2003 Z4 Doors Opening?!?!

Rabid Panda · 09-13-2011, 12:52 PM

Has anyone had this problem. I thought it was because my wife didn't shut the door all the way, But this is the 3rd time its happened.
I'm just motoring along and hear an abnormal amount of rattling on the pax side of the car, sounds like the door isn't shut all the way....So i reach over, and sure as SH*#!! it isn't!!! It doesn't come ALL the way open, but just coming "un-seated" is enough for me! I have a 6yr old son, i'd hate for him to be sitting there when that thing comes open!!
It has happened on the drivers side too but only a couple of times.
Anyone else have this happen? I searched for recalls but cant find any...does the body have that much flex in it? Enough to shake a door out of its locking mechanism?!
Any input would be AWESOME!

The Panda

inTgr8r · 09-13-2011, 02:32 PM

Does the latch move freely? has it ever been lubed?
It may be that the latch needs to be adjusted.

Rabid Panda · 09-13-2011, 03:47 PM

Doing a bunch of other stuff tomorrow, VCG, spark plugs... I will have a look at it. Hope that's all it is.

nadaclue · 09-13-2011, 06:05 PM

Mine started doing the exact same thing about 3 weeks ago. I had it do exactly what you're describing 3 times in the first 2 weeks, even with the door locked. I noticed it seemed to happen whenever I hit a decent sized bump, though it did it once just cruising down a smooth road.

Now it hasn't done it in the last 1.5 weeks, but I was going to check out the latch mechanism this weekend.

Shipkiller · 09-13-2011, 06:29 PM

This happened about two years ago on the Roadster's drivers door. It took two attempts adjusting the striker plate and all was fixed. I marked and then adjusted the striker plate in 1/16" increments. That was the reason for the two attempts.

Huz-Z · 09-15-2011, 07:18 AM

These cars are haunted.

Its Rick F's fault for all the pics of old graveyards.

Its true!

Rabid Panda · 12-02-2011, 09:53 PM

i looked at it a bit...kinda gave it the stink eye, didn't adjust anything and haven't had the problem since the OP...LOL Haunted..i don't know... Quirky.... Defiantly! I can deal with quirky, best car i have ever owned, hands down.

09-13-2011, 12:52 PM	#1
Rabid Panda Enlisted Member 2 Rep 36 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 E85 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	2003 Z4 Doors Opening?!?! Has anyone had this problem. I thought it was because my wife didn't shut the door all the way, But this is the 3rd time its happened. I'm just motoring along and hear an abnormal amount of rattling on the pax side of the car, sounds like the door isn't shut all the way....So i reach over, and sure as SH*#!! it isn't!!! It doesn't come ALL the way open, but just coming "un-seated" is enough for me! I have a 6yr old son, i'd hate for him to be sitting there when that thing comes open!! It has happened on the drivers side too but only a couple of times. Anyone else have this happen? I searched for recalls but cant find any...does the body have that much flex in it? Enough to shake a door out of its locking mechanism?! Any input would be AWESOME! The Panda
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09-13-2011, 02:32 PM	#2
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2432 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	Does the latch move freely? has it ever been lubed? It may be that the latch needs to be adjusted. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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09-13-2011, 03:47 PM	#3
Rabid Panda Enlisted Member 2 Rep 36 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 E85 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Doing a bunch of other stuff tomorrow, VCG, spark plugs... I will have a look at it. Hope that's all it is.
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09-13-2011, 06:05 PM	#4
nadaclue Private First Class 52 Rep 152 Posts Drives: Urban Green 2003 3.0 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Mine started doing the exact same thing about 3 weeks ago. I had it do exactly what you're describing 3 times in the first 2 weeks, even with the door locked. I noticed it seemed to happen whenever I hit a decent sized bump, though it did it once just cruising down a smooth road. Now it hasn't done it in the last 1.5 weeks, but I was going to check out the latch mechanism this weekend.
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09-13-2011, 06:29 PM	#5
Shipkiller Colonel 187 Rep 2,138 Posts Drives: Me Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Virginia Beach iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW Z4M Coupe [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 Roadster [8.33]	This happened about two years ago on the Roadster's drivers door. It took two attempts adjusting the striker plate and all was fixed. I marked and then adjusted the striker plate in 1/16" increments. That was the reason for the two attempts.
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09-15-2011, 07:18 AM	#6
Huz-Z Brigadier General 851 Rep 4,057 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0si, 328 XDrive, X5 35i Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	These cars are haunted. Its Rick F's fault for all the pics of old graveyards. Its true! __________________ Huz-Z BMW Z4 3.0si Roadster. Montego Blue Metallic. Premium and Sport Package.
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12-02-2011, 09:53 PM	#7
Rabid Panda Enlisted Member 2 Rep 36 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 E85 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	i looked at it a bit...kinda gave it the stink eye, didn't adjust anything and haven't had the problem since the OP...LOL Haunted..i don't know... Quirky.... Defiantly! I can deal with quirky, best car i have ever owned, hands down.
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