Z3M Owners Heads Up

[Nodzed]

For you Z3M owners. You may want to check under your intake manifolds, there are 2 rubber mounts attached to the intake and a Y bracket bolted to the engine supporting the intake, which is quite large on the M.
After stripping mine out to replace the vacuum pipes I discovered both were broken. Without these the weight and vibration of the manifold is taken by the inlet trumpets which are plastic and I assume could crack from weight and vibration.
New ones on the right of the photo.

 

[t-tony]

Useful info for "M" owner's Niall.

Toby.

 

[colb]

Known as bobbins on old UK cars, fitted to the likes of BMC BL cars often on the exhaust. Another case of rubber degrading due to age I would imagine.

 

[Stevo7682]

Still called bobbins
Stephen.


Well at least that's what I would call it

 

[t-tony]

Used to find a smaller (than exhaust type) version on Mk. 3 Cavalier electric fuel pump mountings, also Granadas and others. These had a 6mm thread rather than 8mm.

Tony.

 

[Althulas]

Used to have something similar on my old Astra GTE on the fuel pump bracket with was hung underneath the rear valance collecting all the road elements used to require changing every year.

I’ll be adding those to my shopping list with the intake boot as dry rotted causing a few splits, taped up for now.

 

[Muzzled]

Do you still have the part number handy? Would save me some hunting on RealOEM

 

[Pingu]

It should be easy to test. Just grab the plenum, and try to shake it. If it feels loose, the bobbins have possibly failed. If it feels fairly solid, they are ok.

Replacing won't be an easy job, as fitting the breather tube at the far right under the plenum is very difficult to correctly locate, and even more difficult to attach the Jubilee clip on. It's best left well alone unless it NEEDS to be done.

 

[Pingu]

Do you still have the part number handy? Would save me some hunting on RealOEM

Item 6 on here...

RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog

BMW parts Z3 E36 Z3 M Intake manifold system

www.realoem.com

13711272495

 

[Nodzed]

It should be easy to test. Just grab the plenum, and try to shake it. If it feels loose, the bobbins have possibly failed. If it feels fairly solid, they are ok.

Replacing won't be an easy job, as fitting the breather tube at the far right under the plenum is very difficult to correctly locate, and even more difficult to attach the Jubilee clip on. It's best left well alone unless it NEEDS to be done.

Not quite. My intake felt solid held by the trumpets. Put your hand under the intake and feel the bobbins.

 

[Nodzed]

If they have failed you will have to remove the intake as the ends that screw into it will be flush and nothing will grab them. Needed a nut welded on each to unscrew. As said if they are good best to leave it alone. Its one to do if you have need to remove the intake to get to the vacuum pipes or idle valve etc.

 

[Althulas]

I need to remove mine for painting so may as well replace them while I’m there, was it a pig to remove?

 

[Nodzed]

I need to remove mine for painting so may as well replace them while I’m there, was it a pig to remove?

Not really, just take your time, there is one pipe smack in the middle of the underneath of the intake that was a bugger and had to release everything else and do it last, so will be the first back on. Easiest way to release the bobbins is to unbolt the bracket from the engine rather than both under the intake.
Bit of advice if you remove it get a new set of intake trumpet o rings they go hard and disturbing them can mean they may not reseat.