[E90Company]

Hey guys. Quick question.

I have an 08 E90 335i with build date 05/08. I have the oil cooler from the factory, but my passenger side fender liner does not have the slats/vents that show an oil cooler is present. It seems like I have a non sport package fender liner. Also, in the front bumper the lower grills where the finisher rods are present look the same:both sides are blocked off. I thought if you have an oil cooler the passenger side lower grill should be fully open grill, and not half blocked like the driver side??

I was wondering if any of you had the part numbers for these pre-lci pieces. I have come to the conclusion that the previous owner may have replaced the bumper, ordering a non-sport front end. I may be way off though, please help.

[Xander]

Maybe your car was in a wreck and not put back together right?

X...

[E90Company]

Originally Posted by Xander

Maybe your car was in a wreck and not put back together right?

X...

That's what i'm starting to think...

[Beemw335]

Open the hood. In fron of the engine you should see a thick rubber tube, thats for the oil cooler.
If you have it, he messed around with the bumper. Probably crashed it and bough that bumper for cheaper

[E90Company]

Originally Posted by Beemw335

Open the hood. In fron of the engine you should see a thick rubber tube, thats for the oil cooler.
If you have it, he messed around with the bumper. Probably crashed it and bough that bumper for cheaper

Yea, the oil cooler lines as well as the oil cooler are there. When I was installing the AE's I saw it all. Do you think it got in an accident??

[anerbe]

Check the history on Carfax as as first step. If it doesn't show up, then there's a good chance that he could have had the car fixed or replaced parts out-of-pocket.

My previous owner had an M-Tech front on the car, and cut up the fender liner to make it fit. He replaced it with a non-cooler liner - I found out about the cooler soon after purchase, and ordered a new fender.

I recommend taking apart the undertray and the fender liner to see what parts you will need. There's the front grill, the ducting, and the fender liner with the grill slats.

Good luck!

[E90Company]

Originally Posted by anerbe

Check the history on Carfax as as first step. If it doesn't show up, then there's a good chance that he could have had the car fixed or replaced parts out-of-pocket.

My previous owner had an M-Tech front on the car, and cut up the fender liner to make it fit. He replaced it with a non-cooler liner - I found out about the cooler soon after purchase, and ordered a new fender.

I recommend taking apart the undertray and the fender liner to see what parts you will need. There's the front grill, the ducting, and the fender liner with the grill slats.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. I just went to the dealer and they quoted me two part numbers I will need:

051-71-7-162-276
051-11-7-134-082

He told me these are the two parts I will need. I am planning on ordering them fron tischer because the dealer has a high price. Do you know if I should have a fully open lower grill on the passenger side?? This is all that is left to know.

[Xander]

Drill some holes in the existing one, you won't see snow in FL

X...

[E90Company]

Originally Posted by Xander

Drill some holes in the existing one, you won't see snow in FL

X...

Drill holes in the fender liner??

[beeming]

Originally Posted by Beemw335

Open the hood. In fron of the engine you should see a thick rubber tube, thats for the oil cooler.
If you have it, he messed around with the bumper. Probably crashed it and bough that bumper for cheaper

is this the rubber tube you speak of? because i do not have a grills in my passenger wheel well but only a opening with nothing visible inside. my front lower grills are also both half closed.

thanks,
eric

[anerbe]

Originally Posted by E90Company

Thanks for the advice. I just went to the dealer and they quoted me two part numbers I will need:

051-71-7-162-276
051-11-7-134-082

He told me these are the two parts I will need. I am planning on ordering them fron tischer because the dealer has a high price. Do you know if I should have a fully open lower grill on the passenger side?? This is all that is left to know.

You should have a fully open grill - half for the braking, half for the oil cooler ducting.

Like Xander said, you can drill holes in the covered side of your existing half grill that currently blocks the path to the oil cooler on the passenger side. Drill holes large enough to fit inbetween the diamond shaped grill features. Don't worry about the small spaces near the finisher rods. Just be careful not to be overzealous and drill thru the actual ducting behind. You will probably only be going a 1/4" deep to go thru the plastic cover.

There's not a concern for winter weather, as the factory open grill would allow the same exposure of the OC to the elements.

[E90Company]

Little update. I had another forum member drill holes and dremel out a big square in the fender liner. Here are some pics:




My oil temps look to be better than what others have with the sport pkg fender liner in. In south Florida summer weather, running at 3500rpm consistantly for 10 minutes on the highway, it never went above 240. I consider it a sucess and it saved me some money too.

Only thing I am worried about is long term exposure to the elements on the back side. Do you think I need to put some mesh back there, cut/drill anymore?

[BES335xi]

That looks ok, i'd attach/put some kind of mesh on that linear though to keep alot of road debri's out..

[scorpnaz7]

A mesh/grille would prevent rocks and other debris possibly coming from your tires from hitting the back of your oil cooler.

[805beemer]

I would definetly put some mesh/grill in the wheel well. You could easily throw a rock or something off your front tire, hit the oil cooler and end up draining all the oil out. Someone already lost a motor just like that.

[benzy89]

+1 to getting something to protect the oil cooler core

[E90Company]

What do you guys think about the holes. Drill more?

[E90Company]

Little update. I cut a little more of the fender liner, and will be installing wire mesh held by gorilla glue tommorow. Will also be boring out bigger holes in the front for more airflow. Wish me luck Maybe this will be even better cooling than stock.

[E90Company]

bump. Does anybody know if on a pre-LCI E90 there is ducting that goes from the lower grill to the cooler??? Also, are my holes drilled sufficient or would you guys either:

Cut it all out

But a replacement piece and go through the trouble of removing the bumper

Thanks

[Xander]

Originally Posted by E90Company

bump. Does anybody know if on a pre-LCI E90 there is ducting that goes from the lower grill to the cooler??? Also, are my holes drilled sufficient or would you guys either:

Cut it all out

But a replacement piece and go through the trouble of removing the bumper

Thanks

Honestly I would buy the right parts at this point, the fender liner, and the duct. You want maximum flow through the grill to the cooler, and as others have mentioned on the inner fender side it would be nice to have some protection from rocks (altough don't think it sees as much debris in that location in front of the wheel).

X...

[E90Company]

Originally Posted by Xander

Honestly I would buy the right parts at this point, the fender liner, and the duct. You want maximum flow through the grill to the cooler, and as others have mentioned on the inner fender side it would be nice to have some protection from rocks (altough don't think it sees as much debris in that location in front of the wheel).

X...

Thanks. I should have updated this thread. After a bunch of arguing with my dealer, I managed to have them replace the fender liner under warranty. I tried to get the front grill covered as well, but they wouldnt.

I ended up buying the open lower grill piece from Tischer, and it's sitting with me right now, waiting to be put in. I figured I would just go to a body shop to have it popped in someday, because the ducting is already there. Then i'll be good to go.