Door microswitch

tenroom · Post by **tenroom** » Sun 19 Sep, 2004 14:27

Do any of the guys who've taken off the Z1 door themselves know whether it's possible to replace the microswitch controlling power to the motor without actually removing the whole door. ie Can it be done by just removing the rear wing ?

Nik Rite · Post by **Nik Rite** » Sun 19 Sep, 2004 21:17

Hi Tenroom,"Andrew" is your man to help . He worked on the switch in the door with good sucess.I'm sure he'll chip in.Keep us posted so we can all learn.good luck!! Nik

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Mon 20 Sep, 2004 09:35

You cannot replace the microswitch on its own and you cannot access the bits you need to cure a microswitch problem without removing the door.

I'm currently writing up notes on my door servicing experiences and will post here and to Paul D's site.

In the meantime, how do you know it's the microswitch that is the problem - or is it an educated guess?

tenroom · Post by **tenroom** » Mon 20 Sep, 2004 10:24

Yeah more of an educated guess, Andrew. Basically the door's locked in the down position and can't be raised manually. Checked fuses 27/28 - they're fine. Door belt isn't broken. Neither pressing outer lockbutton or pulling internal handle works.

Stopped working a couple of weeks ago then worked fine for a few days and now packed up for good. Swapped black boxes on the battery cover but makes no difference.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Mon 20 Sep, 2004 12:32

If the door is STUCK in the down position, then there might be a mechanical lock problem.

Try taking the fuses out. then, with the help of an accomplice, hold the interior door handle open whilst raising the door. That should release the lockpins from the shaft.
It needs a BIG pull so watch your back.

To make it latch in the up position, you'll need to get some momentum going on the door travel otherwise it'll just ease down again.

Put fuses back in and see if the problem is still there.

I'd be at abit of a loss to say what's wrong if (from your previous posts) there's no sound coming from the mechanism at all.

I'd suggest you get it looked at by Munich Legends if your DIY skills are sketchy.

Could well be a motor packed in. But that'll be the first I've heard of.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Mon 20 Sep, 2004 12:34

PS> REMOVING THE REAR WING - any use?

Yes, this can help as you can do a little testing of the operation of the microswitches.

Nik Rite · Post by **Nik Rite** » Mon 20 Sep, 2004 20:30

I knew Andrew would help!! , Taking panels off Is actually easy but I think you would need a driveway at least to do it. I can give you details off CD Rom If that helps!! NIK

tenroom · Post by **tenroom** » Mon 15 Nov, 2004 17:29

Finally got this sorted . . . . at a price

Turns out the problem was a malfunctioning door control module - y'know - the ones attached to the inside of battery cover behind the seats. Damn things cost £200+.

Must say though, I was most put out by Munich Legends' labour charge. They reckoned on 7 - that's right - SEVEN hours diagnosis and stripdown/rebuild of the door, rear panel etc - that's a whole DAY. Now I've taken my car to them twice before and they've ALWAYS got a Z1 in there for repair so my guess is they know the cars pretty much inside out.

Anyway I paid the £660.02 bill, got into the motor and pissed off home. Imagine my chagrin when I realised they hadn't even stuck the f***ing interior door handle trims back on. Worse still, I recall asking the guy to look at the passenger-side door cos, like some other board members, it sometimes opens and closes by itself after operation of the interior door pull. They said it had been sorted and that both doors were working properly now. Lo & behold, tried it on the way home - same f***ing thing !

The car wasn't even washed. Shouldn't have surprised me though - last time I got the car back off 'em after some insurance bodywork, the boot was absolutely flooded with dirty water. When I queried it, the guy had the audacity to tell me they all leak water into the boot. Bollox, I thought - mine doesn't - it's been left in the rain loads of times and not a drop gets thru.

I guess the art of service has disappeared - especially when you know there aren't many other garages that know the Z1.

Well this punter's voting with his feet. Does anyone know of a decent garage where they give you a bit of service ? Perhaps wash the car before giving it back to you ??

spokey · Post by **spokey** » Mon 15 Nov, 2004 17:43

Hi,

I know they are main dealers, but I really, really rate Vines of Guildford. They very rarely took more than one go to fix anything, their service management is exemplary and they really, really, really know how to wash a car. I live in Huntingdon and I'm starting to think about making plans to use them for my 750 and Z1because I get so little help from the local dealer.

tenroom · Post by **tenroom** » Mon 15 Nov, 2004 18:38

Don't suppose you know what their hourly rate is do ya ? Is it true that main dealers outside London are a lot cheaper ?

spokey · Post by **spokey** » Mon 15 Nov, 2004 18:51

tenroom wrote:Don't suppose you know what their hourly rate is do ya ? Is it true that main dealers outside London are a lot cheaper ?

Depends on how you define "cheap", I suppose...

... my eyes still water at every bill I get. Case in point: today, on my 1982 323i I had the oil changed, plugs changed and CO2 adjusted: 145 quid. I doubt that Vines would have been any cheaper, but they probably would have managed to fix the other problem the car had, and it would DEFINITELY have been cleaned properly as well...

tenroom · Post by **tenroom** » Mon 15 Nov, 2004 18:54

Well put it this way. Holland Park BMW charge £100 per hour + VAT

spokey · Post by **spokey** » Mon 15 Nov, 2004 19:11

tenroom wrote:Well put it this way. Holland Park BMW charge £100 per hour + VAT

I think Vines are about £75 an hour, but I can't be sure. But they are the only main stealer I've come across so far that I want to go back to.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Tue 16 Nov, 2004 00:13

Munich Let you down huh?

Must say they had a few goes on my driver door too - not long after I first got it.

I never was quite convinced with them.

Second time it worked okay, but after much Bull**it like "oh it'll settle down in a few days" etc

Now I know better after fixing them myself.

Thanks for the Vines tip Spokey. I'll give them a try for the next service! Not too far from Richmond for me.

Cheers all,

Andrew.

spokey · Post by **spokey** » Tue 16 Nov, 2004 00:20

Andrew wrote:Thanks for the Vines tip Spokey. I'll give them a try for the next service! Not too far from Richmond for me.

Cool! I actually bought my Z1 from them. Not sure whether mentioning my name will help or harm, though!

fergusm · Post by **fergusm** » Wed 24 Nov, 2004 15:49

I have been using AMC in Tooting for a while now. They seem professional and competent.. The number is 020 8944 9966

tenroom · Post by **tenroom** » Wed 24 Nov, 2004 18:39

fergusm wrote:I have been using AMC in Tooting for a while now. They seem professional and competent.. The number is 020 8944 9966

Thanks a lot, Fergus ! I'll give 'em a try.

Incidentally has anyone had a clutch replaced on their Z1 ? If so, how much did you pay. I hear it's a MAJOR job on Z1s !

tenroom · Post by **tenroom** » Tue 01 Feb, 2005 16:59

Just thought I'd give you guys an update on this saga . . .

A couple of weeks after getting my car back from Munich Legends, I startfed to notice the dreaded scratches beginning to appear on my blemishless driver-side door. Not only that, but I discovered the unduly rattly ride was down to the f***ing door sill not being put on correctly.

Naturally, having the done nigh on £700 f***ing quid on the repair, I was livid. Anyhoo, I called Legends before Crimbo to have the matter rectified to my satisfaction and even though I was mindful of the fact that I'd have to take a day off to get down there and back AND be without a car for a week or so to boot, it'd have to be less annoying than paying Holland Park BMW £100 an hour to reset the door and respray it.

Well even up to today, I've had to chase them to get them to give me a date to bring the car down . . . and that's not even guaranteeing me a courtesy car for my trouble.

Beware people . . . . beware !

Nik Rite · Post by **Nik Rite** » Tue 01 Feb, 2005 19:51

Hi Tenroom , if you are referring to the door/window switch on the brass coloured plate, I can see no other way of replacing it without taking the lower door panel/rear panel and the door itself off. The switch is part of the whole plate and comes as a complete unit from BMW. It costs about £200. what makes you think its the door switch? You can check its operarion with a multimeter if you open one of the multiplugs infront of the rear wheel arch, Regards Nik

SCORPION · Post by **SCORPION** » Tue 01 Feb, 2005 23:03

Hi Tenroom
I just noticed your comment about a boot full of water.
When you take the rear wing off, you will notice a strip of mastik/gunge on the top. There is a gap in it where the water is guided down an internal drain. If the "experts" decide to seal the wing on with new mastik then it is highly likely they will block the drain and fll your boot.

tenroom · Post by **tenroom** » Wed 02 Feb, 2005 06:57

Hi guys

The bootful of water had to be down to the boot being left open cos I've had the car out in the rain for days before with no sign of water afterwards.

The doorswitch "problem" wasn't a problem. It's been repaired by replacing a door module - Munich Legends took 6 hours to work that out. I'm complaining about the poor service and the fact I've gotta go without a car for a week so they can re-align the door, respray it and attach the sill properly.

'MC' MarkC · Post by **'MC' MarkC** » Wed 02 Feb, 2005 09:30

spokey wrote: on my 1982 323i I had the oil changed, plugs changed and CO2 adjusted: 145 quid

Spokey; are you really paying main stealer rates to service an '82 BMW

Is it still under warranty or something

There's a case for paying their labour rates for 'expertise' on recent models, however I think the chances that their mechanic has even lifted the bonnet of an E21, never mind serviced one are about as likely as I am to have lifted the blouse of Eva Herzigova

There are a fair few reputable specialists around, most of whom would be more familiar with your Baur Spokey, and the labour rate should be around 1/2 (even genuine parts should be cheaper too). Still, it is of course your choice, and there's always the free service-wash to consider

tenroom · Post by **tenroom** » Thu 28 Apr, 2005 15:30

Well people . . . I've finally got some satisfaction and this sorry tale is close to conclusion. After nigh on 5 months of lobbying on my part and crappy excuses on theirs, Munich Legends have relented and sent me a cheque for £241 so I can return my Z1 to the aesthetic excellence it enjoyed before they fixed it last year.

It's a real shame - cos as they're an indie BMW garage, you really wanna support them but - frankly - with service like this, there's no way on God's green earth I'm EVER gonna let 'em near my car again.

Takes ages to build a rep and a second to ruin it.

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