IF YOUR BMW MAKES THIS HORRIBLE SOUND, here's how to fix it
Summary
TLDRThis 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
- π§ 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.
- π 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.
- π 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.
- π οΈ The clip is made of cheap, brittle plastic that can easily snap, leading to the noise issue that worsens over time.
- π The noise is amplified in the car's interior because it originates from under the armrest.
- π 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.
- π© The repair process involves jacking up the car, removing the steel plate, lowering the exhaust, and removing heat shielding to access the clip.
- β οΈ A full fuel tank should be avoided during this repair; the car should be driven until nearly empty to prevent fuel spillage.
- π¨ The repair requires loosening the fuel tank straps to drop the tank slightly, allowing access to the bolt for the new clip.
- π·ββοΈ The video provides a step-by-step guide to replacing the clip, including reassembling the car's components after the repair.
- π€ 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
π§ 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.
π 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘BMW F Generation
π‘Grinding Noise
π‘Center Console
π‘Parking Brake Cables
π‘Clip
π‘Drive Shaft
π‘Zip Ties
π‘Retainer Clip
π‘FCPeuro.com
π‘Exhaust
π‘Heat Shielding
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
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