Rear Sway Bar Link - Comes Off Sway Bar

Group 33
Rear Axle

Bulletin Number
33 01 00

Woodcliff Lake, NJ
October 2000
Service Engineering

This Service Information bulletins supersedes S.I. 33 01 00 dated September 2000.

SUBJECT:
Rear Sway Bar Links Pop Off

MODEL:
Z3, 318ti

Situation:
Some Z3 or 318ti customers with cars produced prior to 9/99 may experience a problem with the rear sway bar links coming off the sway bar.

Cause:
This problem was traced to the sway bar links being out of specification from some suppliers. As of 9/99 production all supply was changed to BOGE, whose links are within specification.

Correction:
In case of customer complaint, replace any sway bar links that have come loose with BOGE produced links.





Parts Information:
Parts inventory has been cleared of defective parts. Center inventory can be checked by determining the supplier of the link.





Check the supplier logo (1) on either of the rubber bushings. BOGE supplied links are correct, any others should not be used.

Procedure:
Remove the sway bar from the car. Check the ends of the sway bar carefully where the links mount, and if any damage such as nicks or missing paint is visible, the sway bar should be replaced.





Mount remaining link in vise and use a twisting-pulling motion to remove from sway bar.





Clamp new link in vise, and lubricate the end of sway bar with rubbing alcohol. Use a twisting-pushing motion to push the sway bar into the link.

Do not use silicone or any petroleum based lubricant, as this will cause the link to come off again. Assembly of the link to the bar will be difficult using alcohol as a lubricant, but the alcohol dries more thoroughly than other liquids, ensuring that the link will stay in place once dry.





Quickly rotate the link to the position indicated.





Note:
An illustration is included that can be used to make a template from a piece of cardboard to set the proper 76° angle.

Do not disturb the position of the link as the bar is being reinstalled to allow it to dry in the proper position.





Re-install the sway bar assembly into the car. Before tightening the lower bracket to the control arm (1), check to make certain that the link (2) is parallel to the shoulder on the sway bar (3), and is not twisted. If it does not remain parallel when tightened, hold the bracket in proper alignment as it is tightened.

Note:
When tightening the brackets to the body, push on the bracket so that the tab on the end of the bracket is fully pushed into the hole in the body as the bracket is tightened.

Do not put weight on the wheels until the alcohol used as a lubricant has dried thoroughly (at least one-half hour).

Warranty Information:

Covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for defects. Accident damage or abuse is not covered by warranty.

Defect Code 33 55 90 22 00

Labor Operation: 00 52 291

Labor Allowance: 8 FRU