The Infamous Door Handle Issue - Garage Recommendations

[Ruofdez]

When I bought the car about a year ago the external door handles were stiff but would always work, though sometimes a bit borderline when sitting in the sun. Now however, the passenger side can no longer be opened from the outside and I think either the bowden cable has snapped or something in the mechanism has given up after too much stress, caused by whatever the issue was before. The drivers side is heading the same way and so I'm keen to get it sorted before getting into the car becomes a real issue.

I've done hours of research searching the forums but it doesn't look an easy job and may require special tools and so I'm hoping someone that's had this problem fixed by a garage could tell me where they got it sorted. The consensus seems to be that it can be the bowden cable and/or the mechanism so I'd like to use a garage that's seen the specific problem before otherwise I could see they'll just replace the bowden cable and I could be back to where I am now in a few months.

I'm in Hampshire but willing to drive a distance if I know it will be done properly.

I know all garages are going to be shut for now but would like to get in there ASAP once they reopen!

Any recommendations to save me having to take it to the stealers and paying an extortionate amount for both doors would be massively appreciated

 

[kis]

Take it to Ross mate, shouldn’t be too far from you. Highly recommended and ex-BMW tech.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=118975

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=73041

 

[Ruofdez]

Oh brilliant, he did my roof motor but had no idea he had started that, perfect thank you.

 

[bowser134]

Oh brilliant, he did my roof motor but had no idea he had started that, perfect thank you.

We had the same issue on a Z4 a couple of months ago. Drivers side would open from the inside but wouldn’t at all on the outside. We stripped it down and found the door handle mechanism had wear and a section snapped off the plastic. The door handle mechanism comes complete with the handle which comes primed from BMW and requires painting.

 

[Ruofdez]

Oh brilliant, he did my roof motor but had no idea he had started that, perfect thank you.

We had the same issue on a Z4 a couple of months ago. Drivers side would open from the inside but wouldn’t at all on the outside. We stripped it down and found the door handle mechanism had wear and a section snapped off the plastic. The door handle mechanism comes complete with the handle which comes primed from BMW and requires painting.

Thanks for the reply. Not ideal, sounds like it could be something similar with my passenger side though hopefully the drivers side can be saved.

What kind of cost are we talking if it is that, just as a bit of a guide?

 

[mr nurburgring]

Could be just the cable they are about 15 quid from dealers, plus fitting.
It’s not a hard job taking it all to bits and inspecting it yourself, dependant on your ability’s.
no special tools needed.
Done this fix a few times now and can have the lot stripped down and inspected in about 20 mins.

 

[Charllow]

Hi!
I have the same problem on mine.
It looks like this little gear is damaged. What do you think about it?
I already changed the cable and it didn't change anything

 

[Ruofdez]

Could be just the cable they are about 15 quid from dealers, plus fitting.
It’s not a hard job taking it all to bits and inspecting it yourself, dependant on your ability’s.
no special tools needed.
Done this fix a few times now and can have the lot stripped down and inspected in about 20 mins.

Ability is almost certainly not as good as yours! That seems pretty speedy to get it all stripped down, is that including removing the foam membrane?

Hi!
I have the same problem on mine.
It looks like this little gear is damaged. What do you think about it?
I already changed the cable and it didn't change anything

20190818_124024~2.jpg
20190818_124017~2.jpg

Hope you manage to get it sorted!

 

[mr nurburgring]

Hi!
I have the same problem on mine.
It looks like this little gear is damaged. What do you think about it?
I already changed the cable and it didn't change anything

20190818_124024~2.jpg
20190818_124017~2.jpg

That gear looks ok, it’s the plastic gear on the handle that may be worn. Pop a picture of the other gear and I’ll tell you

 

[mr nurburgring]

Could be just the cable they are about 15 quid from dealers, plus fitting.
It’s not a hard job taking it all to bits and inspecting it yourself, dependant on your ability’s.
no special tools needed.
Done this fix a few times now and can have the lot stripped down and inspected in about 20 mins.

Ability is almost certainly not as good as yours! That seems pretty speedy to get it all stripped down, is that including removing the foam membrane?

Hi!
I have the same problem on mine.
It looks like this little gear is damaged. What do you think about it?
I already changed the cable and it didn't change anything

20190818_124024~2.jpg
20190818_124017~2.jpg

Hope you manage to get it sorted!

Lol, I have had my car 11 years I’ve done this fix a few time’s over the years, main culprit is the plastic teeth on the handle wear away on the drivers doo as you use that the most, my passenger side was the cable.

 

[Charllow]

Thank you for your answer mr nurburgring. I will disassemble it tomorrow and show you a picture

 

[Charllow]

I found a picture of a handle, where is the plastic you are talking about on this picture?

 

[Charllow]

Have you seen my message mr nurburgring?

 

[mr nurburgring]

No mate. No messages. Send it now if you want

 

[mr nurburgring]

Check this hole, if the pin that holds the handle to the carrier has elongated causing Sideways movement then the teeth won’t mesh fully.

 

[Charllow]

Hi !
So I worked on it today and this is what I found:

The 3 first pictures are about the driver side:







This one is the passenger side:



So I think the problem can come from this plastic gear as you said!
What can be done to resolve it? Should I change the handle or maybe just try to repair it by adding some melt plastic? I don't really know.

 

[mr nurburgring]

Great pics! Big difference in the profile of the teeth between drivers and passengers

I bought a used good door handle off eBay, it was silver, I kept my blue lower part and just replaced the handle part and painted it my self.

Please check for wear in the plastic handle carrier where the pin locates for wear, this usually leads to the teeth wearing.
I have a fix for this too.

 

[mr nurburgring]

Look at the end of the pin that comes out near the teeth. Passenger side looks good drivers side looks all mangled and rusty.

 

[Charllow]

Please check for wear in the plastic handle carrier where the pin locates for wear, this usually leads to the teeth wearing.
I have a fix for this too.

Is the wear plastic handle carrier you are talking about my previous picture or is it another part?

To conclude they are 3 parts that can be worn:



1) the cable which is part 22

2) the handle door which is part 1

3) the other side of the handle door which is part 4

Am I right or did I missed something?

 

[mr nurburgring]

Yes part 4. Where the pin locates into that.