Bang Bang... Is it dead? Guibo bolt missing.

[e34.535i.sport]

Hey guys, travelling to pick up some new rear shocks a week or so a go and on the motorway getting up to speed in third gear and it starts grinding aq little so I put it in fourth and continued... Then there were too bangs - and it felt like something hit the underneath of the car. Oh no.

Had a quick look and couldn't see anything wrong so continued home... Since the bangs I noticed the gear knob had a fair bit of vibration so assumed I had blown the two rear ruber mounts on the gearbox. Done a search on here and that seemed to confirm.

I jacked it up today only to find one bolt out of the guibo is missing and another one can be moved back and forward about 1". Rubber gearbox mounts are fine. I couldn't get the best view but I think that is the extent of the damage and the car drives fine until motorway speeds when it begins to vibrate more. The guibo looked in perfect condition...

SO... I suppose my question is really - What to do now? Can I simply make sure that all of the other bolts are tight and replace the two suspect ones and torque them up? Do I have to do anything special here? (Preloading etc?)

The annoying thing is I had the guibo and bolts along with the gearbox mounts replaced when i had the clutch done at a BMW specialist a while back.

[gale]

My wife's e36 tossed one of the quibo bolts and did the same thing. I put a new bolt in and torqued them all and after a few days of driving it smoothed out again. The quibo bolts are somewhat difficult to tighten. I think the torque spec is 95 ft-lbs (verify that). Inspect the quibo periodically to make sure it hasn't failed (cracks, frayed fabric reinforcement, loose sleeves).

[whiskychaser]

Bit weird a bolt coming undone - they should be lock nuts. I re-used mine but did put locktite on the threads. If there is no damage to the guibo I'd just stick another bolt in. Make sure you hold the bolt head while you torque the nut-torque the bolt head and you will stuff the guibo. Its bound to be different on yours, but on mine you cant get a socket on the nut as the gearbox flange is in the way. Thats where big boots come in

[e34.535i.sport]

Bit weird a bolt coming undone - they should be lock nuts. I re-used mine but did put locktite on the threads. If there is no damage to the guibo I'd just stick another bolt in. Make sure you hold the bolt head while you torque the nut-torque the bolt head and you will stuff the guibo. Its bound to be different on yours, but on mine you cant get a socket on the nut as the gearbox flange is in the way. Thats where big boots come in

Locktite will be added to the list I think... What colour would you say is best in this case? (I don't know much at all a bout locktite but I know there are variations?!)

[Tiger]

Blue is enough.. and can be used for alot of other stuff... Red is stronger one but cannot be used for alot of things.

[whiskychaser]

If you are using new bolts and self locking nuts you shouldnt really need any. But if you are, I'd go for red. Its a lot stronger than blue which is only semi-permanent. I translate that as ok for little screws and bolts you dont mind losing

[M20Turbo]

My wife's e36 tossed one of the quibo bolts and did the same thing. I put a new bolt in and torqued them all and after a few days of driving it smoothed out again. The quibo bolts are somewhat difficult to tighten. I think the torque spec is 95 ft-lbs (verify that). Inspect the quibo periodically to make sure it hasn't failed (cracks, frayed fabric reinforcement, loose sleeves).

HEY DON..... How is turbo doing?

[e34.535i.sport]

Hey thanks - that's reassuring. I was worried about other complications but all looked normal underneathe so I've ordered a few new bolts and nuts for tomorrow. I'll check the Bentley and get them in when I can. Avoiding driving it in the mean time incase I stuff the guibo...

[Ferret]

Guibo bolts are a pain in the arse on these cars.

For a start, you have to get the car high enough to get a fookin massive breaker bar in under the trans tunnel... and then you have to devise a clever method of locking the back bolt on the guibo.

When I did it for the clutch change, we used a breaker bar, impact socket and appropriately sized spanner. Fit the spanner over the back bolt, and brace it against the body work (With rag wedged between please! Dont want to chip paint off) so it cant go anywhere. Get the breaker bar on, and if the space is limited you may need two people to get the breaker bar to move properly I fortunately had help when doing this. With me on my back, and a friend ragging on the breaker bar from the side they came undone quite easily - I could imagine a lot of skinned knuckles and swearing if you try this on your own.

If I were you, I'd back them all out and inspect, if two have gone you may find the others are on the way! If they're 'new' bolts with the guibo, I'd be highly suspicious of their steel quality - it could be a bad batch and a matter of time till you get caught out again! If you're sure they were new, I'd get a complete new set from a bmw dealer, thats the only way you're going to tell they're to spec...

Cheers,
Andy

[Dave M]

I know Gale provided his best guess, but here are the torque values from Bentley for extra points



Good luck with it,

Dave