IF YOUR BMW MAKES THIS HORRIBLE SOUND, here's how to fix it

Summary

This instructional video addresses a common issue with BMW F generation models, where a grinding or rattling noise emanates from the center console due to a broken plastic clip holding the parking brake cables. The clip can be replaced with an affordable part from fcpeuro.com, part number 34 40 6 8 54 8 98. The video provides a step-by-step guide to replace the clip, including jacking up the car, removing the steel plate, exhaust, and heat shielding, and lowering the fuel tank for access. Despite BMW's reputation for quality, the video criticizes their use of plastic over metal for such critical components.

Takeaways

• 🔧 The video is a tutorial for fixing a common issue with BMW F generation cars, specifically a grinding or rattling noise from the center console.
• 🚗 Affected models include 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, M3, and M4, and the problem can occur during hard acceleration or while the car is in gear.
• 🔍 The source of the noise is a plastic clip that holds the parking brake cables, which can break and cause the cables to drag on the drive shaft.
• 🛠️ The clip is made of cheap, brittle plastic that can easily snap, leading to the noise issue that worsens over time.
• 📍 The noise is amplified in the car's interior because it originates from under the armrest.
• 🛒 The part needed to fix the issue is a genuine BMW retainer clip, part number 34 40 6 85 48 99, which can be purchased for around eight dollars.
• 🔩 The repair process involves jacking up the car, removing the steel plate, lowering the exhaust, and removing heat shielding to access the clip.
• ⚠️ A full fuel tank should be avoided during this repair; the car should be driven until nearly empty to prevent fuel spillage.
• 🔨 The repair requires loosening the fuel tank straps to drop the tank slightly, allowing access to the bolt for the new clip.
• 👷‍♂️ The video provides a step-by-step guide to replacing the clip, including reassembling the car's components after the repair.
• 🤔 The video also expresses frustration with BMW's use of plastic over metal for certain parts, suggesting it may contribute to the longevity issues of their vehicles.

Q & A

What is the common issue discussed in the video regarding BMW F generation cars?

The common issue is an annoying grinding or rattling sound coming from inside the car's center console, which is caused by the parking brake cables dragging on the drive shaft due to a broken plastic clip.

Which BMW models are affected by this issue according to the video?

The affected BMW models include F generation 2 series, 3 series, 4 series, M3, and M4.

What is the initial symptom of the problem when it starts?

The initial symptom is a grinding sound that occurs only under hard acceleration.

What happens if the issue is left unrepaired?

If left unrepaired, the grinding sound becomes constant as long as the car is in gear and rolling.

What is the actual cause of the noise as explained in the video?

The cause is a plastic clip that holds the parking brake cables to the underside of the car breaking off, allowing the cables to hang down and drag on the drive shaft.

What was the temporary fix provided by the dealership during the test drive?

The temporary fix was to use zip ties around the cables to hold them in place.

How much does the replacement part cost as mentioned in the video?

The replacement part costs around eight dollars, which can be purchased from fcpeuro.com.

What is the part number for the genuine BMW retainer clip?

The part number for the genuine BMW retainer clip is 34 40 6 854 898.

What steps are involved in replacing the faulty clip according to the video?

Steps include jacking up the car, removing the steel plate, lowering the exhaust, removing the heat shielding, and finally replacing the clip with a new one.

Why is it recommended not to perform the repair with a full fuel tank?

It is recommended not to perform the repair with a full fuel tank to avoid the risk of spilling fuel, which is both dangerous and can damage the car.

What is the overall sentiment of the video creator towards BMW's use of plastic parts?

The video creator expresses frustration with BMW's use of plastic parts instead of metal, suggesting it leads to such issues and questioning the decision-making in BMW's boardroom meetings.

Outlines

00:00

🔧 BMW F Generation Parking Brake Cable Fix

This paragraph discusses a common issue with BMW F generation models, including 2, 3, 4 series, M3, and M4, where a grinding or rattling noise emanates from the center console, especially during hard acceleration. The problem is attributed to a plastic clip that secures the parking brake cables, which can break, causing the cables to hang and drag on the drive shaft. The clip is located near the handbrake and is prone to failure due to its flimsy material. The video provides a step-by-step guide on how to replace the broken clip, including jacking up the car, removing the steel plate, lowering the exhaust, and eventually accessing and replacing the clip. The part number for the genuine BMW retainer clip is provided, and the video emphasizes the importance of this fix to prevent further noise and potential damage.

05:04

🛒 DIY Fuel Tank Drop for BMW Brake Cable Clip Replacement

The second paragraph continues the tutorial on fixing the parking brake cable issue in BMW F generation cars by detailing the process of dropping the fuel tank to access and replace the faulty clip. It cautions against performing this procedure with a full tank of gas and suggests waiting until the fuel is nearly depleted to avoid complications. The summary explains the need to loosen the steel straps holding the fuel tank, remove the old clip, and secure the new one with a 13-millimeter nut. The paragraph also touches on the frustration with BMW's use of plastic components instead of metal, which can lead to such issues. It concludes with a critique of BMW's focus on short-term lease durability over long-term quality, and it invites viewers to share their experiences and subscribe for more informative content.

Keywords

💡BMW F Generation

The BMW F Generation refers to a series of BMW vehicles produced between 2005 and 2018, including models like the 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, M3, and M4. In the video, this term is used to identify the specific range of cars that are affected by the issue being discussed, which is the grinding or rattling noise from the center console.

💡Grinding Noise

A grinding noise is an unpleasant, harsh sound often associated with mechanical failure or wear. In the context of the video, it describes the specific sound that occurs in certain BMW models when the parking brake cable clip fails, causing the cables to drag on the drive shaft.

💡Center Console

The center console is the part of a car's interior that is situated between the front seats, typically housing controls for the car's climate, infotainment system, and other features. In the video, the center console is where the viewer can feel the vibration related to the grinding noise issue.

💡Parking Brake Cables

Parking brake cables are the components that connect the handbrake lever to the rear brakes, ensuring the vehicle can be securely held in place when parked. The video explains that a broken clip can cause these cables to hang down and create a grinding noise against the drive shaft.

💡Clip

In the context of the video, a clip is a small, often plastic, part that holds the parking brake cables in place under the car. The failure of this clip is the root cause of the noise issue in the affected BMW models.

💡Drive Shaft

A drive shaft is a component of a vehicle's drivetrain that transfers power from the engine to the wheels. In the video, the broken parking brake cable clip allows the cables to drag on the drive shaft, creating the annoying noise.

💡Zip Ties

Zip ties, also known as cable ties, are used in the video as a temporary fix for the broken clip. They were used to hold the parking brake cables in place as a quick solution before the clip was replaced with the correct part.

💡Retainer Clip

A retainer clip is a specific type of clip designed to hold components in place securely. In the video, the part number for the genuine BMW retainer clip is given as a reference for viewers needing to replace the broken clip.

💡FCPeuro.com

FCPeuro.com is mentioned in the video as a source where the viewer can purchase the replacement retainer clip for a relatively low cost. It is an example of an aftermarket parts supplier for European cars.

💡Exhaust

The exhaust system of a car is responsible for expelling exhaust gases produced by the engine. In the video, the process of removing parts of the exhaust is described as part of the procedure to access and replace the broken parking brake cable clip.

💡Heat Shielding

Heat shielding is used in vehicles to protect various components from the heat generated by the engine and exhaust system. In the video, removing heat shielding is part of the steps required to access the parking brake cable clip for replacement.

Highlights

BMW F generation series may experience a grinding or rattling noise from the center console.

The noise initially occurs under hard acceleration and can become constant if left unrepaired.

The issue can be felt as a vibration when the armrest is lifted during acceleration.

The problem is caused by a plastic clip that secures the parking brake cables, which can break over time.

The broken clip allows cables to hang and drag on the drive shaft, causing the noise.

The parking brake cables run from the handbrake, clip onto the car's underside, and split to the rear wheels.

BMW uses cheap, brittle plastic for this crucial part, leading to its easy breakage.

The noise is amplified in the car's interior due to its location under the armrest.

The video creator experienced this issue during a test drive, which was temporarily 'fixed' with zip ties.

A genuine BMW retainer clip part number 34 40 6 854 898 can be purchased for a fix.

The repair process involves jacking up the car, removing the steel plate, and lowering the exhaust.

The heat shielding must be removed to access the clip, which is secured with a 13 millimeter wrench.

The fuel tank may need to be lowered to clear the bolt for the clip replacement.

It's crucial to perform this repair when the fuel tank is nearly empty to avoid spillage.

The repair is time-consuming due to the disassembly required to access the part.

BMW's use of plastic over metal in certain parts is criticized for leading to such issues.

The video offers a detailed guide for DIY repair of the parking brake cable clip issue.

The video encourages viewers to share their experiences with similar BMW issues in the comments.

A subscription call to action is made for viewers interested in more BMW-related content.

Transcripts

if your bmw ever makes this sound

i'm going to show you how to fix it if

you own any f generation

2 series 3 series 4 series or even m3 or

m4

bookmark this video because you will

need this information at some point

a lot of bmw f generation owners myself

included have experienced this really

annoying grinding or rattling side from

inside the car's center console it'll

start off only making the noise under

hard acceleration

and over time if left unrepaired it'll

just be a constant grinding sound

as long as the car is in gear and you're

rolling if you actually lift up the

armrest and put your hand in there

you'll actually be able to feel the

vibration while you're accelerating

it's exactly the sound that you want to

hear when you're trying to show off your

new car to your friend

[Music]

the culprit is this clip that holds the

parking brake cables to the underside of

the car as you can see over time they

can break off

allowing the cables to hang down and

drag on the drive shaft

underneath the car the parking brake

cables come out from where the handbrake

is and then it goes out a couple of feet

back from there and then they're clipped

onto the underside of the car with one

of these clips

before going off into a y where each

cable goes to one of the rear wheels

now of course being a bmw this crucial

part is only made out of cheap

flimsy plastic that gets brittle as you

can see it just kind of snaps off just

like that

and so when it first happens it'll only

make that sound under hard acceleration

as the car kind of squats down and the

drive shaft pinches those cables

and over time gravity will cause the

cables to droop down where they're just

in constant contact

with the drive shaft so it's always

making that noise at any speed

because all this is going on directly

under the armrest it's kind of like

amplified into the car's interior which

is

super annoying so we have to backtrack a

little bit here when i test drive the

car in florida it was actually making

the sound during the test drive

they assured me that it was no big deal

they pulled the car into the service bay

and worked their magic before i signed

any paperwork on the car

fast forward a few months a few thousand

miles and the cars making the sound

again

upon further inspection it turns out

that their method of fixing it was

just putting a couple zip ties around

those cables and sending it

now to their credit they did offer to

take it to the local bmw dealership in

town and have it fixed at their expense

but since i was in from out of state i

wasn't really prepared to hang out in

florida for a week while i waited for

that remember this is like the height of

the lockdown

bmw had long wait lists to get a car in

there so

since their way of fixing it made it

stop making the sound i really didn't

think too much of it at the time

i'm actually not that upset that they

use zip ties i mean as a band-aid fix it

was probably the best solution that they

had at the time and it did hold up for a

few thousand miles

but i think i'm more upset that the

dealership didn't tell me this over the

phone before i made a deposit and bought

plane tickets down to florida

i mean it's not like the listing said

clean 2017 340i

low mileage oh and by the way it goes

whenever you're accelerating luckily

it's a cheap fix i got mine from

fcpeuro.com for around eight dollars

i'll put a link down below if you want

to get one

the part number for the genuine bmw

retainer clip is three

four four zero six eight five four eight

nine eight

this job is a little tricky because you

have to take a bunch of stuff apart to

be able to get to this part

and with the drive shaft still being

right in your way it still doesn't give

you a whole lot of room to work now i

already

went ahead and replaced this because it

was driving me freaking nuts but i'm

going to take you under the car

i'm going to show you everything that

you need to do to replace this clip

jack up the rear of the car and support

it with jack stands

[Music]

remove the six t-45 bolts to remove the

steel plate

next we need to lower the exhaust unplug

the harness for the exhaust valve

[Music]

i put a towel on the ground so i

wouldn't scratch the muffler

next remove the 13 millimeter nuts for

the exhaust hangers

support the exhaust with one hand while

you loosen the nut with the other

that way it doesn't just fall on your

face

since my aftermarket exhaust is multiple

pieces i unbolted the center and took

the entire rear section out to give

myself more room to work

now you can remove the heat shielding

they're just a few 10 millimeter nuts

[Music]

with everything out of the way you'll

have a clear view of the clip

you won't be able to fit a socket in

there but a standard 13 millimeter

wrench will work just fine

if you have one that ratchets that's

even better

all right so at this point we just need

to drop the fuel tank a couple inches to

be able to clear that bolt that the

clip attaches to now don't worry it's

not quite as scary as it sounds

but do not do this with the full tank of

gas i repeat do not do this

when this gas tank is full drive around

for a few days wait until your car is on

empty and it gives you that fuel reserve

warning where you've got less than a

gallon of gas left

and then do this the fuel tank is held

on with these two steel straps

you only need to loosen the 13

millimeter bolts on the side where the

clip is

so since i already replaced my clip a

little while ago there's not a whole lot

more for me to show under here but

basically once you pull down the fuel

tank

you're going to pull off your old clip

you're going to put the new one on with

that 13-millimeter nut

you're going to attach your brake cables

hopefully the new clips don't break

and that's pretty much all there is to

it you're just going to go ahead and

reassemble everything else

under the car it's really not too bad

just kind of time consuming because you

have to take so much stuff apart just to

be able to get to that part

and a little bit claustrophobic under

here if i'm being honest especially if

you don't have a lift

[Music]

nice the thing that's frustrating about

bmw

is they get so much stuff right they're

able to compete in motorsports at a high

level they've made

arguably some of the most iconic cars

period

but it's the little stuff like this that

they get hung up on they just can't seem

to get it right

their obsession with making so much

stuff out of plastic rather than metal

you just have to ask yourself what's

going on in those boardroom meetings

when they're making those decisions

is it true that you pitch bringing back

electric water pumps during your

interview

i freaking love that well i gotta say

i'm incredibly excited to be part of bmw

i mean the customers you guys have are

absolutely forget the customer

your only responsibility is to make a

car that can last as long as the

two-year lease

name of the game move the money from

your customers pocket

into your pocket right but if we could

make a good car and still make money

that's advantageous to everyone correct

no number one rule of bmw's

nobody and i don't care if you're jeremy

clarkson or jeremy rogers

nobody knows when a bmw is going to

break down

so about this plastic clip i've been

working on what do you think we should

bolt it onto

fuel tank anyway guys if this video

solved your problem just give me a

thumbs up maybe leave a comment down

below let us know what bmw you're

driving that had that issue

and definitely share this video with

someone that you know that needs to see

it

um subscribe to the channel if you

haven't already i make videos just like

this

all the time so look forward to more and

i'll see you guys

in the next one and over time if left

unprep

and if left on unprepared

walking with the culprit

is this clip that holds the parking

brake block cable

[Music]

you