[Deep_Blue]

Originally Posted by bigtigga01

I ran with the splash guard off for a week and some object in the road hit my automatic transmission cooler and knocked it from the radiator shroud. It then made contact with my power steering pulley which in return shredded my belt. Also manage to crack my lower "plastic" radiator pipe and I lost the transmission splash guard in the process and that's not cheap. It's better to leave the splash guards on because for some reason BMW decides to put vital components on the bottom of our cars.

Yep. This is why I keep mine on.

You're going to know if coolant or anything else is leaking because the computers constantly monitor it and will let you know when it gets low - well before it is too late.

[2fast4]

Originally Posted by AlpineSwift

If you're just going for better engine bay cooling, get the BMS cowl filters and pull the stupid tray out. That's what I did and it's made a noticeable difference in engine temperatures. I don't have the stock oil cooler so every little bit helps.

I suppose if you wanted to get clever you could create some vents in the splash guard to add additional pathways for engine heat to exit the bay. But I would never consider removing it completely given the fact that it #1 helps with aerodynamics, #2 keeps shit from getting in the bay, and #3 catches things that you drop in the bay.

Regarding the cowl tray...wow! What a difference! A week ago, I did the oil change and I've taken out the cowl tray but left the stock filter on. With the tray out, there is a decent gap with the windshield/hood. Now the temp is hovering on 225 vs 240-245!!!! And it's 110 deg outside with AC on.

I thought the drop was because I put in Castrol SPT 0w-30. But now it seems the tray was the culprit. I left it out so that I could take off the valve cover faster whenever

Side note: Regarding the stock cowl filter - I want it on because it blocks a lot of engine noise. With it out, you can hear the not so pleasant engine detailed noise with the windows rolled down. I didn't like it.

[2fast4]

I'm side tracking here...

Regarding the cowl tray out, and when raining or in car wash, can it become a problem? The gap exposes the DME and ABS into rain or soapy water...
Doesn't look good idea permanently but temporarily might be OK like track day when not raining.

[C.Pop]

It's fine. Don't major in the minors. Unless you have something broken or inappropriately fastened, it's all good, especially in phx.

[AK 335i]

Omg

[2fast4]

Originally Posted by C.Pop

It's fine. Don't major in the minors. Unless you have something broken or inappropriately fastened, it's all good, especially in phx.

Yeah I just searched and saw your post on other threads.
Cool! Running cooler is cool! No engine smell either.

[AK 335i]

Lol

[2fast4]

Need to rack up some posts...lol

[2fast4]

peace out ya'll

[2fast4]

Originally Posted by AK 335i

Omg

oomg

[Danimals]

Is it safe to say that an automatic has more to worry about then if you have 6 speed? Auto tranny pan etc...

[2fast4]

Originally Posted by Danimals

Is it safe to say that an automatic has more to worry about then if you have 6 speed? Auto tranny pan etc...

I think so. Although I haven't seen underside of manual tranny.

For me(auto), I used couple of steel wires thru the holes and hang the tranny cover slightly up above the normal(engine belly cover still off). So nothing will have a chance to snag the tranny cover and destroy it.

[2fast4]

Just temporary until I do the valve cover gasket and oil filter housing gasket.
Then I'll put it back up after confirming that the oil is no longer leaking.
I get like teaspoonful on garage floor every day.

[dbjb]

I get the reasons to drive without a splash guard but if/when you run over something unavoidable, you may regret it.

I think it's kinda like a seatbelt.

[2fast4]

Thoughts on this...

My car didn't come with oil cooler. But that's no my point. Even the factory oil-cooler can't keep up with the like track day run w/o overheating & subsequent limp mode.

Splash shield is causing inadequate air cooling....
So the workaround is to cut a small section of shield for the air to enter and leave the engine bay...cut 2 holes. One for inlet and the other outlet.
Then put a small wind-screen on the hole. Viola!
Protection and more cooling.

It's the reason why no shield cools so much better. I noticed that with even cowl cover out, it runs a little cooler.

So any shape you cut or vent slits or air fins....from a little to a lot.
And buh bye coil cooler, and the maintenance problems with it.
Drive it hard long time or track it all day and no problemo!

Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF

We've been running our shop car without the cover for a few years now with no adverse effects

It is supposed to increase gas mileage but I'm curious to see if there's any temp reduction benefit to removing it.

[seatac]

That piece of splash guard not there for look. It all about aerodynamic and engine cooling. Imagine when you drove 60-80 mph. The air speed under vehicle is too fast, that will cause trap hot air inside engine comportment. When that guard is there, it will help separate air under outside and air inside engine. All the air pull from radiator aux fan or high speed will push under engine bay between guard and take hot air with it to escape to back. water, debris that least worry but it also help.

[2fast4]

Not so. Some of that air from under gets up into the engine compartment and cools the parts.

Most of the turbo cars from 90s didn't come with splash shield. No problems.
And they designed it so that sub frame structure was wide to protect from rocks etc from damages.

[BB_cuda]

Ponder this! I took picture with engine lower tray off but I normally run with it on. I know this is a N54 forum (and I'm M57 diesel) but thought I'd show you my port hole cut out to cool the transmission pan. Notice anything different about my pan? Picture is taken looking toward front of car. I have an HP26 transmission and found out that 2006 7 series alpina trans pan would fit on my 335D trans. I got it used for a great deal. I've never seen one anywhere else advertised for sale.

[2fast4]

Nice!!! FMIC on the trans

I thought about doing it for my e90 engine shield and chop of some section but I've drove w/o it on for about 1.5 year and nothing went wrong except some better oil cooling.
Plus is that when I need to crawl under the engine, it's so much faster access.

[R.G.]

Originally Posted by 2fast4

Not so. Some of that air from under gets up into the engine compartment and cools the parts.

Most of the turbo cars from 90s didn't come with splash shield. No problems.
And they designed it so that sub frame structure was wide to protect from rocks etc from damages.

WRONG

Originally Posted by seatac

That piece of splash guard not there for look. It all about aerodynamic and engine cooling. Imagine when you drove 60-80 mph. The air speed under vehicle is too fast, that will cause trap hot air inside engine comportment. When that guard is there, it will help separate air under outside and air inside engine. All the air pull from radiator aux fan or high speed will push under engine bay between guard and take hot air with it to escape to back. water, debris that least worry but it also help.

^This


Read about high pressure and low pressure air flow rather then spew bs.

Edit: Oh and the same thing applies to your engine cowl

[2fast4]

Dude I owned 2 turbo DSM cars from 90's so I know better.

Plus I live in hot ass Az and it helped. That alone will tell you something already... It takes longer to heat up from driving off parking lot w/o it.

High low pressure...under side will be high and engine comp will be low.
High pressure air flow is NOT smooth laminar flow. When it sees low pressure, it'll enter into the low(engine comp). It's "turbulent" flow when there is difference. And when it mixes with low pressure, guess what happens?

Btw, the cowl removal is primarily for when parked after driving...all that hot air trapped inside is cooking plastic components. It gets hotter after parking the car. This let the hot turbo air to escape vs trapped inside and parts get brittle much faster.

You should try new bs recipe.

Off topic, I saw on busy freeway a lady with 3 series pulled over the shoulder concerned looking getting out of her car. The splash shield came off, it got caught on the wheels while driving and now it was getting dragged under the car and making scary noise and burning smell. I think it ripped out some of other parts connected...maybe some mechanic who worked on it didn't put all the shield screws in.

Originally Posted by R.G.

WRONG





^This


Read about high pressure and low pressure air flow rather then spew bs.

Edit: Oh and the same thing applies to your engine cowl

[R.G.]

Originally Posted by 2fast4

Dude I owned 2 turbo DSM cars from 90's so I know better.

Plus I live in hot ass Az and it helped. That alone will tell you something already... It takes longer to heat up from driving off parking lot w/o it.

High low pressure...under side will be high and engine comp will be low.
High pressure air flow is NOT smooth laminar flow. When it sees low pressure, it'll enter into the low(engine comp). It's "turbulent" flow when there is difference. And when it mixes with low pressure, guess what happens?

Btw, the cowl removal is primarily for when parked after driving...all that hot air trapped inside is cooking plastic components. It gets hotter after parking the car. This let the hot turbo air to escape vs trapped inside and parts get brittle much faster.

You should try new bs recipe.

Off topic, I saw on busy freeway a lady with 3 series pulled over the shoulder concerned looking getting out of her car. The splash shield came off, it got caught on the wheels while driving and now it was getting dragged under the car and making scary noise and burning smell. I think it ripped out some of other parts connected...maybe some mechanic who worked on it didn't put all the shield screws in.

So much wrong

Don't even know where to begin. Good luck with that