Passenger Door Handle MeltingBMW e90, 330i, 2006
I can't be the only one that is experiencing the passenger side handle melting. It started a while back, but honestly I didn't pay attention to it because I don't really use that handle, but as the years went by I saw that it was getting worse.
How bad is it...
What is happening:
It looks like there is "Malleable plastic" molded to the shape of the handle. This plastic started to degrade, not sure if it's due to the heat or other chemicals. It's very sticky and difficult to remove if you get it on your cloths. I pinched it with my fingernails to see how malleable it was and it got stuck in my fingernails. I've seen a few videos now on Youtube, and they are experiencing the same. Passenger side. It's not very difficult to replace, but it makes you wonder why BMW chose this material to make one of the most used parts in the car with material that could degrade to this point.
BMW Quality?
I've posted before about what I think about BMW quality. Starting with the most visible part of the car which is the emblem on the hood and the truck and the wheels. Don't get me started on the engine valve cover bolts, they snap off... if you didn't know. I have a post about that.
Other issues are the hoses that are made of thin plastic, inside the engine bay they get hot, and they harden, then they can cause a leak or break. They are not meant to last. Of course very expensive and if you replace one, you have to replace the set.
The most recent are the airbags and Blower motor replacement that could cause a fire, or the airbags from Takata that could kill the passenger when deployed. Very Dangerous.
I know most automotive companies have some issues like this and I have to say for the most part, now that i've been doing the work myself, I've been having less issues with my car. But to put it into perspective here is a list of the things I've had to do to my car to get it running good.
List of issues with my car, replaced:
Windows regulator(s)Valve cover bolts
Thin plastic hoses
Heater elements
spark plug coils
Navigation system
Air vent plastic
Ac compressor
Alternator
Hood and truck Emblems
speakers (falling apart)
Valve cover gasket (excessive oil leak)
CCV valve (crankcase ventilation Valve)
VANOS
Oil reservoir gasket
Washer fluid reservoir
Regularly serviceable items:
Transmission fluid
AC refill
Just off the top of my head...
Soon to be added: Door Handle
Replacement:
I will order a replacement and I will add to this post when I finish it. Links below...
Important: There are 2 parts to the door handle, the inner handle and the outer cover. I will include both links on the bottom of the article...
My temporary fix:
I used a rag and I tried to wipe off all of the malleable plastic and it exposed a hard plastic below it. I will use it like this until I get a replacement handle.
More pictures of melted plastic:
 |
| After I cleaned off the plastic, exposing a more sturdy plastic below the sticky one. |
Let me know if you are experiencing the same. Chances are if you are seeing this post you are.
If you don't replace it, it's only going to get worse...
To see more about my E90, go to the top of the Vlog : https://msauceda1.blogspot.com/
Outer cover:
Inner handle:
