Watching "Ultimate Factories:BMW"........

[ChiefRes]

...and trying to spot the point at which they install the motor mount bolts that will eventually fail.

*disgruntled former Z4M Coupe owner*

[rps]

You'll see it and also when the "inspector" finds that one is loose and he torques it down.

[O-cha]

Originally Posted by rps

You'll see it and also when the "inspector" finds that one is loose and he torques it down.

That's a different part actually.

[G80indy]

I own the DVD and have looked at it many times. It's hard to say, since it is just the chassis if it was an M. I think it was the standard N52 engine in it.

[ChiefRes]

Yeah, it was a 3.0si. I think the engine actually stays in place in that car.

[G80indy]

Originally Posted by ChiefRes

...and trying to spot the point at which they install the motor mount bolts that will eventually fail.

*disgruntled former Z4M Coupe owner*

you SOLD her?

[AWM3]

Originally Posted by ChiefRes

...and trying to spot the point at which they install the motor mount bolts that will eventually fail.

*disgruntled former Z4M Coupe owner*

Aside from the bad motor mount bolts, you sold your car, so why are you still here? Sorry you sold it? Replaced it with a boring car? Looking for another? Or some other reason??

Another plug for my motor mount research study. I believe that the problem occurred in October through December 2006, and anyone who has a Z4M built during those three months should have their motor mount bolts replaced before they break (unless they already have).

[ChiefRes]

Originally Posted by car62

Aside from the bad motor mount bolts, you sold your car, so why are you still here? Sorry you sold it? Replaced it with a boring car? Looking for another? Or some other reason??

Another plug for my motor mount research study. I believe that the problem occurred in October through December 2006, and anyone who has a Z4M built during those three months should have their motor mount bolts replaced before they break (unless they already have).

Yep, I sold the car. To be fair, the motor issue wasn't the only reason. I'd had the car for 2.5 years, and it was just time. There are too many great vehicles to experience, and I was ready to move on. This site is still bookmarked on my laptop, and I still enjoy reading about and looking at photos of all BMWs.

And no, I'm not really looking for anything "boring." The last Vantage I drove was quite fun actually. So was the 911. I'll probably buy something come spring.

[KevinC]

They once showed the BMW factory show and the same on the Corvette factory back-to-back. What a revelation. The BMW factory was ultra-modern in every respect, with uniformed workers, lots of robotics, underside of cars being worked on via rotisserie so that the workers don't have to reach up awkwardly, etc. Then the Corvette factory - workers dressed like they're working on their yard on Sunday afternoon, a giant fan set up to blow air on the assembly line workers (no AC apparently?), far less robotics, etc. It was quite a contrast.

[O-cha]

Originally Posted by KevinC

They once showed the BMW factory show and the same on the Corvette factory back-to-back. What a revelation. The BMW factory was ultra-modern in every respect, with uniformed workers, lots of robotics, underside of cars being worked on via rotisserie so that the workers don't have to reach up awkwardly, etc. Then the Corvette factory - workers dressed like they're working on their yard on Sunday afternoon, a giant fan set up to blow air on the assembly line workers (no AC apparently?), far less robotics, etc. It was quite a contrast.

Yea I noticed that too, the one dude assembling the car with a wife beater on and dry fit shorts really drove this home.

And then when you get to the quality control inspectors, and I'm not being racist because they were BOTH African American, but the one in the corvette factory didn't seem like he should be working that position.

[AWM3]

Originally Posted by ChiefRes

Yep, I sold the car. To be fair, the motor issue wasn't the only reason. I'd had the car for 2.5 years, and it was just time. There are too many great vehicles to experience, and I was ready to move on. This site is still bookmarked on my laptop, and I still enjoy reading about and looking at photos of all BMWs.

And no, I'm not really looking for anything "boring." The last Vantage I drove was quite fun actually. So was the 911. I'll probably buy something come spring.

911 or Cayman would be at the top of my list, especially the new ones with the PDK and direct injection. Great club support from PCA also.

[jragan]

Originally Posted by car62

911 or Cayman would be at the top of my list, especially the new ones with the PDK and direct injection. Great club support from PCA also.

You left out LSD from your list of abbreviations

[AWM3]

Originally Posted by jragan

You left out LSD from your list of abbreviations

Limited slip differential is always nice.
PDK is Porsche Doppelkupplung. Porsche invented this transmission in 1983 for the 956 LeMans prototype race car. It has taken this long to develop the technology for street cars. The BMW DCT is similar to the Porsche design and is actually licensed from Porsche.
PCA is the Porsche Club of America. Sort of like BMW CCA is the BMW Car Club of America.

[G80indy]

Originally Posted by car62

Another plug for my motor mount research study. I believe that the problem occurred in October through December 2006, and anyone who has a Z4M built during those three months should have their motor mount bolts replaced before they break (unless they already have).

Please share details how you arrived at this production range, and your research study/sample?

[AWM3]

Originally Posted by 330indy

Please share details how you arrived at this production range, and your research study/sample?

I contacted all the owners who had posted on any BMW forum about having motor mount problems, and asked them what was the production date of their car. Six owners responded and all of the cars were produced in October through December 2006. The open invitation is out there for any other owners or former owners who had broken or loose engine mount bolts, to indicate what the production date of their vehicle was. So far I only have confirmation of problems from those three months. Any additional confirmed information that anyone else has from their own direct experience is welcomed.

[G80indy]

cool! I would plaster this survey all over the place... (if you haven't already done so, that is...)
Like: (assume a ".com" after these) >>
z4-forum (UK)
roadfly/bmw/forums/e85,e86
bimmerforums
bimmerfest
BMWCCA (.org)

Are you also tracking if it's coupes vs. roadsters?
(by the way, thanks for doing this. It helps my concern/wanting to know specifically by production run, who is affected)

[Ron Stygar]

Originally Posted by 330indy

cool! I would plaster this survey all over the place... (if you haven't already done so, that is...)
Like: (assume a ".com" after these) >>
z4-forum (UK)
roadfly/bmw/forums/e85,e86
bimmerforums
bimmerfest
BMWCCA (.org)

Are you also tracking if it's coupes vs. roadsters?
(by the way, thanks for doing this. It helps my concern/wanting to know specifically by production run, who is affected)

It's been around for awhile at Bimmerfest.
4517 NA Z4M's with the potential issue.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...9&postcount=39

[G80indy]

yes I've seen this (thanks)
but I am more interested in actual accounts

[Ron Stygar]

Originally Posted by 330indy

but I am more interested in actual accounts

So far we got six after over two years.

[AWM3]

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

So far we got six after over two years.

The number six doesn't mean anything. Obviously there were a number of others which were reported through BMW dealer service departments and prompted the original service bulletin in 2009. Six happens to be the small number of owners who posted on the internet (most don't) and who gave me the courtesy of a reply (some didn't). The actual number is unknown. The only significance of my information is that all six failures that were confirmed to me fell within a three month period of October-December 2006, which suggests but does not prove that there was a specific limited time period when this defect occurred. SIB 220109 is not very helpful in pointing to a specific group of cars because it says all Z4M roadster and coupes up to 03/08, which covers over three years and over 4500 cars. I am not a statistician and I cannot say if these numbers reach the level of statistical significance (i.e not due to chance only). My advice to anyone with a Z4M from those three months is to make sure your engine mount bolts are OK - that would be prudent. I cannot say if this means that all others can relax and not worry about it.

[G80indy]

for z4 M owners
my production date was 6-1-06.
with 735 miles on it, the passenger side motor mount bolts (per the service bulletin) were found to be loose, not broken thank goodness. All four bolts were replaced under warranty.
I have a Roadster... I would advise every z4M roadster or coupe owner to have the dealer check it out. you don't want to find out the hard way...

[jragan]

Originally Posted by 330indy

for z4 M owners
my production date was 6-1-06.
with 735 miles on it, the passenger side motor mount bolts (per the service bulletin) were found to be loose, not broken thank goodness. All four bolts were replaced under warranty.
I have a Roadster... I would advise every z4M roadster or coupe owner to have the dealer check it out. you don't want to find out the hard way...

You're quite lucky they took the time/energy to actually check instead of just saying they did. More often than not, they say they checked "and everything's fine" only to have one or more of them shear a few months later.