Time to learn to change gear - new //M

[markos]

1 rattle now solved, same place as in my coupe; the pice of plastic on the pax side of the tunnel where it meets the glovebox rattling away. Weirdly my wife's has never rattled here!

Oh this is interesting, how have you fixed this? I'll see if this is exactly where my slight rattle is. I've a slight trim rattle only at certain rpm (probably thanks to the Remus backboxes ) and have just worked out that pressing my knee against the pad or holding any part of the trim around the transmission tunnel instantly stops it, so something somewhere around that needs slightly tightening up...

 

[exdos]

When they checked them they needed to add 20gms to both front wheels. I'm changing the front tyres soon so I'll make that specific request Exdos, thank you. I assume this advice comes from a knowledge that the front end geometry on these cars is especially sensitive ? Or perhaps because the hydraulic steering provides more feedback than the electric on my old 3.0Si ?

I don't know the reason why the Z4M is particularly sensitive to imbalanced tyres, but it certainly is down to 5gms.

 

[Bing]

It's reassuring to know that it is sensitive from someone who has done a lot of messing about in the complicated parts of these cars though, even if the reason is not clear - I am reassured nothing is broken, it just needs more care

 

[PerryGunn]

It's reassuring to know that it is sensitive from someone who has done a lot of messing about in the complicated parts of these cars though, even if the reason is not clear - I am reassured nothing is broken, it just needs more care

Might be worth trying either on-car balancing or Road Force Balancing if there's someone near you - see http://www.balancemycar.co.uk/

 

[mj2k]

1 rattle now solved, same place as in my coupe; the pice of plastic on the pax side of the tunnel where it meets the glovebox rattling away. Weirdly my wife's has never rattled here!

Oh this is interesting, how have you fixed this? I'll see if this is exactly where my slight rattle is. I've a slight trim rattle only at certain rpm (probably thanks to the Remus backboxes ) and have just worked out that pressing my knee against the pad or holding any part of the trim around the transmission tunnel instantly stops it, so something somewhere around that needs slightly tightening up...

I could find nothing to actually tighten, so layered up some sticky padded foam, then put a top layer of adhesive felt on top incase it made a chirping noise. Compresses it & wedged it in at the very front edge of the transmission tunned cover, where it could rattle onto the main dash. If you tap it lightly without, you can hear exactly where it seems to vibrate & touch.

 

[mj2k]

Well one rattle down, one huge one remaining that typically was not present on the test drives!

Happens on rough surfaces at speed & sounds as though there is something under the Nav vibrating. A very plasticy sound, of something not sitting properly.

I have checked the strut braces & they seem ok - well at a 30nm torque as wasnt sure what they should be tightened to & didnt want to strip them.

The bonnet / alarm sensor (centre of the windscreen near the two strut brace bolts) seems to have a bit of play and makes a rattle when I tap it - not sure if this is what is causing the noise, but not entirely sure a piece of felt is the done thing in an engine bay to wedge it tight!

Failing that, there is checking all of the cables / clips are in the correct place through removing the front centre vents and peering into the dash. Never removed the vents before, but have read up & hoping even with my incompetence that I can manage this - unless there is anyone in the Berkshire area over the weekend that has done this before & fancies lending a hand!

 

[markos]

I could find nothing to actually tighten, so layered up some sticky padded foam, then put a top layer of adhesive felt on top incase it made a chirping noise. Compresses it & wedged it in at the very front edge of the transmission tunned cover, where it could rattle onto the main dash. If you tap it lightly without, you can hear exactly where it seems to vibrate & touch.

Cool, thank you, will investigate this weekend I think

 

[mj2k]

Let me know if you want a picture, but it's pretty obvious where the plastic is moving!

Something in the dash rattled all the way home tonight, which with the M4 closed was

But on the plus side, roof down all the way

Albeit mostly crawling in first

 

[Bing]

Stupid question, but you haven't got the cigarette lighter sitting in the ashtray because you're using the 12v plug for something else ? That would rattle.

 

[mj2k]

Nope, checked that first as been caught out with the obvious before!

 

[BMWZ4MC]

The air vents and cup holders can rattle. Get a passenger to stick a finger or two between the slats of the vents and to deploy the cup holder whilst you're driving. This cured my rattle....at least whilst I have a passenger inserted into the fascia

 

[abar121]

The air vents and cup holders can rattle. Get a passenger to stick a finger or two between the slats of the vents and to deploy the cup holder whilst you're driving. This cured my rattle....at least whilst I have a passenger inserted into the fascia

Yeah, absolutely. I put a new passengers cup holder in, which did help.

 

[mj2k]

100% in the middle of the dash, tried this morning to remove the vents but I can see this being a long, frustrating task to remove them - despite reading up on how easy it is!

 

[exdos]

100% in the middle of the dash, tried this morning to remove the vents but I can see this being a long, frustrating task to remove them - despite reading up on how easy it is!

Undo the braces connected to the bulkhead in the engine bay, get two new bolts and retighten to the correct torque. That solved the problem for me which I was sure was from the dash in the car.

 

[ncrossy1980]

Sorry I've only read this one page of posts, but have you got sat nav? My sat nav surround rattles and vibrates, if I hold down the plastic surround it stops the rattle.

 

[mj2k]

Undo the braces connected to the bulkhead in the engine bay, get two new bolts and retighten to the correct torque. That solved the problem for me which I was sure was from the dash in the car.

So new bolts rather than tightening the existing ones? Cannot seem to find a reference to the correct torque, only comments on the torque for a horizontal strut brace.

I have trawled Realoem, but for the life of me cannot locate the correct area to find the strut, let alone the bolt itself!

 

[mj2k]

Sorry I've only read this one page of posts, but have you got sat nav? My sat nav surround rattles and vibrates, if I hold down the plastic surround it stops the rattle.

Yes, I have Nav. I tried briefly holding it down but it seemed to be coming from below the surface rather than on it.

Just spent another 30 mins trying to get the vents out, and have achieved the grand sum of nothing!

 

[ncrossy1980]

Oooo them vents! I had mine out a couple of weeks ago when fitting the aux, it took me a lot longer than 30 minutes to get them out! I even managed to dislodge one of the slats whilst i was at it.
Obviously screwdriver up to lower the clip, then cover a wallpaper scraper in a microfiber cloth and use the thin edge to prize it out. I'd say gently but if it doesn't come out gently you have to be brutal with it, but obviously not so brutal that you poke through the cloth and take chunks off the plastic! If I never have to do that again i'll die happy.

 

[srhutch]

Oooo them vents! I had mine out a couple of weeks ago when fitting the aux, it took me a lot longer than 30 minutes to get them out! I even managed to dislodge one of the slats whilst i was at it.
Obviously screwdriver up to lower the clip, then cover a wallpaper scraper in a microfiber cloth and use the thin edge to prize it out. I'd say gently but if it doesn't come out gently you have to be brutal with it, but obviously not so brutal that you poke through the cloth and take chunks off the plastic! If I never have to do that again i'll die happy.

That MO sounds a bit dangerous

Two butter knifes in V formation to pull the clips down with one hand, and then pull the vertical centre part with the other hand. Simples

 

[ncrossy1980]

Oooo them vents! I had mine out a couple of weeks ago when fitting the aux, it took me a lot longer than 30 minutes to get them out! I even managed to dislodge one of the slats whilst i was at it.
Obviously screwdriver up to lower the clip, then cover a wallpaper scraper in a microfiber cloth and use the thin edge to prize it out. I'd say gently but if it doesn't come out gently you have to be brutal with it, but obviously not so brutal that you poke through the cloth and take chunks off the plastic! If I never have to do that again i'll die happy.

That MO sounds a bit dangerous

Two butter knifes in V formation to pull the clips down with one hand, and then pull the vertical centre part with the other hand. Simples

If only it was that easy, there was nowhere to grip/hold onto to allow enough pull force. The only parts you could get your fingers around were quite thin and would clearly snap! I might have had a unique case but mine was properly jammed in there, it wouldn't just slide out, it needed force.