E34 door creaks

[Kurt Gibble <kurt.gibble@xxxxxxxx>]

A common E34 problem is stiff door stops that fatigue the door or the
stops.  Eventually this leads to a door stop punching through and
ripping the door.  If you hear a subtle creak, check it now.  Loose
bolts can also cause the problem.  Pat D., Don E., and Brett A. fed me
their info on the subject which I collected at
http://pantheon.yale.edu/~kgibble/bmw/E34_creaky_door.html.

The stop may need to be replaced and most likely needs to be
lubricated.  The door sheet metal is the big concern.  You can weld it
or reinforce it with a plate.  For my case, a plate seemed sufficient
and I scanned it
(http://pantheon.yale.edu/~kgibble/bmw/E34_door_stop_plate3.jpg) so that
it can serve as a drawing for others.  I'd recommend installing
something like these before you hear bad things and don't forget to lube
the door stops at Inspection II's.

Best,
Kurt
'92 E34 M50 5sp 96k

------------------------------