back, slightly dented bank balance, but my hand brake now holds on 1 click rather than 20.

Good news the other garage who did brake lines are replace the corroded back two as a good will gesture, they must've missed the two rear ones as they'd replaced every other brake line so that is a win.

Bit miffed as they flagged the rocker cover, it was replaced in 2022, but they're saying it's more than likely the plastic head warping. So having to re do that again which kinda sucks.
 
Mostly good news then - BMW handbrakes aren't the greatest!

But I'm not sure what they mean about "plastic head warping". :unsure:
 
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