A vibration was driving me nuts.....

inTgr8r · 10-03-2016, 07:16 PM

....but tracked it down.

I noticed a vibration on my way back from the last track event.
One of those annoying ones that sounds like something loose but hard to pinpoint the source.
I checked the usually suspects like heat shields etc. but no luck.
Finally tracked it down to the 3rd brake light strip on the hatch.

It showed no signs of the common external cracking that has been posted many times.

When I took it apart this is what I found.

I glued it back together with some crazy/super glue.
All is good for now, will see how it holds up.

.

Mirko · 10-03-2016, 07:45 PM

lol .. glad you finally found it! I know it was bugging you a while

XMetal · 10-03-2016, 11:45 PM

I think I may have the same issue. Is the trim easy to take off to access the light housing?

inTgr8r · 10-04-2016, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XMetal

I think I may have the same issue. Is the trim easy to take off to access the light housing?

Yes very easy, except that the way they designed it all the pieces interlock.
They all have to come off starting from the top.

StickMon · 10-07-2016, 01:31 PM

Might want to do what I did and get some nyloc nuts and only tighten them about 1/2 way.
That said, mine's still starting to crack up.

Edit: Starting to crack up, again.

inTgr8r · 10-07-2016, 02:07 PM

That's a good idea.

I used some blue loctite and did a partial tighten as well.
Next time I'm in there I'll change to nylocs

Steeler · 10-07-2016, 03:09 PM

I was afraid of possibly breaking the posts off mine by using nylocks so I smeared a bit of silicone on the threads before putting the OEM nuts back on.

StickMon · 10-07-2016, 03:42 PM

About a month after I replaced mine (clear lens roadie) a few years ago it started cracking across the top middle.
Went to Lowes and got a bag of their Hillman nylocs. M4 I think.
They went on pretty easy. The idea was to take some of the compression out of the springs so it would stop cracking.
Seemed to arrest it for a while, but now I've got a bigger crack that looks like it's about to shoot vertically right across the lens.
There's no saving the darn things, only prolonging them.

inTgr8r · 10-07-2016, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StickMon

About a month after I replaced mine (clear lens roadie) a few years ago it started cracking across the top middle.
Went to Lowes and got a bag of their Hellmann nylocs. M4 I think.
They went on pretty easy. The idea was to take some of the compression out of the springs so it would stop cracking.
Seemed to arrest it for a while, but now I've got a bigger crack that looks like it's about to shoot vertically right across the lens.
There's no saving the darn things, only prolonging them.

Is yours cracking on the outside, or separating like mine?

StickMon · 10-07-2016, 05:47 PM

On the outside. Clear lens starts cracking around the edges where it sits against the trunk lid and the cracks eventually spider across the face of the lens.

inTgr8r · 10-07-2016, 06:04 PM

Thanks.
Yeah, that's the common issue with these.

Mine has no exterior cracking at all, just on the inside where the lens joints the LEDs housing.
I spread a layer of super glue all along the joint, we'll see how long it lasts.

Beedub · 10-08-2016, 07:16 AM

is this weather related?? uk cars just dont see this issue it seems....

inTgr8r · 10-08-2016, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedub

is this weather related?? uk cars just dont see this issue it seems....

Not sure....
Mine is never outside except when driven.

StickMon · 10-10-2016, 03:28 PM

Mine sits in SoCal Sun all the time. I think that may be a factor.
Internal stress caused by different rate of expansion between the lens and the housing.

angelr · 10-10-2016, 03:34 PM

Mine hasn't experienced the issue and it's lived it's life in Fl and now Socal at 125k fwiw.

10-03-2016, 07:16 PM	#1
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	A vibration was driving me nuts..... ....but tracked it down. I noticed a vibration on my way back from the last track event. One of those annoying ones that sounds like something loose but hard to pinpoint the source. I checked the usually suspects like heat shields etc. but no luck. Finally tracked it down to the 3rd brake light strip on the hatch. It showed no signs of the common external cracking that has been posted many times. When I took it apart this is what I found. I glued it back together with some crazy/super glue. All is good for now, will see how it holds up. . __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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10-03-2016, 07:45 PM	#2
Mirko Major 182 Rep 1,031 Posts Drives: E86 Z4M, E90 328i, E84 X1 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2)	lol .. glad you finally found it! I know it was bugging you a while __________________ 08 M Coupe • Ceramic Black Fabspeed Headers • MCS 1WNR • Poly FCAB • Stoptech BBK • Vibra-Tech • Epic Tune • Apex EC7 • RPI Scoop • Eventuri • Stromung • Rogue X Pipe • Varis Diffuser • CF E92 GTS Wing • CF Roof
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10-03-2016, 11:45 PM	#3
XMetal Colonel 1125 Rep 2,860 Posts Drives: Anything Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Z4M Coupe [10.00] 2018 Audi S3 [0.00] 2004 X5 [8.50]	I think I may have the same issue. Is the trim easy to take off to access the light housing?
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10-07-2016, 01:31 PM	#5
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	Might want to do what I did and get some nyloc nuts and only tighten them about 1/2 way. That said, mine's still starting to crack up. Edit: Starting to crack up, again. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
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10-07-2016, 02:07 PM	#6
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	That's a good idea. I used some blue loctite and did a partial tighten as well. Next time I'm in there I'll change to nylocs __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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10-07-2016, 03:09 PM	#7
Steeler Colonel 2428 Rep 2,702 Posts Drives: Built not Bought 04 Z4 VF Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kitchener Ontario Canada iTrader: (2)	I was afraid of possibly breaking the posts off mine by using nylocks so I smeared a bit of silicone on the threads before putting the OEM nuts back on. __________________ W2A Intercooled Vortech V3Si, custom ducting, Alpha N, 60# Bosch,2.62 pulley, multi port WMI, Severn Tuning(pokeybritches), Tial, magnaflow,SS race muffler, 42 design,3.91LSD, H&R, Hotchkis,ST coils,Konis, Megan camber arms, AKG SS, Nylon mounts, Poly bushings, Carbon interior, CF Aero.APEX
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10-07-2016, 03:42 PM	#8
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	About a month after I replaced mine (clear lens roadie) a few years ago it started cracking across the top middle. Went to Lowes and got a bag of their Hillman nylocs. M4 I think. They went on pretty easy. The idea was to take some of the compression out of the springs so it would stop cracking. Seemed to arrest it for a while, but now I've got a bigger crack that looks like it's about to shoot vertically right across the lens. There's no saving the darn things, only prolonging them. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts. Last edited by StickMon; 10-08-2016 at 01:15 AM..
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10-07-2016, 05:47 PM	#10
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	On the outside. Clear lens starts cracking around the edges where it sits against the trunk lid and the cracks eventually spider across the face of the lens. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
	Appreciate 1 inTgr8r2425.50 Quote

10-07-2016, 06:04 PM	#11
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	Thanks. Yeah, that's the common issue with these. Mine has no exterior cracking at all, just on the inside where the lens joints the LEDs housing. I spread a layer of super glue all along the joint, we'll see how long it lasts. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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10-08-2016, 07:16 AM	#12
Beedub Major General 423 Rep 5,327 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 M roadster vt2-500 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	is this weather related?? uk cars just dont see this issue it seems.... __________________ Z4MR VT2 - Clubsport build. Multi award winning Detailing \| Wrap \| PPF specialists UK based - www.topwrapz.com
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10-10-2016, 03:28 PM	#14
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	Mine sits in SoCal Sun all the time. I think that may be a factor. Internal stress caused by different rate of expansion between the lens and the housing. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
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10-10-2016, 03:34 PM	#15
angelr Lieutenant 188 Rep 515 Posts Drives: 07 aw/ir m coupe, 2013 S4 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cedarpines park, Ca iTrader: (1)	Mine hasn't experienced the issue and it's lived it's life in Fl and now Socal at 125k fwiw.
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