E90Post
 


TNT Racewerks
 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > General E90 Sedan / E91 Wagon / E92 Coupe / E93 Cabrio > dropped roll of tape into engine compartment



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      05-05-2020, 03:46 AM   #1
AdamAllenE93
New Member
5
Rep
12
Posts

Drives: 2011 335i Convertible E93
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Fresno, CA

iTrader: (0)

dropped roll of tape into engine compartment

While changing my spark plugs my six year old was helping me by handing me wrenches and just keeping me company. Unfortunately, while he was playing with a roll of electrical tape he dropped it into the front of the engine, between the belts/pulleys and the fan. I've looked as much as I can and cannot see the roll of tape. The fan spins fine, and I don't see it stuck in the belt/pulley area. My guess is it fell down to the undercarriage guard.

I've come here to ask if it would be best to tow it to a mechanic and have them remove the guard and try to find it before I start the car. I'm worried I'll start the car and the tape will jam up something important and cost me way more than if I'd just paid a mechanic to find it.

Thank you for any help!

Edit: I do not own a jack or stands

Edit 2: It is an e93 335i 2011

Last edited by AdamAllenE93; 05-05-2020 at 06:11 AM..
Appreciate 0
      05-05-2020, 04:07 AM   #2
Tambohamilton
Brigadier General
3176
Rep
4,051
Posts

Drives: E91 330d
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Herefordshire

iTrader: (0)

Why not take the undertray off yourself, and get the tape out? It's just 20ish 8mm screws...nothing technical
Appreciate 4
tcphoto4215.50
feuer4289.00
      05-05-2020, 04:21 AM   #3
Serf27
Brigadier General
Serf27's Avatar
2887
Rep
4,333
Posts

Drives: 335i
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sitting in a BMW.

iTrader: (-1)

It may be in between the fan and the radiator. There’s a gap there that would still let the fan spin if the tape was standing up.
I agree, you can remove the shield easily if you have a jack and jack stands.
Appreciate 1
feuer4289.00
      05-05-2020, 04:32 AM   #4
AdamAllenE93
New Member
5
Rep
12
Posts

Drives: 2011 335i Convertible E93
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Fresno, CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serf27 View Post
It may be in between the fan and the radiator. There’s a gap there that would still let the fan spin if the tape was standing up.
I agree, you can remove the shield easily if you have a jack and jack stands.
Thanks! I do not own a jack or stands. I'm torn between taking the fan out, which seems easy to do, or towing it to a shop. As you guys said, it's easy to remove the guard if you can get under the car; so I figure a shop wouldn't charge much to do it. Any further thoughts? Thank you again for your help and insight. It sounds like it's best to acquire the tape before starting the car.
Appreciate 0
      05-05-2020, 04:54 AM   #5
JonOhh
Captain
JonOhh's Avatar
United_States
685
Rep
736
Posts

Drives: 06' 330i
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
It's most likely somewhere sitting on the undertray. If you reach under the car (since you can't get under it, it seems) you can probably hear it bounce if you bang/smack the undertray with your fist- if it's there. If you don't hear anything bounce around when you do that, I'd pull the fan out and make sure it's not down in front of it- you wouldn't want it to become dislodged while the fan is spinning for obvious reasons.

Edit: Oh and to add, if you're manual trans, the fan removal is stupid easy. It seems all of BMWs ability to make maintenance unexplainably easy was concentrated to the front suspension and engine cooling fan. The only thing you'll want to watch out for is a wire on the passenger side that likes to get caught up, and the notorious coolant expansion tank hose that runs across the top of the fan. If you're higher mileage, you may want to replace that soon anyway.

Last edited by JonOhh; 05-05-2020 at 05:18 AM..
Appreciate 0
      05-05-2020, 05:02 AM   #6
AdamAllenE93
New Member
5
Rep
12
Posts

Drives: 2011 335i Convertible E93
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Fresno, CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by JonOhh View Post
It's most likely somewhere sitting on the undertray. If you reach under the car (since you can't get under it, it seems) you can probably hear it bounce if you bang/smack the undertray with your fist- if it's there. If you don't hear anything bounce around when you do that, I'd pull the fan out and make sure it's not down in front of it- you wouldn't want it to become dislodged while the fan is spinning for obvious reasons.
Oh great idea! yes I'll do that! Thank you!
Appreciate 1
JonOhh685.00
      05-05-2020, 05:06 AM   #7
Serf27
Brigadier General
Serf27's Avatar
2887
Rep
4,333
Posts

Drives: 335i
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sitting in a BMW.

iTrader: (-1)

If your car is stock height, you should be able to bang the tray upwards to see if you hear the tape bouncing around as Jon said. If you hear it, you could remove the screws holding the tray in from the front. Removing the front screws will let you pull the tray down a bit and look for the tape.
The front fender liners also have a lower tray type, check/bang on those too.


If your car is automatic, you can’t remove the fan without removing the under tray. There is a bolt that holds the transmission heat exchanger onto the fan, and you have to remove that bolt from the bottom.
You might be able to remove the top fan bolt and pry the fan back a little to take a peak in there.
__________________
E90 335i-408WHP. Alpine over Terra brown
E70 X5 35i M Sport-Stage1 Tune. Alpine over Black
E91 328 M Sport-Alpine over Black-Alpine over Saddle brown.
E93 335i-DINAN tuned. Alpine over Saddle brown
Appreciate 1
JonOhh685.00
      05-05-2020, 05:23 AM   #8
JonOhh
Captain
JonOhh's Avatar
United_States
685
Rep
736
Posts

Drives: 06' 330i
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
If you get lucky and it's near the front, you may also be able to reach in through the front wheel well. Turn the wheel to one side, and you should have plenty of room to stick your arm in there and reach around, there's a pretty big opening (and it's pretty flexible) right around the lower control arm.
Appreciate 0
      05-05-2020, 05:35 AM   #9
Tambohamilton
Brigadier General
3176
Rep
4,051
Posts

Drives: E91 330d
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Herefordshire

iTrader: (0)

I do not recommend you do the following...

Loosen wheel nuts. Jack up one side of the car. Remove the wheel and position it under the sill next to the jack (insurance, in case the jack fails). Get under there and take the under tray off, etc.

Like I say, not recommended!! But I personally would do this. You can also place any sacrificial thing under the car, which will support its weight, in case the jack fails - timber, bricks, etc. These are just for redundancy though, and shouldn't be used to support the car. Be careful, and if in any doubt, do not get under the car.
Appreciate 0
      05-05-2020, 06:10 AM   #10
AdamAllenE93
New Member
5
Rep
12
Posts

Drives: 2011 335i Convertible E93
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Fresno, CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serf27 View Post
If your car is stock height, you should be able to bang the tray upwards to see if you hear the tape bouncing around as Jon said. If you hear it, you could remove the screws holding the tray in from the front. Removing the front screws will let you pull the tray down a bit and look for the tape.
The front fender liners also have a lower tray type, check/bang on those too.


If your car is automatic, you can’t remove the fan without removing the under tray. There is a bolt that holds the transmission heat exchanger onto the fan, and you have to remove that bolt from the bottom.
You might be able to remove the top fan bolt and pry the fan back a little to take a peak in there.
ah my car is automatic and I didn't know about the bottom bolt. Also great idea about lowering the front of the guard. I'll do that. Thanks!
Appreciate 0
      05-05-2020, 09:25 AM   #11
tcphoto
Brigadier General
tcphoto's Avatar
United_States
4216
Rep
3,257
Posts

Drives: E92 335i 6MT Coupe
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Nashville, TN

iTrader: (1)

It’s an opportunity to buy a floor jack and jack stands, lift it and pull the belly pan. The minimal is pull the fan and look around with a flashlight because starting it up and allowing the tape to bounce around is asking for trouble.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      05-05-2020, 10:17 AM   #12
alpnwss
Private First Class
alpnwss's Avatar
United_States
32
Rep
141
Posts

Drives: 2013 E92 BMW 335is
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: San Diego, CA/Corvallis, OR

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2016 BMW X3 35i  [0.00]
2013 BMW 335is  [0.00]
Honestly you can get a Harbor Freight Jack and stands for less than $110. Worth it for stuff like this. Especially if you want to start doing your own oil which is super easy.
__________________
2013 E92 335is-Alpenweiss
HK Sound-Premium-Nav
DCI-VRSF CP-VRSF DPs-RBTurbo OEM Inlets-Wagner EVO I FMIC
Appreciate 1
      05-05-2020, 11:38 AM   #13
z3Ro
Private First Class
30
Rep
130
Posts

Drives: 2011 E90 335XI M-Sport
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Bay Area

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by alpnwss View Post
Honestly you can get a Harbor Freight Jack and stands for less than $110. Worth it for stuff like this. Especially if you want to start doing your own oil which is super easy.
exactly my thought. having basic tools will go a long way.
Appreciate 0
      05-05-2020, 09:06 PM   #14
ricx
Private First Class
29
Rep
134
Posts

Drives: e93
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: SE

iTrader: (0)

Take a bright flash light, look throughly for it in the engine compartment. If you don’t see it, it’s because it’s not there. Purchase yourself a set of ramps, drive up on them, the chock the wheels. Remove under carriage as needed to retrieve objects.
Appreciate 0
      05-05-2020, 09:25 PM   #15
AdamAllenE93
New Member
5
Rep
12
Posts

Drives: 2011 335i Convertible E93
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Fresno, CA

iTrader: (0)

I was able to find the tape by pulling the fan a little away from the radiator. There is a small rubber clip on the 335 that is a pain in the ass to get off. I pulled the fan away and was able to fish the tape out with a wire hanger. Got really lucky. Thank you for all the help.
Appreciate 2
      05-05-2020, 10:59 PM   #16
Boosted12a
Second Lieutenant
69
Rep
210
Posts

Drives: BMW 335i x
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Va

iTrader: (0)

Buy some ramps for $40
Appreciate 0
      05-06-2020, 02:25 AM   #17
Tambohamilton
Brigadier General
3176
Rep
4,051
Posts

Drives: E91 330d
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Herefordshire

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Boosted12a View Post
Buy some ramps for $40
And how to get the car onto them, without starting the engine or jacking the car....?
Appreciate 0
      05-06-2020, 11:11 AM   #18
Fredo
Captain
305
Rep
667
Posts

Drives: 2012 335i
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Austin TX

iTrader: (3)

Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamAllenE93 View Post
I was able to find the tape by pulling the fan a little away from the radiator. There is a small rubber clip on the 335 that is a pain in the ass to get off. I pulled the fan away and was able to fish the tape out with a wire hanger. Got really lucky. Thank you for all the help.
Glad to hear the problem is solved.
Appreciate 0
      05-07-2020, 10:48 AM   #19
213e90n51
Banned
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
369
Rep
780
Posts

Drives: 2009 BMW 328i, Honda Civic Hat
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Los Angeles

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2009 328i  [0.00]
2019 M4  [0.00]
2019 Honda Civic Ha ...  [0.00]
I dripped q tip before and it came out 3 years later LOL
Appreciate 0
      11-23-2024, 06:30 AM   #20
lordnikon
Captain
lordnikon's Avatar
527
Rep
623
Posts

Drives: Break My Wallet
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Ontario

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by bmwmvpstyle View Post
AdamAllenE93 Hi mate, did you ever get the tape out? Did it cause any damage? Thanks! I've dropped a small plastic housing in the bay..
The answer is literally a few posts above:

Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamAllenE93 View Post
I was able to find the tape by pulling the fan a little away from the radiator. There is a small rubber clip on the 335 that is a pain in the ass to get off. I pulled the fan away and was able to fish the tape out with a wire hanger. Got really lucky. Thank you for all the help.
Appreciate 2
NZE90328.50
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
help a noob

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:57 AM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST