Dropped screw in engine bay

sylonien · 08-10-2012, 11:18 AM

I dropped the screw in the gap between the engine and the fan near the front. Landed somewhere at the bottom. Sounded plastic.

What to do, should I be worried, will it fall out, will it catch anywhere, will i need to remove the bumper, bottom tray to find it??

xenon · 08-10-2012, 11:42 AM

just landed on the bottom tray - just leave it.

DUI Elite · 08-10-2012, 11:58 AM

go to an auto store, and borrow a magnetic fishing tool to search for it. I went to a pep boys, but idk if they have that in UK

I dropped the clip for my headlight bulb down and had to fish it out using a magnetic grasping tool. worked like a charm.

Tap the bottom and listen for it, to get an idea of where to fish for it.

sylonien · 08-10-2012, 12:42 PM

Just went for an hour drive. Is it likely it will fall out on its own?

It was the phillips screw driver bit that fell down

DUI Elite · 08-10-2012, 12:51 PM

honestly, probably not.

Those plastic trays on the bottom overlap each other pretty well. But at any rate, it *shouldn't* do anything if you decide to leave it.

mistryn · 08-10-2012, 04:19 PM

I have dropped a torx bit in the engine bay and left it for 2 weeks before I got the under tray off and it was still there. I would not worry too much it will still be there

sylonien · 08-10-2012, 05:29 PM

Can you remove the under tray without removing the bumper?

Well one thing is good I guess that it's sealed fairly good from the road underneath?

parrp · 08-10-2012, 06:47 PM

small stick with ducked tape on so sticky side exposed works a treat.

sylonien · 08-10-2012, 07:03 PM

Probably is that I can't even see where it's at anymore.
Or did you mean from underneath?

mob17 · 08-10-2012, 09:44 PM

I also dropped a small screw the other day

mistryn · 08-11-2012, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sylonien

Can you remove the under tray without removing the bumper?

Well one thing is good I guess that it's sealed fairly good from the road underneath?

Yes, you can remove the undertray without removing the bumper. IIRC there about 15 hex bolts that hold it on and it just slides off

sylonien · 08-11-2012, 05:44 AM

Thanks, I will attempt to do that then without removing the bumper.

bmwmvpstyle · Yesterday, 11:13 AM

sylonien

Did you ever remove the dropped piece? Did it cause any damage?

I'm in a similar situation.. car runs fine - thanks!

Brandoch · Yesterday, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwmvpstyle

sylonien

Did you ever remove the dropped piece? Did it cause any damage?

I'm in a similar situation.. car runs fine - thanks!

That was 12 years ago.

eastsidaz · Yesterday, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwmvpstyle

sylonien

Did you ever remove the dropped piece? Did it cause any damage?

I'm in a similar situation.. car runs fine - thanks!

Nice bump. Only damage it'll cause is other road users. I wouldn't leave it there as i've have way to many screws in tyres.

Edit: Looks like it's not a screw.

@bmwmvpstyle Worried is an understatement!

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1717644

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1202185

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2148388

08-10-2012, 11:18 AM	#1
sylonien Major 119 Rep 1,326 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Dropped screw in engine bay - aaah! I dropped the screw in the gap between the engine and the fan near the front. Landed somewhere at the bottom. Sounded plastic. What to do, should I be worried, will it fall out, will it catch anywhere, will i need to remove the bumper, bottom tray to find it??
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08-10-2012, 11:42 AM	#2
xenon Major General 1466 Rep 8,197 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	just landed on the bottom tray - just leave it. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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08-10-2012, 11:58 AM	#3
DUI Elite ///M at Heart 90 Rep 1,954 Posts Drives: 06 SGM E90, 15 BSM E84 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (4)	go to an auto store, and borrow a magnetic fishing tool to search for it. I went to a pep boys, but idk if they have that in UK I dropped the clip for my headlight bulb down and had to fish it out using a magnetic grasping tool. worked like a charm. Tap the bottom and listen for it, to get an idea of where to fish for it.
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08-10-2012, 12:42 PM	#4
sylonien Major 119 Rep 1,326 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Just went for an hour drive. Is it likely it will fall out on its own? It was the phillips screw driver bit that fell down __________________ Please consider checking out my YouTube Channel for car and tech videos.
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08-10-2012, 12:51 PM	#5
DUI Elite ///M at Heart 90 Rep 1,954 Posts Drives: 06 SGM E90, 15 BSM E84 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (4)	honestly, probably not. Those plastic trays on the bottom overlap each other pretty well. But at any rate, it shouldn't do anything if you decide to leave it.
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08-10-2012, 04:19 PM	#6
mistryn Colonel 154 Rep 2,045 Posts Drives: BMW 335D Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mids iTrader: (8)	I have dropped a torx bit in the engine bay and left it for 2 weeks before I got the under tray off and it was still there. I would not worry too much it will still be there
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08-10-2012, 05:29 PM	#7
sylonien Major 119 Rep 1,326 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Can you remove the under tray without removing the bumper? Well one thing is good I guess that it's sealed fairly good from the road underneath?
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08-10-2012, 06:47 PM	#8
parrp Private First Class 8 Rep 143 Posts Drives: 3er Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	small stick with ducked tape on so sticky side exposed works a treat.
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08-10-2012, 07:03 PM	#9
sylonien Major 119 Rep 1,326 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Probably is that I can't even see where it's at anymore. Or did you mean from underneath?
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08-10-2012, 09:44 PM	#10
mob17 Major General 395 Rep 5,613 Posts Drives: E92 335D Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: East Midlands, UK iTrader: (5)	I also dropped a small screw the other day
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08-11-2012, 05:44 AM	#12
sylonien Major 119 Rep 1,326 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Thanks, I will attempt to do that then without removing the bumper.
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Yesterday, 11:13 AM	#13
bmwmvpstyle New Member 0 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	sylonien Did you ever remove the dropped piece? Did it cause any damage? I'm in a similar situation.. car runs fine - thanks!
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