Body - Creeking Noise From Instrument Panel
SI B41 01 07Body
August 2007
Technical Service
SUBJECT
Creaking Noise Heard from the Center of the Instrument Panel
MODEL
E85, E86 (Z4) produced up to 10/2006
SITUATION
A creaking noise may be heard from the center area of the instrument panel while driving over rough roads. In some instances the noise appears to come from the engine compartment.
CAUSE
A. One or both of the fasteners which secure the strut bars to the bracket on each strut tower has come loose.
B. One or both of the brackets which secure the strut bars to each strut tower has fractured and come free from the strut tower.
CORRECTION
A. Re-torque the fasteners securing the strut bars to the brackets.
B. Replace the mounting bracket on the strut tower.
PROCEDURE
A. Loose fasteners:
1. For vehicles produced up to May 2006, torque the M10 nut securing the strut bar to the bracket to 41NM.
2. For vehicles produced from May 2006, replace the M10 bolts (P/N 07 11 9 906 010) securing the strut bar to the bracket.
^ Note: The tightening torque for this bolt is 56NM plus an angle torque of 105 degrees +/- 15 degrees.
B. Fractured mounting bracket:
1. Remove the suspension strut on the damaged side per repair instruction RA 31 31 000.
2. Drill open the weld points on the fractured bracket (1).
3. Remove all remaining pieces of the damaged bracket (2) from the strut tower (3).
4. Using the drilled open weld points as a mark, use an 8 mm drill bit to drill for plug welding the new bracket to the strut tower (2).
5. Remove any contamination caused by drilling from both the top and the underside of the strut tower.
6. The new bracket (1) differs from the one installed up to May 2006 in that it has a weld nut (2) secured to it as opposed to a welded in bolt.
7. Loosely connect the strut bar (1) to the new bracket (3) using the new bolt (2) and center the bolt in the elongated hole of the strut bar (1).
NOTE: Use the outlines of the old bracket on the strut tower to align the new bracket.
8. Secure the strut bar bracket to the strut tower by plug welding.
9. Clean the repair area on the strut tower both on the inside and outside of the strut tower.
10. Refinish the surface on the outside of the strut tower to prevent corrosion.
11. Coat the inside of the strut tower with primer then undercoating.
12. Tighten the strut bar (1) on the bulkhead mount (2) and tighten the bolt securing the strut bar to the new bracket (3).
Note: The tightening torque for these bolts are 56NM plus an angle torque of 105 degrees +/- 15 degrees.
PARTS INFORMATION
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
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