Z3 Interior Door Handles

[Andyboy]

The 'melted over' bit is solved by drilling a hole in the stub and using a self tapper and washer.

It's very hard work selling door pulls. Like all those other 'sought after' parts like tank straps and PAS pipes, you sell one or two a year. In reality there is very little demand. I have a pile of really clean unrusty PAS pipes but I don't think I have ever sold one.

 

[Matt Barnes]

New handles are £395 new from BMW.

I sell decent used ones for £100 (drivers) and £60 (passengers).

I've got a couple of passenger ones here.

interesting !... I searched the part number and was getting prices of over 500 quid....(one was for 695 euros) just for a driver door handle....

cheers !

 

[Andyboy]

E36 Compact handles are expensive enough at £85 with VAT. So close but they just won't fit.

£395 is obscene.

 

[Matt Barnes]

E36 Compact handles are expensive enough at £85 with VAT. So close but they just won't fit.

£395 is obscene.

good knowledge!.. interestingly mine is stamped E36...but the compact ones must be different...

 

[Ianmc]

Just bought a new drivers side one from Sopers; £483.53 all up, including discount and postage.
Even they were shocked at the price. Have tried to repair mine a couple of times but it is now beyond redemption.
Looking on the bright side, it has lasted for 26 years and is conveniently placed to rest on as your exit the car!!

Sometimes you just have to pay and try to look happy, perhaps!

 

[Andyboy]

£483.53

Jayzus!

 

[Matt Barnes]

someone on here could make a killing doing a 3D printed resin version you can screw on..

 

[Ianmc]

Herewith the old and the new. Please admire the unicorn skin and precious materials used in its manufacture to justify the price.

As suggested above, if someone could make replacement "plastic bits" to fit in the ends, they would be on to a good thing.

 

[Oddly Godly]

cheers...I've been on Ebay...Passenger handles I found for about 80 quid ..Drivers ones averaged about 400 to 500 quid..found one that was 795 quid!

I would expect that to come with a car for that amount

 

[Althulas]

Looks like there’s possibilities https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4651723/files Creator would need contacting for more info regarding the broken portion.

 

[Ianmc]

Best bet would be to design replacement ends as the handle itself is perfect.

 

[Matt Barnes]

Best bet would be to design replacement ends as the handle itself is perfect.

that's my thinking...something you can screw or bond onto the handle

 

[Oddly Godly]

that's my thinking...something you can screw or bond onto the handle

I've just bodged my passenger door handle. If it goes again might try to put a metal plate in the back of the door card. Hollow out the handle ends and fill with some sort of resin. Then screw in from the back of the door card.

 

[Matt Barnes]

I've just bodged my passenger door handle. If it goes again might try to put a metal plate in the back of the door card. Hollow out the handle ends and fill with some sort of resin. Then screw in from the back of the door card.

good idea !!!

 

[Matt Barnes]

So this morning I tried a different method. Using my fabricated "bespoke" bracket, I employed Metal Putty....and with a bit a fettling with the Dremel it's all good !.....test fitted it on the car and it didn't come off in my hand

 

[Matt Barnes]

and there you go...all done, ..added a self tapper with some spacer washers, ..solid as a rock....just like it left the Factory !!

 

[Ianmc]

Well done. Hope the repair lasts longer than my two previous attempts!

 

[Matt Barnes]

Well done. Hope the repair lasts longer than my two previous attempts!

cheers...my zed isn't garaged so I'll have to pick my moment between showers tomorrow to fit the replacement window regulator and the door card..

 

[Matt Barnes]

installed my metal putty door handle today as part of the window regulator replacement... so far so good !

 

[Matt Barnes]

I realised why ...or think I know why, the window is "grabbing" the door trim on the way up, I noticed the "felt" on the window seal has worn off, so the window is dragging against the rubber rather than felt....you can't really see it, but the felt has worn away near the door handle end.