[rich1068]

Firstly, has anyone come across this before? It's driving me to distraction and my dealer appears to be unable to fix it (three times) because I think they're looking in the wrong place. They keep focussing on the small metal bonnet stop near the bonnet hinge but I think it's coming from inside the car somewhere around the bottom of the A pillar where it meets the dash.

The noise isn't a squeak or rattle but more like a crack and it happens as the car body shifts or flexes. It doesn't do it if I drive over a rough surface. I've tried holding onto the dash and various bits of trim to no avail. I've also tried putting a selection of my trusty loyalty cards in various gaps around the screen, A pillar and dash. Again, no difference.

Help!

After having another go at tracking this down I've eased off the cover at the end of the dash and had a look inside. Sorry for the iPhone pics.



Now I'm clutching at straws here but this area caught my eye



And specifically this



1 and 2 look like they should be welded together going on the scorch marks but it looks to me like there is a gap between them. It's hard to be certain because access is limited and unfortunately my torch is making the photos glare a bit.

Any thoughts anyone? Or pretty please, does anyone fancy having a look on their car for me?

[rich1068]

Anyone?

[Kerr]

Based on you own post about spot welds not joined, someone else on here posted about their dash cracking that turned out to be exactly that. Broken spot welds.

The dealer could not solve the problems and refunded/replaced the car.

He then put a warning up about buying it just last week I'm sure.

[Kerr]

Here is a link to the first thread


http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...elds+dashboard

[rich1068]

Cheers Kerr. I must have missed that one. Interesting link through to the thread by jonsteele too. The only problem is how to approach the dealer about this. Again! 'I read it on a forum' are words that strike fear into the heart of dealers.

[chris_s1]

I just had a look on mine and they are definately welded together with a spot weld.
The two metal parts have gaps between them except where the spot weld joins them.

[rich1068]

Much appreciated for going the extra mile Chris. I'm going to have another look now and see if I can get a better view of the weld. Wire coat hanger at the ready...

[chris_s1]

No problem, I'll try a photo if it will help but as you know, its tricky!

[rich1068]

That would be appreciated but don't put yourself out. As you said it is tricky.

:edit:

Thinking about it I could do with a friendly Sheffield based member offering to let me look at theirs

(fnar...)

[m1bjr]

Just tack it and see if ity goes away

[m1bjr]

Just tack it with a TIG weld and see if it stops!

[greatbm]

Originally Posted by m1bjr

Just tack it with a TIG weld and see if it stops!

Make sure all electronics are disconnected or bonded out before any electric weld.

[rich1068]

You guys obviously haven't met me. TIG weld? Tack it? Bonded out?

My wife would be pissing herself for a week if I showed her your suggestions. To give you an idea of where I'm at my 3 year old thinks I'm some sort of superhero fixer because I have a tube of superglue and I can change batteries. I'm guessing I can bask in this glory for about another year.

[Boyd1963]

I'd be very interested to hear how you get on with this. My car was back to the dealer 12-13 times with the same problem and they never resolved it.

[rich1068]

No problem but I'm loathe to go back to the dealers just yet. Unless I can be certain as to the problem I'll probably leave it until December when it goes in for the modified clutch.

[bmwak]

There was a TCB on my old 1 Series (it looks rather similar in photos so may also be for the E9x's). Its worth asking your dealer to check this. It involved apparently wrapping a particular area with felt tape iirc.

If you've got access to BMW TIS it had it on there also I believe.

[rich1068]

TCB? TIS?

[chris_s1]

Originally Posted by rich1068

TCB? TIS?

TIS is the BMW Technical Information System that stores all the service and maintenance information about BMW's. Everything from what oil should be used up to how to take an engine out of an M5.

TCB I assume he means Service Bulletins, although I thought these were called SIBs. This is when BMW release a new procedure to dealers, ie they've identified a particular problem and are telling them how to fix it.

[rich1068]

This drove me round the bend on Friday so I've emailed the dealer just to get it off my chest. I also mentioned spot welds without mentioning internet forums. Dealers hate forums.

[rich1068]

Well it's gone in today and they're keeping it until it's fixed. I also got a tech who seemed to know what he was doing. He also asked if he could take it home as he lives 20 miles away. Yes! Take it!

[Boyd1963]

Good luck. Keep us updated.

[jonsteele]

Only just spotted this - sounds exactly like the problem I had that was failed spot welds at the bottom of the A pillar. First on the OS and then the NS! It took them 4 attempts (I think) to fix the OS, that included fully removing the dash and windscreen (I believe they managed to break 2 screens doing it!). They had 2 goes at the NS and whilst I didn't think they fixed it at first it seems to have gone.

It is fixable and it is a known problem to BMW - keep on at them if they aren't forthcoming at first. However, don't expect your dash to be creak/rattle free when you get it back!!!!