[X3ray]

Hi guys,

I was changing my chrome grill to black grill today and I noticed some broken black flaps hanging once I took my chrome grill off.

Anyone know what they are ?
I took a picture of these broken plastic

View post on imgur.com

Pls tell me my car can live without these plastic stuff.


Many thanks

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by X3ray

Hi guys,

I was changing my chrome grill to black grill today and I noticed some broken black flaps hanging once I took my chrome grill off.

Anyone know what they are ?
I took a picture of these broken plastic

View post on imgur.com

Pls tell me my car can live without these plastic stuff.


Many thanks

Geez...you didn't hear the plastic cracking while you were swapping out the grilles? Looks pretty significant - plastic bits seems to be from the top of where the grilles are...no doubt the car is driveable, but maybe a pic from the engine might help to assess

[pungo]

I'm thinking those those pieces were laying in there before the grille was removed. Probably surround for the radiator and maybe from a front end hit.

[BMWZ4]

Ahh, this is a used vehicle then? Then yes, probably damage from previous owner/accident

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by X3ray

Hi guys,

I was changing my chrome grill to black grill today and I noticed some broken black flaps hanging once I took my chrome grill off.

Anyone know what they are ?
I took a picture of these broken plastic

View post on imgur.com

Pls tell me my car can live without these plastic stuff.


Many thanks

I don't recognize them off hand, I see what looks like built in cable holders so you might want to take the pieces, lay them out and connect them together so they are back in "one" piece, take a pic, flip them over, reassemble them and take another pic and then go to realoem.com and try to find it.

[X3ray]

Thanks guys.

I’m pretty sure I didn’t break them when I changed the grill. (But I broke my arms and scratching everywhere on my arm lol)
I did rear ended somebody’s car about a year ago, but it didn’t leave a scratch on my car so I didn’t bother to check the parts inside.

From the looks of these broken pieces, they look like something to do with the radiator. I can’t really tell what they exactly are, but after looking up on realoem website, it looks like the radiator parts. Would that cause an issue if I keep driving without it?

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by X3ray

Thanks guys.

I’m pretty sure I didn’t break them when I changed the grill. (But I broke my arms and scratching everywhere on my arm lol)
I did rear ended somebody’s car about a year ago, but it didn’t leave a scratch on my car so I didn’t bother to check the parts inside.

From the looks of these broken pieces, they look like something to do with the radiator. I can’t really tell what they exactly are, but after looking up on realoem website, it looks like the radiator parts. Would that cause an issue if I keep driving without it?

A little hard to answer without knowing for sure what it was though it doesn't look critical. If you look at it, there are cable clamps, sort of the size that the hood release cable is secured by. Do you see any of that size cable running in that area that is not secured? Could it be it was already replaced but someone didn't remove the broken pieces because of where they were located, laziness, whatever???

If you look at the shroud around your fan, is it intact? I guess what I'm saying is give the car a good look over in and around the area you found these parts, compare what you see to realoem or perhaps find another X3 to compare with. You can locate one at a dealer, used car lot, etc on line and drive your there and park next to it and ask if the dealer wouldn't mind opening the hood for you, be honest and tell him why...I would hope they would do it.

If in the end its still a mystery, then just drive the car

[BMWZ4]

Maybe a trip to your dealer is warranted

[pungo]

Originally Posted by X3ray

From the looks of these broken pieces, they look like something to do with the radiator. I can’t really tell what they exactly are, but after looking up on realoem website, it looks like the radiator parts. Would that cause an issue if I keep driving without it?

Depending on where they go, they may reduce some of the efficiencies for cooling the radiator and or condenser or maybe they hold a hose in place. If you you haven't noticed any issues for a year, it may be ok, be if it were me I wouldn't chance it without knowing their purpose. While the grilles were out, I'd look to find were they went and if possible, JB weld them back in place with some window screen material for reinforcement. I've done many of this type of repair using this method with great success.

[X3ray]

Finally found a pic match exactly what I found.

It looks like it holds something but I don’t see anything holding in those slots when I removed them from the car.

View post on imgur.com

[pungo]

Originally Posted by X3ray

Finally found a pic match exactly what I found.

It looks like it holds something but I don’t see anything holding in those slots when I removed them from the car.

Those type of clips are typically for securing hoses. My guess is they're for the rubber hose between the headlight washers. Do you have headlight washers?

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by X3ray

Finally found a pic match exactly what I found.

It looks like it holds something but I don’t see anything holding in those slots when I removed them from the car.

Congrats!!! Here it is for $140 at AutohausAZ https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/UR-517...SABEgKTp_D_BwE
PPP = pricey plastic piece I agree with pungo, its a generic plastic air duct used on many models with and without certain options. So provided you don't see a hose or cable dangling in that area, ignore the clips.

[richardodn]

And here's genuine BMW for not a whole lot more. https://www.bmwdirectparts.com/oem-p...ct-51747210476

[X3ray]

Thanks for all the replies!

My X3 model is the one with shitty halogen Headlights. So there is no headlight washer there, I guess I’m lucky this time.

To be honest, the whole plastic thing is half broken, half of them still holding okay inside the bumper. It just sounds scary that it’s called radiator support unit, I can’t really see it’s supporting anything there, it was just stuck with the lower grill part.

Do you guys think I should take my chances and just pretend never seen it lol?

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by X3ray

Thanks for all the replies!

My X3 model is the one with shitty halogen Headlights. So there is no headlight washer there, I guess I’m lucky this time.

To be honest, the whole plastic thing is half broken, half of them still holding okay inside the bumper. It just sounds scary that it’s called radiator support unit, I can’t really see it’s supporting anything there, it was just stuck with the lower grill part.

Do you guys think I should take my chances and just pretend never seen it lol?

realoem called it an Air Duct. Check it out and let me know if I'm looking at the correct piece.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=51_9625

It could be that the radiator also attaches to it, its a big ass piece of plastic that probably serves multiple purposes. Not sure how to answer your last question, I like to replace broken stuff, if the missing pieces are not causing any structural issues, meaning nothing is loose like the radiator or other critical components, then you can put it off till the budget allows but I'd replace it.