I had problems with the ignition key spinning in the lock three or four times over the last year so decided to change it before it went completely. BMW will provide a new barrel prepared for the key but require the chassis number. Luckily I still had the receipt I got for the donor car which had it written on it. Took about a week to arrive and cost about £80, not bad really. I found a few youtube vidoes that explained how to replace it. Main thing to know is it's very easy!
A bent hair clip is basically all that's needed.
I practised on the new barrel until eventually it worked quite well so went on to the real thing! Inserted the key and turned it to the first radio position about 90 degrees. Inserted the clip in the small hole:
When the key is inserted the clip goes in about half way down the plastic part of the key. After a few goes of slowly turning the clip and pulling on the key the barrel released and came out.
But it was still attached by the key chip receiver & cable. It was just to gently insert a small screwdriver in to the small retaining tabs and push on the barrel until it slipped out.
Inserting the new barrel is just the reverse but the clip is not needed. However it has to be in the correct position to slide in and the chip receiver housing facing down.
In the end the barrel slipped into position and pow, worked fine. Well pleased with a quick but important job.
Also tried lowering the tyre pressures a little to 1,9 bar to see if road holding is better. The new rear Yokohama tyres came with 2,5. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Sunshine tomorrow so I'll drive it to work and as it's Friday I'll take a slow drive home via my favourite Café!
if I don't see you before have a great summer and happy driving!
Good stuff Steve, glad to see the minor continuous improvements coming thick and fast! Timing was hilarious - I've just done this exact same job on mine at the weekend, although it was a complete disaster compared to your smooth run. Something snapped off and the hair clip trick wouldn't work on mine. I ended up having to drill, chisel, hack and basically destroy the ignition barrel to get it out. But that's OK because I have a dash mounted start switch and want to do something a little different for mine anyway... blog update will explain all. Passed IVA now so just awaiting number plates from the DVLA and then I can go out and play!
ReplyDeleteSteve, congratulations on getting through the IVA. When reading your blog regarding all the tests involved it just seems unbelievable almost to the point where one wonders where this health and safety malarkey is headed. How on earth would the pioneers and innovators of the past have shaped our world if they had been forced to go through an IVA test first! My first test was the rolling chassis which highlighted only build issues like steering shaft etc. Second involved the test guy giving it a damn good thrashing around an old airfield, live test of brakes, road holding etc. failed on being too loud. Registration test involved weighing the car and failing it on the fact I hadn’t welded the chassis myself. That’s it no other tests! Three years on the road and the first MOT test is in October. I believe but I’m not sure the test is a normal MOT test.
ReplyDeleteIt’ll be interesting to read your solution for the dash mounted start button. How will you solve it with immobiliser? Bad news you had to do a lot of drilling and chiselling. It must have been pure luck that my key barrel came out the way it did. I heard you may be meeting up with Dave and a few other GKD’ers on the 7th of July. I’d love to have been there but a bit expensive with fuel, ferries and time to drive over. Mind you if spring is good next year I’ll make an effort.
Have loads of fun, won't be long before you get plates.
Re tyre pressure: you could probably go lower. Last time out I ran around 20 psi (1.5 bar) and will try going a bit lower next time.
ReplyDeleteThis is good reading - different type of tyre but the principles are relevant:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=18&t=784968
Thanks Dave I'll go lower and see what happens. Weather is not good at the moment so I've been garaged for almost two weeks!
ReplyDelete