Please read all M3 owners

[Mighty M]

I just found out that upon delivery of my new m3 back in 08 that the dealer failed to remove "transporation shims" on the front coils. These shims are installed at the factory prior to shipment and are intended to reduce movement of the vehicle while on the boat. The shims limit the travel of the springs. I have been informed that the shims are on all four corners.

They look like a white donut about the width of your finger around the coils.

My car has about 18,500 miles on it currently. Do *NOT* count on the dealership finding these after the fact. It was only on my trip to a 3rd dealer (because I moved and took the car with me) for routine maintenance/fixes that this was discovered. Needless to say, upon removal, the car road much better, especially over speed bumps and pot holes.

I guess I had just gotten used to the thing running like a 911 GT3 RS.

The SA that discovered this said he already sent an email to the selling dealership calling them out for being a bunch of dumba$$es. I responded he should send another dumba$$ email to the second dealership since they performed the intial 1200 mile inspection and numerous other servicing.

Again I had *no idea* that anything was wrong with the car.

[kouhii]

It would be nice if you can post a picture of how it looks like.

[Mighty M]

Originally Posted by kouhii

It would be nice if you can post a picture of how it looks like.

Sorry I wish I did. I would suggest just asking next time you are in for service to ask to inspect that the "transportaion shims on the coils" have been removed.

Its probably a decent question to test whether or not the people you are working with servicing your car actually know a damn thing about it. My guess is a 5 minute visual inspection for the entire car.

Or get a flashlight and see if you can see a white doughnut looking thing around the springs. If you do, bring the sucker in and ask.

[e1000]

you drove 18k miles with the shipping blocks still in? wow.

[richardbb85]

Originally Posted by e1000

you drove 18k miles with the shipping blocks still in? wow.

i know right......

[Mighty M]

I thought it was normal vehicle function. And it probably was normal except for pot holes and bumps and that sort of thing.

Just saying to watch out for it.

[Crazy Bimmer]

This is why everyone should post pics, we would have said its sitting too high.

Sadly this isnt the first time i heard of a dealer forgetting to take these out. Sorry you had to go through this for so long!

On the bright side, it now feels like an all new car again!

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by Crazy Bimmer

This is why everyone should post pics, we would have said its sitting too high.

again!

Yes I've seen these cars on the shipping blocks at the dealer. The gap between the tire and fender is like 4 fingers. Like te car is raised. You didn't notice this at all? In the front I can only stick two fingers in and rear 1 at most. Amazing. I wonder If that would cause damage to the car driving for so long?

[ManAndMachine]

Unbelievable

[brizzom]

I can only fit one finger in the rear tire area and i can fit like 3 in the front. Is that normal? It's too dark to see if I have the shim...

[GoGeo]

Where is the "emitocon" of the little guy scratching his head? This is fairly basic stuff and not unique to any car on earth.

I really enjoy this forum but having a guy posting pictures of a tiny scratch on his bumper and wondering what to do or a guy parking his car for 3 weeks and wondering what will happen to his car or another wondering if his mighty M3 will be able to make it on a 1,000 mile trip.

Wow, just wow....flame away.

[ec_E92]

Originally Posted by GoGeo

Where is the "emitocon" of the little guy scratching his head? This is fairly basic stuff and not unique to any car on earth.

I really enjoy this forum but having a guy posting pictures of a tiny scratch on his bumper and wondering what to do or a guy parking his car for 3 weeks and wondering what will happen to his car or another wondering if his mighty M3 will be able to make it on a 1,000 mile trip.

Wow, just wow....flame away.

This. You'd think half of the members just got their first car.

[kibosh]

at least his car probably didn't scrape over any speed bumps...

amazing that the dealer would let this slip though. I'd be afraid to get my car serviced there...

[Gearhead999s]

I have had this happen a couple of times over the years on both a GTI and a E30 325is and I could tell that were was an issue within the first 5 minutes that I drove the car as the suspension crashes over the bumps and car handles like crap.18000 miles

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by Mighty M

They look like a white donut about the width of your finger around the coils.

.

you mean it's a donut that sits top of the coil, or it's a wrapper covering the spring?

Is it pretty obvious when you look for it? like just use a flashlight and see if anything white is there?

[My 10th BMW]

Same thing happened to My Ex Girlfriend's 01 325.
I took it for a test drive and immediately returned it to the dealer.
Sure enough , the shipping spacers were still in place.

[///M Rakete]

This used to be a major problem on M Roadsters and Coupes. Even though the car came affixed with a red sticker on the window instructing the dealership to remove the blocks. Sometimes driving would cause them to pop out leaving people wondering what it was that had fallen off their car.

My M Roadster still had them when I went looking for them after a few hundred miles. My Coupe had them removed and I knew enough to ask.

I don't recall seeing a similar sticker on my M3 when it came off the carrier but maybe the VPC is pulling them? Or EDC cars don't need them?

[BMWM5NYC]

Used to happen to a lot of E46 M3's as well. I just don't understand how it could go on for 18000 miles and no one notice the harsh ride or abnormal ride height.

[kouhii]

Just checked my springs, nothing there.

[Mighty M]

Originally Posted by richpuer

Yes I've seen these cars on the shipping blocks at the dealer. The gap between the tire and fender is like 4 fingers. Like te car is raised. You didn't notice this at all? In the front I can only stick two fingers in and rear 1 at most. Amazing. I wonder If that would cause damage to the car driving for so long?

My car had normal ride height. Its not like the thing looked like it was a jacked up 4 x 4 or something. Its not as if I havent seen other m3s.

After removal, ride height stayed the same.

[Mighty M]

Originally Posted by mdosu

you mean it's a donut that sits top of the coil, or it's a wrapper covering the spring?

Is it pretty obvious when you look for it? like just use a flashlight and see if anything white is there?

If you are looking through the gap between top of the tire and the bottom of fender you see the spring back in there. The white donut thing was about halfway in the spring from what is visible. Helps if you have a flashlight.

[Mighty M]

Originally Posted by bmwm3nyc

Used to happen to a lot of E46 M3's as well. I just don't understand how it could go on for 18000 miles and no one notice the harsh ride or abnormal ride height.

I had previously drove e46 m3 but not another e92m3 except the one I bought? Just thought it was normal, and pretty much in all respects it was except for when I went over a pot hole or a spped bump and I just figured the car was heavier and the suspension tighter. So I would just go slower over these things. My guess is also that the 18 wheels made it more livable too.

Better question is how I went 18000 miles, 2 and a half years, and *finally* a technician catches it.