280i - Door Striker/Latch Adjustment and Hinge Grease

[m2500tvr]

The right-hand side/US-spec passenger's side door latch and striker strike one another, and not in the right way. The "nose" of the rotating latching bit on the door strikes the post on the jamb, making a nasty knocking noise. If one is very careful to close the door straight on, it closes perfectly well. If any pressure, even a light force, is applied up or down, things hit the wrong way. The additional locking parts appear to be aligned just fine. When closed, the fit of this door and window is otherwise excellent.

Maybe the door has sagged a little bit allowing the back of the door to be a tad lower than it should be? Can the striker plate or latch be moved up or down? I read the Steve Heath book on door/door hardware adjustment and there's no mention of such a thing in his book. So, if the door has sagged, and there's no direct striker/latch adjustment, then I'm having to adjust this through the adjustments provided at the front of the door?

The door hinges of my car seem to be in pretty good shape. The doors open and close smoothly and easily, and there's little apparently plate them. But, there's a hole in the middle of the outer tube part of the hinge that Steve Heath mentions that on some cars this is fitted with a grease fitting. I'm not sure this is threaded; I haven't looked that closely yet. But, has anyone fit a grease zerk to this hole in the hinge?

Thanks!

- SJ

Edited by m2500tvr on Tuesday 11th May 22:28

[350zwelgje]

Think I have the same issue from time to time and always be carefull when closing the doors.
On my 350i seriesII there are grease nipples on the door hinges (one each, about 10 centimeters from the top), which I use and put grease in just before the MOT to take the play out.
You could always drill a hole, put a thread on it and install a nipple as it poses no risk to the door hinge or operation (I think).

Rob