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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
2009 Z4 35i Let the DIY and slight cosmetic modding begin.
- Thread starter osiris
- Start date
That's looks brilliant...photography skills on point as well. 
Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
osiris
///Member
Thanks guys for all the kind words :ty:
@ Firi. Thanks man, I used the iphone 7 portrait function that had depth of field. Really wish I still had my DSLR camera.
I tried to go the lawyer route etc but it was going to be a very costly affair and a very long drawn out thing so I just said stuff it and moved on with my life. If hiring a hit man was legal id have done that already lol.
@ Firi. Thanks man, I used the iphone 7 portrait function that had depth of field. Really wish I still had my DSLR camera.
zama said:Just went through this whole thread and man what PIA it is to be messed around by this so called mechanics! Did you at least get some kind of compensation from Autoworx?
However I applaud you for all the effort you put into you pride and joyraise:
I tried to go the lawyer route etc but it was going to be a very costly affair and a very long drawn out thing so I just said stuff it and moved on with my life. If hiring a hit man was legal id have done that already lol.
osiris
///Member
Next update. This is an interesting one lol
Anyways so Wednesday night I decided to try tackle a problem that has been bugging me for a while, my steering wheel makes a weird buzzing/squealing sound when I turn it when the car is stationary or I'm turning into a parking etc.
I tried spraying WD40 in behind the steering wheel before to no avail so last night I unplugged the battery and decided to see how this steering wheel comes off and see if I can find the problem.
So after struggling for around half an hour to 45 mins I finally figured out the trick to releasing the air bag!
And its off!
So I was fiddling around and then this happened :dunnoanymore::thumbdo::blueCry:
So I had no idea WTF this was or how the hell to put this alien puzzle back together and after hours and hours and hours of fiddling I ended up doing some damage. I think I actually shed a tear or two! as I had no idea what this was or how to fix it and more importantly how expensive it is going to be to fix and how the hell I'm even going to get my car to someone who can fix this! I really started to panic!
So I left the garage and went into my house and tried to relax and calm down and think! I finally came to the conclusion that this is just a carrier signal wire for the controls on the steering wheel and the air bag. This helped me relax. I initially thought it was the mechanism that controls the tension of the steering wheel when you flip the car into sports mode.
:skit:
Upon figuring this out I ripped out the clear ribbon that I just couldn't get back inside which left me with just two actual ribbon wires that I tried for another couple of hours to wrap around this wheel mechanism to no avail, I started to panic again but kept calming myself down to try and do it slowly and carefully till I finally got it right and put it all back inside.
Now keep in mind that I had no idea that this thing had a special certain amount of rotations in each direction, plus it was very late the sun was coming out and I needed a car for work so I put it all back together and switched the car on being very wary of the air bag popping on me from doing something incorrectly!
Everything seemed fine! I then turned the steering wheel all the way to the left and that was fine! And then I turned it to the right.....FML is all I have to say :dunnoanymore:.....There were actually no words to describe the pain and suffering I was feeling at that point in time, honestly I really just wanted a magical time machine to manifest itself into my garage and port me back to yesterday lol! FFS
So yea I broke the plastic locking pin that keeps this unit in place and manage to twist the one ribbon infront of the other and flip it. Needless to say it was a catastrophic failure.
Anyways I tried to fix it and when I pulled the thing apart it didn't look good. Anyways long story short I managed to twist the cables back the right way round and I managed to break the front plastic retaining bracket and and and.
I did put it all back together and started the car and the air bag didn't explode in my face and crack my face in half. so that was the silver lining. Have to always be positive haha :lol:
Anyways nothing on the steering wheel worked after that, no paddle shift, no multi-function controls, no nothing! :blueCry: how I didn't get an air bag light is still a mystery to me I wont lie.
So I woke up and phoned BMW and that was just funny so I left that idea to rest and phoned a scrap yard that I know had a z4 they were stripping and sent the guy some photos and to my surprise he had this part for me! so I went to fetch it.
By the way the part is called a Coil spring Cartridge.
So here is my Repair procedure after collecting the part I needed.
Before I continue I need to state why this thing came apart and was making a noise.
It was apparent that it had been taken apart before and all the ribbon was just stuffed inside incorrectly, the wire ones were correct but the clear ribbon that holds everything in place correctly was stuffed in and crinkled to the max and full of some dirty grease and you could see repair work was done to it which I will show you guys shortly.
Here is the new Unit that I bought this morning!
steering wheel removed and you can clearly see the cracked front retainer bracket that I managed to break!
The locking mechanism that I broke...FML
Make sure you pull the steering column all the way forward using the adjusting lever so that you can get to the back to unclip the plastic steering column surround.
Start unclipping the steering column surround.
place screwdriver in the back now and gently twist, it doesn't take much force at all, be careful not to damage the plastic.
And the top part is off!
Place a screwdriver under the metal plate in the diagram to pry the bottom cover loose.
View from the bottom.
And bam its off, easy as that!
Start removing all 4 Torx screws as per the pics.
Get something to support the top cover to make accessing these torx screws and clips easier
Start prying all the clips loose after removal of the torx screws.
Here is an exaggerated example of where the clips are, I didn't care to brake this clip as im removing this piece of junk anyways.
A view of the mechanism without the covers.
Removal complete, there was a wire plug that needed to be removed I forgot to photograph that, its very east to see and you will know which one it is upon removal.
And the new part is on.
Right assembly is the reverse of the assembly but here is the unit fitted and covers all back on
And......
Here is the offending part that made me question life!! :dunnoanymore::skit::thumbdo:
The locking pin rocker that I broke...FML again.
And here you can see the previous repair work that was done to this thing.
Anyways its all back together and working great. However the sound is still there when I turn so I need to ask BMW what that is when I take it to them next week.
On other news, while at the scrap yard fetching this new part I asked the guys to look in my bonet and listen to where the knocking sound was coming from that I hear and feel when I move my steering wheel left or right. They checked and upon first views they thought it was the universal joint, the next guy came and looked and noticed that the steering rack was loose.
It appeared that when BMW fitted my new turbos they forgot to tighten the steering rack! the one bolt was almost completely out, a few more drives and it would have fallen out completely.
Anyways they tightened everything up and all I can say is WOW. In all the time I have had this car its never felt so incredibly stable to drive and sold. It no longer pulls left and right and I no longer have to fight with it to go straight!
Furthermore it no longer makes knocking sounds when I go over speed bumps or hit small bumps in the road or driveways etc. its just PERFECT!
Anyways so Wednesday night I decided to try tackle a problem that has been bugging me for a while, my steering wheel makes a weird buzzing/squealing sound when I turn it when the car is stationary or I'm turning into a parking etc.
I tried spraying WD40 in behind the steering wheel before to no avail so last night I unplugged the battery and decided to see how this steering wheel comes off and see if I can find the problem.
So after struggling for around half an hour to 45 mins I finally figured out the trick to releasing the air bag!
And its off!
So I was fiddling around and then this happened :dunnoanymore::thumbdo::blueCry:
So I had no idea WTF this was or how the hell to put this alien puzzle back together and after hours and hours and hours of fiddling I ended up doing some damage. I think I actually shed a tear or two! as I had no idea what this was or how to fix it and more importantly how expensive it is going to be to fix and how the hell I'm even going to get my car to someone who can fix this! I really started to panic!
So I left the garage and went into my house and tried to relax and calm down and think! I finally came to the conclusion that this is just a carrier signal wire for the controls on the steering wheel and the air bag. This helped me relax. I initially thought it was the mechanism that controls the tension of the steering wheel when you flip the car into sports mode.
:skit:
Upon figuring this out I ripped out the clear ribbon that I just couldn't get back inside which left me with just two actual ribbon wires that I tried for another couple of hours to wrap around this wheel mechanism to no avail, I started to panic again but kept calming myself down to try and do it slowly and carefully till I finally got it right and put it all back inside.
Now keep in mind that I had no idea that this thing had a special certain amount of rotations in each direction, plus it was very late the sun was coming out and I needed a car for work so I put it all back together and switched the car on being very wary of the air bag popping on me from doing something incorrectly!
Everything seemed fine! I then turned the steering wheel all the way to the left and that was fine! And then I turned it to the right.....FML is all I have to say :dunnoanymore:.....There were actually no words to describe the pain and suffering I was feeling at that point in time, honestly I really just wanted a magical time machine to manifest itself into my garage and port me back to yesterday lol! FFS
So yea I broke the plastic locking pin that keeps this unit in place and manage to twist the one ribbon infront of the other and flip it. Needless to say it was a catastrophic failure.
Anyways I tried to fix it and when I pulled the thing apart it didn't look good. Anyways long story short I managed to twist the cables back the right way round and I managed to break the front plastic retaining bracket and and and.
I did put it all back together and started the car and the air bag didn't explode in my face and crack my face in half. so that was the silver lining. Have to always be positive haha :lol:
Anyways nothing on the steering wheel worked after that, no paddle shift, no multi-function controls, no nothing! :blueCry: how I didn't get an air bag light is still a mystery to me I wont lie.
So I woke up and phoned BMW and that was just funny so I left that idea to rest and phoned a scrap yard that I know had a z4 they were stripping and sent the guy some photos and to my surprise he had this part for me! so I went to fetch it.
By the way the part is called a Coil spring Cartridge.
So here is my Repair procedure after collecting the part I needed.
Before I continue I need to state why this thing came apart and was making a noise.
It was apparent that it had been taken apart before and all the ribbon was just stuffed inside incorrectly, the wire ones were correct but the clear ribbon that holds everything in place correctly was stuffed in and crinkled to the max and full of some dirty grease and you could see repair work was done to it which I will show you guys shortly.
Here is the new Unit that I bought this morning!
steering wheel removed and you can clearly see the cracked front retainer bracket that I managed to break!
The locking mechanism that I broke...FML
Make sure you pull the steering column all the way forward using the adjusting lever so that you can get to the back to unclip the plastic steering column surround.
Start unclipping the steering column surround.
place screwdriver in the back now and gently twist, it doesn't take much force at all, be careful not to damage the plastic.
And the top part is off!
Place a screwdriver under the metal plate in the diagram to pry the bottom cover loose.
View from the bottom.
And bam its off, easy as that!
Start removing all 4 Torx screws as per the pics.
Get something to support the top cover to make accessing these torx screws and clips easier
Start prying all the clips loose after removal of the torx screws.
Here is an exaggerated example of where the clips are, I didn't care to brake this clip as im removing this piece of junk anyways.
A view of the mechanism without the covers.
Removal complete, there was a wire plug that needed to be removed I forgot to photograph that, its very east to see and you will know which one it is upon removal.
And the new part is on.
Right assembly is the reverse of the assembly but here is the unit fitted and covers all back on
And......
Here is the offending part that made me question life!! :dunnoanymore::skit::thumbdo:
The locking pin rocker that I broke...FML again.
And here you can see the previous repair work that was done to this thing.
Anyways its all back together and working great. However the sound is still there when I turn so I need to ask BMW what that is when I take it to them next week.
On other news, while at the scrap yard fetching this new part I asked the guys to look in my bonet and listen to where the knocking sound was coming from that I hear and feel when I move my steering wheel left or right. They checked and upon first views they thought it was the universal joint, the next guy came and looked and noticed that the steering rack was loose.
It appeared that when BMW fitted my new turbos they forgot to tighten the steering rack! the one bolt was almost completely out, a few more drives and it would have fallen out completely.
Anyways they tightened everything up and all I can say is WOW. In all the time I have had this car its never felt so incredibly stable to drive and sold. It no longer pulls left and right and I no longer have to fight with it to go straight!
Furthermore it no longer makes knocking sounds when I go over speed bumps or hit small bumps in the road or driveways etc. its just PERFECT!
michael.joseph
Active member
U sir are a legend...
No idea how u do it
raise:
No idea how u do it
raise:
BeemerFanatic
Events Organiser
I’m gonna say a prayer for you Osiris. Bad luck but storage you found some shoddy repair and replaced it proper. How old is your car and what’s the mileage?
PLV said:
Agree'd, Determination sets you apart Nick... Well done on getting it sorted!!
osiris
///Member
Update!
So I finally found the EFFING source of my squeaky/squealing steering wheel!
I always thought it was coming from the plastics of the steering wheel where it joins onto the steering hub/column thing, hence why I bust the Coil Spring cartridge trying to find the source.
I could swear the sound sounded like it was coming from just behind the steering wheel and after all the shit I just went through in the above post I still had the damn squeak/squeal! :rage:
So I scoured the internet and found one vid of a guy who said if your steering wheel is making a noise then try this. So I tried it.
Need to remove this
and this little plastic piece of shit is the source of all this effing drama I just went through FFS!
I greased this thing up with copper paste and BAM! Steering wheel is as quite as a mouse!
Replacing the Coil Spring cartridge did make the steering wheel feel a bit better and was also noisy as the coiled up ribbons inside were stuffed but the squeal was driving me nuts! It's actually embarrassing when someone gets in your car and you start to pull out of a parking or something and you hear this fonked up steering wheel :skit:
On another note, I always had a bit of a rattle coming from my car when I started the car, it was this initial metallic sound, I always thought that oil was maybe too thick and not getting to the engine parts quick enough when the engine cranked over to start so I have been scouring the internet for months and months researching oils to try find a good brand 0w -30 or 0w -40 to give optimum lubrication on start up.
Well this past week the rattle got worse and while the car was idling or I was driving slowly I could hear it every now and then. I've actually always heard it but it wasn't bad. Well it turned out to be a flipping loose bolt just behind my right exhaust tip just behind the bumper that has something to do with the actuator mount or something. will take pics tomorrow and upload. Tightened it and problem solved!
Two tiny stupid things that caused so much flipping drama!
So I finally found the EFFING source of my squeaky/squealing steering wheel!
I always thought it was coming from the plastics of the steering wheel where it joins onto the steering hub/column thing, hence why I bust the Coil Spring cartridge trying to find the source.
I could swear the sound sounded like it was coming from just behind the steering wheel and after all the shit I just went through in the above post I still had the damn squeak/squeal! :rage:
So I scoured the internet and found one vid of a guy who said if your steering wheel is making a noise then try this. So I tried it.
Need to remove this
and this little plastic piece of shit is the source of all this effing drama I just went through FFS!
I greased this thing up with copper paste and BAM! Steering wheel is as quite as a mouse!
Replacing the Coil Spring cartridge did make the steering wheel feel a bit better and was also noisy as the coiled up ribbons inside were stuffed but the squeal was driving me nuts! It's actually embarrassing when someone gets in your car and you start to pull out of a parking or something and you hear this fonked up steering wheel :skit:
On another note, I always had a bit of a rattle coming from my car when I started the car, it was this initial metallic sound, I always thought that oil was maybe too thick and not getting to the engine parts quick enough when the engine cranked over to start so I have been scouring the internet for months and months researching oils to try find a good brand 0w -30 or 0w -40 to give optimum lubrication on start up.
Well this past week the rattle got worse and while the car was idling or I was driving slowly I could hear it every now and then. I've actually always heard it but it wasn't bad. Well it turned out to be a flipping loose bolt just behind my right exhaust tip just behind the bumper that has something to do with the actuator mount or something. will take pics tomorrow and upload. Tightened it and problem solved!
Two tiny stupid things that caused so much flipping drama!
osiris
///Member
So these last few weeks have been very interesting and frustrating.
Ever since I got my car back from BMW it had this strange coolant leak, I always thought it was just the radiator as my radiator had a small leak...Well as you all know I changed that recently.
While changing the radiator while I was under the car I saw coolant leaking from a pipe above the downpipes out the turbo. Well BMW recently replaced the turbos so it was something they needed to deal with.
I took the car to BMW two weeks ago and it turned into a horror story as usual. They stuffed up and wont take responsibility and tried to make me replace 5 pipes at 8k and then 10k labour plus 2.5k assesment fee so 20.5k in total.
Anyways not going to go into it all as its a long story but I took the car away from them and refused to pay a cent and took the car to Afzil and he sorted the car out for me. Turned out to be a damn Oring that BMW pinched while fitting the coolant pipe to the back turbo. R60 part!!
BMW Lied about allot of stuff and I have opened a case against them via BMW SA. Tired of these people trying to take me and other people for a ride.
They even lied about changing my oil when they replaced my turbos. It turned out that they only topped it up!
Anyways here is the part they screwed up causing the leak. :dunnoanymore:
Anyways onto more pleasant awesome stuff that makes me happy :smilebounce:
So here is the charge pipe before spray and prepped for spraying. I don't like bling under my bonnet!
Primer applied....Rust-Oleum:
Then sprayed with textured Rust-Oleum paint, looking awesome! :smilebounce:
Afzil fitted my bigger intercooler and this charge pipe for me after fixing the coolant leak! I haven't taken pics of the charge pipe in the car yet but damn this HKS BOV sounds so flipping awsome!
So after finding out that BMW didn't actually change my oil like they told me I decided I definitely need to change out my oil ASAP so I am doing a deep flush.
I first put 1L ATF fluid in the engine and drove to my trusty car wash where I get to use the lift. This lift is getting well used by me. regular chassis cleaning sessions, finding the old mechanic's stuff ups! and now an oil change!
![img_6015[1]_8952036919.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bmwfanatics.co.za%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2F1947%2Fimg_6015%5B1%5D_8952036919.jpg&hash=fec8c768920e1e2d6f7f03a3f2fb4b4d)
So I drained the oil and this is the mess that came out! No metal filings or anything. Just damn dirty oil.
![img_6017[1]_5638412120.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bmwfanatics.co.za%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2F1947%2Fimg_6017%5B1%5D_5638412120.jpg&hash=1381fca60874c3d530faa710801f7b96)
I bought two bottles of this stuff for now. so I filled up with this stuff which is apparently pretty good oil, at the end of this week I will drain this from my car and fill up with the second bottle and another 1.5L and replace the oil filter and drive with that till the end of the month.
I will then drain that and then put Motul or mobil 1 0w-40 or liqui moly, still researching for now.
So I was working overtime this weekend and while taking a break decided to take some pics of the car after the oil change and wash that followed.
Anyways thanks for looking guys. More updates to follow soon. :thumbs:
Ever since I got my car back from BMW it had this strange coolant leak, I always thought it was just the radiator as my radiator had a small leak...Well as you all know I changed that recently.
While changing the radiator while I was under the car I saw coolant leaking from a pipe above the downpipes out the turbo. Well BMW recently replaced the turbos so it was something they needed to deal with.
I took the car to BMW two weeks ago and it turned into a horror story as usual. They stuffed up and wont take responsibility and tried to make me replace 5 pipes at 8k and then 10k labour plus 2.5k assesment fee so 20.5k in total.
Anyways not going to go into it all as its a long story but I took the car away from them and refused to pay a cent and took the car to Afzil and he sorted the car out for me. Turned out to be a damn Oring that BMW pinched while fitting the coolant pipe to the back turbo. R60 part!!
BMW Lied about allot of stuff and I have opened a case against them via BMW SA. Tired of these people trying to take me and other people for a ride.
They even lied about changing my oil when they replaced my turbos. It turned out that they only topped it up!
Anyways here is the part they screwed up causing the leak. :dunnoanymore:
Anyways onto more pleasant awesome stuff that makes me happy :smilebounce:
So here is the charge pipe before spray and prepped for spraying. I don't like bling under my bonnet!
Primer applied....Rust-Oleum:
Then sprayed with textured Rust-Oleum paint, looking awesome! :smilebounce:
Afzil fitted my bigger intercooler and this charge pipe for me after fixing the coolant leak! I haven't taken pics of the charge pipe in the car yet but damn this HKS BOV sounds so flipping awsome!
So after finding out that BMW didn't actually change my oil like they told me I decided I definitely need to change out my oil ASAP so I am doing a deep flush.
I first put 1L ATF fluid in the engine and drove to my trusty car wash where I get to use the lift. This lift is getting well used by me. regular chassis cleaning sessions, finding the old mechanic's stuff ups! and now an oil change!
So I drained the oil and this is the mess that came out! No metal filings or anything. Just damn dirty oil.
I bought two bottles of this stuff for now. so I filled up with this stuff which is apparently pretty good oil, at the end of this week I will drain this from my car and fill up with the second bottle and another 1.5L and replace the oil filter and drive with that till the end of the month.
I will then drain that and then put Motul or mobil 1 0w-40 or liqui moly, still researching for now.
So I was working overtime this weekend and while taking a break decided to take some pics of the car after the oil change and wash that followed.
Anyways thanks for looking guys. More updates to follow soon. :thumbs:
