Darn leaves in the radiator cover! Any fix?

new2M2 · 11-18-2023, 12:33 PM

Hey all, I'm just about to go off the deep end with the "leaf trap" plastic cover for the radiator. I checked a few places but thought I'd ask here if anyone knows before I keep going down rabbit holes.

Is there any way to unclip or move the plastic protector to get the leaves out?

Ravenseal · 11-18-2023, 12:36 PM

I was just looking at mine yesterday after all the leaves have finally fallen here in Colorado. I probably got about a dozen behind the plastic cover. I have no idea what to do about it either other than complain to the dealership.

Tag · 11-18-2023, 12:39 PM

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=long+tweezers

kyrix1st · 11-18-2023, 12:42 PM

Get a high pressure washer and blast them out.

Ravenseal · 11-18-2023, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

Get a high pressure washer and blast them out.

That could damage the radiators, just saying - be very careful about the amount of pressure.

FrankWhite! · 11-18-2023, 02:09 PM

I had a couple in there last week and thought to myself; how in the world did those get trapped back there…, Anyway, Garden hose with light pressure and worked them right to left and they came out in a minute or so. You can lift up slightly (from the bottom) on the black plastic protective cover and it will lift out towards you a mm or so and that helped too.

Trogster · 11-19-2023, 03:37 PM

.

FrankWhite! · 11-19-2023, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trogster

.

Ha! I have that same blower!

ourlee · 11-19-2023, 09:11 PM

Pics please. (I don’t have a car yet)

new2M2 · 11-20-2023, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ourlee

Pics please. (I don’t have a car yet)

Here you go:

SuchChris · 11-20-2023, 09:33 AM

Great thing leaves don't exist in south Florida

ourlee · 11-20-2023, 03:46 PM

Fvckers really in there. DAMN

azuki · 11-20-2023, 03:48 PM

literally reminds me of those ship in a bottle

new2M2 · 11-20-2023, 04:04 PM

Yeah they are in there good. I think it would be awesome if they were on sliding pillars that you could slide up and remove debris and then slide back down.

///M TOWN · 11-20-2023, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuchChris

Great thing leaves don't exist in south Florida

You have no idea what your missing

///M TOWN · 11-20-2023, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2M2

Yeah they are in there good. I think it would be awesome if they were on sliding pillars that you could slide up and remove debris and then slide back down.

Use a Vacuum

M2siast · 11-20-2023, 04:59 PM

Just wait until the spring and they'll have disappeared...

new2M2 · 11-20-2023, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M TOWN

Use a Vacuum

Thanks for the recommendations on this and the water. I'll give the vacuum a try, seems promising with a wet/dry vac.

///M TOWN · 11-20-2023, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2M2

Thanks for the recommendations on this and the water. I'll give the vacuum a try, seems promising with a wet/dry vac.

It’s better than trying to blast something out that’s mostly trapped

Squidget · 11-20-2023, 05:01 PM

Get out those tweezers!

AZG87 · 11-20-2023, 09:04 PM

Was just thinking tweezers as well then the operation game came out

BMW DIY Guy · 11-22-2023, 09:21 AM

Big fan of the Zunsport screens to keep them out in the first place, plus avoiding the infamous $1600 rock.

11-18-2023, 12:33 PM	#1
new2M2 Enlisted Member 38 Rep 42 Posts Drives: Upcoming M2 Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Darn leaves in the radiator cover! Any fix? Hey all, I'm just about to go off the deep end with the "leaf trap" plastic cover for the radiator. I checked a few places but thought I'd ask here if anyone knows before I keep going down rabbit holes. Is there any way to unclip or move the plastic protector to get the leaves out?
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11-18-2023, 12:36 PM	#2
Ravenseal Lieutenant Colonel 2882 Rep 1,807 Posts Drives: 2023 M2 6MT Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	I was just looking at mine yesterday after all the leaves have finally fallen here in Colorado. I probably got about a dozen behind the plastic cover. I have no idea what to do about it either other than complain to the dealership. __________________ 2023 G87 M2 - Toronto Red \| 6MT \| M HAS \| CF Roof \| BMW 826M Forged Wheels \| Mishimoto Skid Plate \| Active Autowerks Single Midpipe Retired: 2022 M240i xDrive \| 2021 Audi RS5 \| 2019 Camaro 2SS 1LE 6MT \| 2016 428i GC \| 2011 BMW 335is
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11-18-2023, 12:39 PM	#3
Tag this is the way 18367 Rep 8,565 Posts Drives: N-1 starfighter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago iTrader: (3)	https://www.amazon.com/s?k=long+tweezers
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11-18-2023, 12:42 PM	#4
kyrix1st Colonel 2374 Rep 2,368 Posts Drives: G87 M2; E92M3 MT&DCT; M3 euro Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: nyc iTrader: (0) Garage List 2004 BMW Z4 [0.00]	Get a high pressure washer and blast them out. __________________ Pass me if you can.
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11-18-2023, 02:09 PM	#6
FrankWhite! Second Lieutenant 144 Rep 209 Posts Drives: BWM G87 Join Date: Aug 2023 Location: SouthEast US iTrader: (0)	I had a couple in there last week and thought to myself; how in the world did those get trapped back there…, Anyway, Garden hose with light pressure and worked them right to left and they came out in a minute or so. You can lift up slightly (from the bottom) on the black plastic protective cover and it will lift out towards you a mm or so and that helped too.
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11-19-2023, 03:37 PM	#7
Trogster Second Lieutenant 468 Rep 228 Posts Drives: G87 M2 Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	. Attached Images
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11-19-2023, 09:11 PM	#9
ourlee Captain 920 Rep 861 Posts Drives: on the M2 2025 hunt Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Middletown DE iTrader: (0)	Pics please. (I don’t have a car yet)
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11-20-2023, 09:33 AM	#11
SuchChris New Member 21 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 2024 BMW M2(on order) ,Vette Join Date: Oct 2023 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	Great thing leaves don't exist in south Florida
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11-20-2023, 03:46 PM	#12
ourlee Captain 920 Rep 861 Posts Drives: on the M2 2025 hunt Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Middletown DE iTrader: (0)	Fvckers really in there. DAMN
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11-20-2023, 03:48 PM	#13
azuki First Lieutenant 330 Rep 301 Posts Drives: 2023 230i Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: Texas, USA iTrader: (0)	literally reminds me of those ship in a bottle
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11-20-2023, 04:04 PM	#14
new2M2 Enlisted Member 38 Rep 42 Posts Drives: Upcoming M2 Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Yeah they are in there good. I think it would be awesome if they were on sliding pillars that you could slide up and remove debris and then slide back down.
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11-20-2023, 04:59 PM	#17
M2siast Brigadier General 5948 Rep 3,023 Posts Drives: A Family Sedan Join Date: May 2023 Location: Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW M2 [9.67]	Just wait until the spring and they'll have disappeared...
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11-20-2023, 05:01 PM	#20
Squidget Lieutenant Colonel 3534 Rep 1,547 Posts Drives: 2023 G87, 2011 E90 335i Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Get out those tweezers!
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11-20-2023, 09:04 PM	#21
AZG87 Captain 1008 Rep 865 Posts Drives: G87, 2018 Mustang GT traded in Join Date: May 2023 Location: AZ iTrader: (0)	Was just thinking tweezers as well then the operation game came out
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11-22-2023, 09:21 AM	#22
BMW DIY Guy Brigadier General 3090 Rep 3,034 Posts Drives: 2019 M2 Competition Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Maple Valley WA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW M2 [9.80] 2017 BMW X1 [10.00] 2001 BMW X5 [10.00]	Big fan of the Zunsport screens to keep them out in the first place, plus avoiding the infamous $1600 rock. __________________ Check out my BMW DIY Channel on YouTube! E, F and G series projects from Active Autowerke, Bimmertech, Kies Motorsports, AvinUSA, Karbonius Composites and more! YouTube BMW DIY Guy 'Nimona' G87 M2 Build Thread 'Lillith' F87 M2 Competition Build Thread
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