Terry Kennedy
08-17-2003, 01:13 AM
This is more out of general curiousity than a specific complaint, though it has caused more than the expected share of foul language out on my garage floor... :D
BMW seems to have a really strong aversion to pre-threading anything they can get away with not threading.
I first ran into this with the E46 fire extinguisher, where the instructions say to remove the driver's seat in order to tap 6mm threads in the bottom of the seat. Fair enough - I doubt there is a high percentage of aftermarket extinguisher bracket installs. But wait - the bracket that comes with the extinguisher also needs to be tapped in order to install the kit. That's weird.
Tonight I was installing replacement side view mirrors (to add the power folding option) and the 3 holes in the mirror base casting for the mounting screws aren't tapped either. One of these was a 2002 part from dealer stock, and the other was a 2003 part from BMWNA Parts Logistics, so this isn't a case of a one-off manufacturing problem, or even a bad batch.
What makes this more bizarre is that you can't use a tap to thread the holes in the mirror casting, since they aren't through holes - they're dead-end in the casting.
Sometimes when I see something I think is bad design, BMW has a good explanation of why it was done that way - for example, the rain sensor wiper control needing to be reset after restarting the car. I'm wondering if there is an explanation for this threading weirdness as well.
I'm half-expecting to buy a new brake disc one day and have to tap new lug bolt holes :D
BMW seems to have a really strong aversion to pre-threading anything they can get away with not threading.
I first ran into this with the E46 fire extinguisher, where the instructions say to remove the driver's seat in order to tap 6mm threads in the bottom of the seat. Fair enough - I doubt there is a high percentage of aftermarket extinguisher bracket installs. But wait - the bracket that comes with the extinguisher also needs to be tapped in order to install the kit. That's weird.
Tonight I was installing replacement side view mirrors (to add the power folding option) and the 3 holes in the mirror base casting for the mounting screws aren't tapped either. One of these was a 2002 part from dealer stock, and the other was a 2003 part from BMWNA Parts Logistics, so this isn't a case of a one-off manufacturing problem, or even a bad batch.
What makes this more bizarre is that you can't use a tap to thread the holes in the mirror casting, since they aren't through holes - they're dead-end in the casting.
Sometimes when I see something I think is bad design, BMW has a good explanation of why it was done that way - for example, the rain sensor wiper control needing to be reset after restarting the car. I'm wondering if there is an explanation for this threading weirdness as well.
I'm half-expecting to buy a new brake disc one day and have to tap new lug bolt holes :D