Z4M Coupe - Shims

abar121 said:
I'd be surprised if a main dealer would stamp the service book and invoice for an Inspection 2 service, without doing the shims, or at least claiming they were done.

Otherwise it's not an inspection 2 service :headbang:

I would be having a word with BMW UK..
Yep, cant really say its got full service history if part of a service was missed out.
 
Viren said:
Another example of poor service by a BMW service centre, how can it be up to the owner to request them to do what they need to when performing an inspection service!

If you are serious about the car take it to a trusted indy and have them take the valve cover off, explain to them the fact it hasn't had the shims checked and they should know exactly what to look for and be able to give you an idea of any potential problems.

Out of curiosity what are the main issues to occur from not having the shims within tolerance?

Hi, if the gaps grow too large/out of spec you get an audible valve train clatter & a corresponding reduction in max valve lift (possible performance reduction)
If the gaps reduce & become small it can lead to a loss of compression as the valve is held off its seat, this can damage valve & seat. The engine can actually become quieter with the last scenario but starting the engine (hot) can get more difficult.
Rob
 
I've read this thread and to be honest I don't think you can read too much into the dealership response to the query. You'd need to be on the call and know the context. Knowing dealerships, if someone calls about a 70k car wanting to know something quite involved about its service history from the past, you'll probably get some bored service assistant clicking a few buttons, not finding anything that confirms or denies and coming out with a "computer says no" style answer. I'm not saying they were done but I'm casting doubt that the previous owner went to all the trouble to specifically ask them not to check the shims when they'd been diligent with keeping the rest of the service history by the looks of it.
 
original guvnor said:
I've read this thread and to be honest I don't think you can read too much into the dealership response to the query. You'd need to be on the call and know the context. Knowing dealerships, if someone calls about a 70k car wanting to know something quite involved about its service history from the past, you'll probably get some bored service assistant clicking a few buttons, not finding anything that confirms or denies and coming out with a "computer says no" style answer. I'm not saying they were done but I'm casting doubt that the previous owner went to all the trouble to specifically ask them not to check the shims when they'd been diligent with keeping the rest of the service history by the looks of it.


good point.
 
Is just checking the valve clearances a major job on these cars ? I used to check them on my Alfa just by removing the rocker cover then rotating the engine till the appropriate cam lobe was facing away from the valve stem and check gap with feeler gauge. Or is there a significant difference on BMW engines. If the gaps were way too small then the shims need changing and cams come off,thats where the expense of the job is I think.
 
goon said:
Is just checking the valve clearances a major job on these cars ? I used to check them on my Alfa just by removing the rocker cover then rotating the engine till the appropriate cam lobe was facing away from the valve stem and check gap with feeler gauge. Or is there a significant difference on BMW engines. If the gaps were way too small then the shims need changing and cams come off,thats where the expense of the job is I think.
It's not difficult at all and changing the shims does not require removal of the cams.
 
Mangozac said:
goon said:
Is just checking the valve clearances a major job on these cars ? I used to check them on my Alfa just by removing the rocker cover then rotating the engine till the appropriate cam lobe was facing away from the valve stem and check gap with feeler gauge. Or is there a significant difference on BMW engines. If the gaps were way too small then the shims need changing and cams come off,thats where the expense of the job is I think.
It's not difficult at all and changing the shims does not require removal of the cams.
Couple of spanners, feeler gauges and a micrometer and the jobs done then.
 
hi,

I just thought I would chime in here :)

Personally I would not trust much from a dealer anyway. Even if they said they did it, the chances are and in my experience they probably just changed the cam cover gasket and did sod all else!!! If they did not produce a measurement report sheet for the shims, then they probably just listened to it and thought its fine.

If you like the car and it drives well etc.. then I would use the fact that shims may not have been done as a negotiation point. A decent specialist such as my local (MVT Poole) would be better placed to do this work and should cost £400 ish.

I would rather buy a car with service history from a specialist rather than a main dealer all day long!!! Main dealer or main "stealer" is not worth the money they charge, I would rather an expert work on my Z4MC. :thumbsup:
 
Hey, I've just seen the shim job on youtube, its even easier than my old Alfa, all you need is the removal tool and a box of shims, dead easy really its a job I would confidently tackle unlike any body repairs.
 
original guvnor said:
I've read this thread and to be honest I don't think you can read too much into the dealership response to the query. You'd need to be on the call and know the context. Knowing dealerships, if someone calls about a 70k car wanting to know something quite involved about its service history from the past, you'll probably get some bored service assistant clicking a few buttons, not finding anything that confirms or denies and coming out with a "computer says no" style answer. I'm not saying they were done but I'm casting doubt that the previous owner went to all the trouble to specifically ask them not to check the shims when they'd been diligent with keeping the rest of the service history by the looks of it.

This.

Also I'd find it odd how you'd take the car to a main dealer if you wanted a cheap(er) service too. If all else about this car is good then I'd definitely go and see it. If I didn't have the valve/shim reports on my car but fBMWsh and a potential buyer said he'd like to knock the price down as there's no proof the valves had been done, I'd not be happy :o
 
Had my inspection two at respected Indy paddock motors, had the car the night before as has to be a cold engine, report sheet had them all written down and all within tolerances, so none changed . Almost felt I wished some were out of tolerance so that they were changed to justify doing the work.who,s to say how much they were within tolerance by and could they be out of tolerance by the next oil service when they wouldn't be checked? Frustrating, It's been said on here that many main dealers just listen and if not noisy they don't do them, in fact most of ins 1 and 2 is checking stuff, and apart from oil and filters anything else is charged as extra, so imo the cost of an ins 2 should not be any more at a dealer than an Indy, the over a thousand pounds prices asked by main dealers is rediculous and I would never go to one . Best get to know a factory trained Indy you can trust not to rip you off and who values your custom and use the money saved to do interim oil changes yourself on top of the service schedule. Change your gearbox oil and diff too as the dealers sell you the sealed for life bollox and then sell you a new gearbox for 4 or 5 k,! ...feckers !!!!
 
I just had it at the garage JUST for valve adjustment, with the order of a full data sheet back.
Obviously this had NOT been done at the BMW inspection 2 done just before I bought it. It's been at a constant valve rattle on warm tick over, ever since I bought it 2014.
Not so anymore!
Happy me, just sad with the bill at 7500kr (770euro)...
 
mad4slalom said:
who,s to say how much they were within tolerance by and could they be out of tolerance by the next oil service when they wouldn't be checked?
They may very well be but it's irrelevant. The tolerance range is specified with this in mind and obviously the BMW engineers expect this possibility. Being slightly out of tolerance isn't going to hurt anything.
 
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