So happy to have found this self-fix. Going to try this tomorrow. Both handles on my 1997 Z3 have this problem, and no repair shop I’ve gone to in Nashville, Tennessee, will even attempt to fix it. Thanks!
My dude, this is now 555 GBP! Absolute madness. I will try your approach.If that does not hold, I am going to try to fabricate something with a little sheet metal. 555 GBP!
Really good solution this, however I added a few extra strengthen areas. Once the door panel was removed I retrieved the plastic parts which had cracked. Some loose in the bottom of the door panel, one piece where the torx screw was removed. I assembled the broken plastic parts using epoxy 2 part adhesive and that held together well. Then I used the same epoxy metal putty and formed a strengthening mould over the top pushing a screwdriver through for the screw hole. Rough up the plastic surfaces first with some emery cloth to give a key on the surface and dust off. There is a plastic rivet from the handle that goes through into the interior of the panel where it is plastic welded over. Mine had snapped leaving a hole. Where it goes into the back of the handle drill a 2mm dia pilot hole into the rivet plastic about 12mm deep. Use a self tapping screw about 20mm long with a washer and secure the handle together with the existing 2 screws. This all makes a very strong thorough job. My Z3 is 21 years old and no retaining clips broke, a pleasant surprise. Take your time re-assembling, getting the top of the panel to fit over the locating edge is fiddly, start from the right to left. All went back together no problems.
@@johncagle3362 I apologize but school caught up to me and I didn’t have time. I have sold the car since then. Something I did in the meantime was to put on a strap handle. It wasn’t perfect, but it did its job.
So happy to have found this self-fix. Going to try this tomorrow. Both handles on my 1997 Z3 have this problem, and no repair shop I’ve gone to in Nashville, Tennessee, will even attempt to fix it. Thanks!
My dude, this is now 555 GBP! Absolute madness. I will try your approach.If that does not hold, I am going to try to fabricate something with a little sheet metal. 555 GBP!
thanks. will try right away :)
Really good solution this, however I added a few extra strengthen areas. Once the door panel was removed I retrieved the plastic parts which had cracked. Some loose in the bottom of the door panel, one piece where the torx screw was removed.
I assembled the broken plastic parts using epoxy 2 part adhesive and that held together well. Then I used the same epoxy metal putty and formed a strengthening mould over the top pushing a screwdriver through for the screw hole. Rough up the plastic surfaces first with some emery cloth to give a key on the surface and dust off.
There is a plastic rivet from the handle that goes through into the interior of the panel where it is plastic welded over. Mine had snapped leaving a hole. Where it goes into the back of the handle drill a 2mm dia pilot hole into the rivet plastic about 12mm deep. Use a self tapping screw about 20mm long with a washer and secure the handle together with the existing 2 screws.
This all makes a very strong thorough job. My Z3 is 21 years old and no retaining clips broke, a pleasant surprise.
Take your time re-assembling, getting the top of the panel to fit over the locating edge is fiddly, start from the right to left.
All went back together no problems.
Same exact problem. I’ll model up a fix in CAD and upload it to thingiverce.
Did you? I'd be interesting in printing a new handle.
@@johncagle3362 I apologize but school caught up to me and I didn’t have time. I have sold the car since then. Something I did in the meantime was to put on a strap handle. It wasn’t perfect, but it did its job.
1year out is it still fixed?
Yes not been an issue since the fix. Found a few others along the way tho lol
So the handle doesn't connect to the structure of the door? Just the door card?
the part that I had to repair connects to the car door its self via a t25 screw, the other end is just connected to the door card
180??? Oh my!