[AllBlackBimmer]

Had my car plugged into my trickle charger and noticed this...

This piece is completely loose and I can pick it up and hold it in my hands.
It looks like there are 3 clips that line up with 3 other clips under the cowl..
Has a wire the runs through it on both sides.

I have no idea what this is, or how to snap it back in place??
I assume I shouldn’t drive with this loose as it’s just resting on top of my engine....
I have no idea how long it’s been like this.
I tried for 15 mins to snap it back in place but it’s not that simple... it doesn’t look like any plastic is snapped or broken, so I have no idea how this even happened.

[IMG]38035003-F039-41F8-AFD3-EAEA6028C0C6 by AllBlackBimmer[/IMG]

[IMG]E8D700D4-485A-4B4B-ACAF-F74750260498 by AllBlackBimmer[/IMG]

[IMG]D0090D0F-39AA-4E23-A246-5BB7F15A2113 by AllBlackBimmer[/IMG]

[rick100]

check if the clips are broken . This is a really stupid design by bmw and there is a lot of people that have broken that piece, just leaning a little bit on it will cause the clips to break

yes you can remove that piece and just tie wrap the 3 or 4 wires, you can use the supports close by to hold it there . I broke mine 3 years ago and just decided to removed it all together , tie wrap the 3 wires at 5 different point and at each end tie wrap the bundle with the support bar so that the whole bundle doesnt move around

no big deal

just double check to see if the clips are broken , if they are not , you may be able to put it back

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by rick100

check if the clips are broken . This is a really stupid design by bmw and there is a lot of people that have broken that piece, just leaning a little bit on it will cause the clips to break

yes you can remove that piece and just tie wrap the 3 or 4 wires, you can use the supports close by to hold it there . I broke mine 3 years ago and just decided to removed it all together , tie wrap the 3 wires at 5 different point and at each end tie wrap the bundle with the support bar so that the whole bundle doesnt move around

no big deal

just double check to see if the clips are broken , if they are not , you may be able to put it back

I don’t think the clips are broken... all 3 look the same, and no signs in the plastic of snapping/cracking... on the piece that is loose.
I can’t tell if there is anything broken off on the piece attached to the car? Maybe there is something missing?

I cannot figure out how to get it back in!

Here are pics of the clips of the loose piece:
[IMG]FA23CFE2-5C4F-4BEB-BDCD-220DC199DC14 by AllBlackBimmer[/IMG]

[IMG]F5B6C9D6-5F81-4AF3-9A7E-9D9483E1E20F by AllBlackBimmer[/IMG]

[dmatre]

The clips should just slide in, pushing horizontally back toward the firewall.

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by dmatre

The clips should just slide in, pushing horizontally back toward the firewall.

That certainly what it seems like it should do, but it doesn’t seem to fit and/or want to go in...

I don’t have to remove anything to get it back in? I can “slide” it back in as is?

.... well back out to the garage to mess with this damn thing again....

[dmatre]

Originally Posted by AllBlackBimmer

That certainly what it seems like it should do, but it doesn't seem to fit and/or want to go in...

I don't have to remove anything to get it back in? I can "slide" it back in as is?

.... well back out to the garage to mess with this damn thing again....

Check:

About a minute in...

[AllBlackBimmer]

I still can’t seem to get it to snap in the whole way...
I kind of have it wedged in there, but it’s still just kinda hanging there and will probably fall off while driving.
Not sure what I’m doing wrong...
I watched a few videos and seems like it should snap it, but mine doesn’t want to

[Mvaccarelli01]

just delete that piece, it is known to break and it is garbage. remove it and take the hoses out and zip tie the hoses together towards the back of the engine bay and make it all nice and neat. the piece is just extra it does nothing.

[bureau13]

It's funny, the same thing happened to the car I'm working on, I wasn't sure if it's been like that for a while, or the shop that had the car previously screwed it up and left it there.

[alfazrus]

Usually, the broken clips are a part of the cabin filter bottom housing. It's an expensive part just for that.
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...=656294&page=2

I followed this diy.

[AllBlackBimmer]

The more I watch videos and look at the part... my clips my be broken. It’s really hard to tell.
The design is really stupid by bmw... what the hell is the point of this part?
Just to hide the wires and keep them off the hot engine? You would think they could’ve came up with something a little better.

I didn’t try taking the rectangular loose piece apart yet, but assume it is just flipped together?
I think I may just go the zip tie route as that seems easy and cheap.
That damn plastic piece is like $140... ridiculous!

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by Mvaccarelli01

just delete that piece, it is known to break and it is garbage. remove it and take the hoses out and zip tie the hoses together towards the back of the engine bay and make it all nice and neat. the piece is just extra it does nothing.

No worries with heat and the wires?

... not that the plastic piece rejects heat or anything most likely... but bmw put those wires in that plastic for “some” reason... perhaps just for aesthetics?

[gbalthrop]

MICROFILTER UPPER & LOWER HOUSING REMOVAL:

It seems like few owners or even "Mechnix" have taken the time to understand HOW the Housings are Designed.
Here are 5 screenprints from Bentley which clearly (almost ;-) show how to do the job.
Required tools: (1) 8mm socket & 1/4" Ratchet for 8 screws; (2) Plastic Pry (Proper use of this Tool is KEY).
(3) Towel to protect top of Engine Cover from scratching when removing THREE (3) wiring Looms.

The ONLY part that is tricky is releasing the THIRD wiring loom which is located BELOW the tray the two smaller looms sit in.
That step is described @ top of #4 screenprint. The 3rd Loom looks like a spring in photo.

GENTLY Pry EACH of 3 clips open so hidden lower clips ROTATE downward, counterclockwise as viewed from LEFT.
A photo of my 2007 E91 Lower housing is attached as #6 so you can see what each of 3 clips looks like.
No reason to break anything. Just refer to reliable sources for information; like Bentley & TIS.
Videos are too often done by people who never took the time to think and analyze how things work.
Like the guy that just pulls the Loom tray forward with a JERK!!! Then we wonder why we have broken PLASTIC.

#6 photo is my housing REMOVED with tray still attached, showing left clip OPEN. Two more exactly same.
Photo #6 is taken from BENEATH the lower housing and loom tray. Do NOT remove the loom tray.
Simply pry open EACH of the three clips holding the LARGE (3rd) wire loom. Only thing to be removed
from the Loom Tray is its cover: Four tabs in front as shown in 2nd photo on screenprint #2.
If the above is NOT clear, please let me know.

George

[Efthreeoh]

There are several threads on this topic. It's a common issue. I broke the right-side clip some time in 2007 when there was no Bentley service manual and the TIS was a $25/day service, so I was taking an educated guess to release the clips. I broke the left-side a few years ago. I agree, it's an over-engineered design and just fancy under hood decoration.

There is a good fix I came up with. If the female side of the clips that sit on the bottom side of the lower cabin air filter housing (people mistakenly call it a "cowl") are still intact, then you can still slide the male tab into the slot. What I did was slide the cable tray in place then drilled small holes through the lower housing though the tabs. IIRC I used a 3/16th drill. I then used sheet metal thread speed nuts on the tabs and fastened the cable tray to the lower cabin filter housing with sheet metal screws.