[AdamAllenE93]

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

[Tambohamilton]

Why not take the undertray off yourself, and get the tape out? It's just 20ish 8mm screws...nothing technical

[Serf27]

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.

[AdamAllenE93]

Originally Posted by Serf27

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.

[JonOhh]

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.

[AdamAllenE93]

Originally Posted by JonOhh

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!

[Serf27]

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.

[JonOhh]

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.

[Tambohamilton]

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.

[AdamAllenE93]

Originally Posted by Serf27

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!

[tcphoto]

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.

[alpnwss]

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.

[z3Ro]

Originally Posted by alpnwss

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.

[ricx]

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.

[AdamAllenE93]

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.

[Boosted12a]

Buy some ramps for $40

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by Boosted12a

Buy some ramps for $40

And how to get the car onto them, without starting the engine or jacking the car....?

[Fredo]

Originally Posted by AdamAllenE93

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.

[213e90n51]

I dripped q tip before and it came out 3 years later LOL

[lordnikon]

Originally Posted by bmwmvpstyle

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:

Originally Posted by AdamAllenE93

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.