[Ravenseal]

Figured I’d start a general thread on this topic since it’s been an ongoing conversation for a lot of people on the forums. Now that I have my car, I definitely see a need for a solution to protect the radiators/coolers that sit at the front of the car, specially the intercooler and oil cooler being so widely exposed to road debris and the elements. Hopefully this is something that can be resolved through additive engineering rather than completely new front bumper designs. There are already under side bash guards on the G80/82 that are available to start with, but nothing for the front bumper to my knowledge.

https://www.mishimoto.com/bmw-g80-m3...late-2021.html

[stvward]

Originally Posted by Ravenseal

Figured I’d start a general thread on this topic since it’s been an ongoing conversation for a lot of people on the forums. Now that I have my car, I definitely see a need for a solution to protect the radiators/coolers that sit at the front of the car, specially the intercooler and oil cooler being so widely exposed to road debris and the elements. Hopefully this is something that can be resolved through additive engineering rather than completely new front bumper designs. There are already under side bash guards on the G80/82 that are available to start with, but nothing for the front bumper to my knowledge.

https://g87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2027913

[Ravenseal]

Originally Posted by stvward

https://g87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2027913

$35,000 repair. I can’t imagine the S58 would the cheaper. Just ouch.

[JMcLellan]

I can't imagine a scenario where one of these oil or other coolers gets pierced and there wouldn't be a warning light, drivetrain malfunction, or something telling the driver to shut it down. Just based on losing fluids and the sensors alerting when fluids get lower. But I can see why folks would go out and spend some cash on aftermarket covers/protective mesh things.

[M2PDX]

Great thread. I need to figure something out before my car arrives.

[mynameisnick4]

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

I can't imagine a scenario where one of these oil or other coolers gets pierced and there wouldn't be a warning light, drivetrain malfunction, or something telling the driver to shut it down. Just based on losing fluids and the sensors alerting when fluids get lower. But I can see why folks would go out and spend some cash on aftermarket covers/protective mesh things.

I mean it wouldn't be that big of a surprise to me after dealing with an oil overfill drama from an incompetent dealer where I learned my F87 can't detect overfills and had no oil pressure gauge (even with a ODBII reader.) But luckily it looks like these cars should alert on low oil pressure based on the G42 thread posted here. Though that guy needs a new engine even after stopping soon after getting the alert.

[Game]

Absolutely ridiculous that BMW would leave that so exposed and force us to spend $500+ on aftermarket solutions.

[Ravenseal]

Originally Posted by Game

Absolutely ridiculous that BMW would leave that so exposed and force us to spend $500+ on aftermarket solutions.

Agree. I don’t understand the decision at all. Specially with the intercooler. This will easily disable a car one day.

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by mynameisnick4

I mean it wouldn't be that big of a surprise to me after dealing with an oil overfill drama from an incompetent dealer where I learned my F87 can't detect overfills and had no oil pressure gauge (even with a ODBII reader.) But luckily it looks like these cars should alert on low oil pressure based on the G42 thread posted here. Though that guy needs a new engine even after stopping soon after getting the alert.

I feel for the guy. I would be sooooo pissed. There was a guy on the F22 forums who ruined his turbo and motor from idling his car in bad traffic. Something to do with a PCV valve failure. Estimate was $30k+ from the dealer. Not sure what the outcome was. I would vomit if i had to spend $30k to fix my car. Can't imagine what my wife would do.

[KevM2]

My dealer overfilled my F87 by 1L and I got zero warnings and the level read as normal. I only found out since I always change out the oil as soon as the dealer does the free oil change.

I just received this for my g87. Haven’t installed it yet. Looks great but only downside is that it has to be fixed in place with some zip ties:

https://www.radiatorgrillstore.com/bmw

[DSTR]

Originally Posted by KevM2

My dealer overfilled my F87 by 1L and I got zero warnings and the level read as normal. I only found out since I always change out the oil as soon as the dealer does the free oil change.

I just received this for my g87. Haven’t installed it yet. Looks great but only downside is that it has to be fixed in place with some zip ties:

https://www.radiatorgrillstore.com/bmw

Thats a decent solution and worthwhile until something else is developed. Ordering that now.

A kind thank you for providing that link. My car is transiting to Germany. I will not take it out until that is put on at the dealer during presale preparation. Its more important than paint film in my opinion.

[Ravenseal]

Originally Posted by KevM2

I just received this for my g87. Haven’t installed it yet. Looks great but only downside is that it has to be fixed in place with some zip ties:

https://www.radiatorgrillstore.com/bmw

The zip ties just don't do it for me. Lol. I guess whatever future aftermarket option is released will have to be drilled into the bumper. I honestly feel like raising a concern with BMW NA.

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by Ravenseal

The zip ties just don't do it for me. Lol. I guess whatever future aftermarket option is released will have to be drilled into the bumper. I honestly feel like raising a concern with BMW NA.

Yes totally agree. The design of this mesh is perfect otherwise. It’s a great temporary solution until someone like Zunsport develops something with better attachment. Just blows my mind BMW would leave the radiators so exposed. Would be okay if the car was only used for track but most people use it as a commuter and love to take it on longer trips on twisty mountain roads. To be left stranded from such BMW oversight is very shameful. I see lots of little dents on my F87 radiators even with its existing mesh so it will be a major problem on G87

[dominoM]

I wish they had a photo of the inside showing where the zip-ties attach to. Looks pretty good from the outside though.

[Ravenseal]

Originally Posted by M2siast

I tend to think they know better than we do.
They drove this car for hundreds of thousands of combined miles before it was released, and never had issues…

So, for any meaningful change to happen, lots of cars would have to have warranty work performed until they believe there’s an issue. It’s all moved by the money this could be moving.

It won’t affect BMWs bottom line if they’re not the ones paying for it. Any damage to those components will likely be considered road hazard. They’re not gonna cover your blown engine through warranty if a rock or road debris blasts through your oil cooler. That’ll be a conversation with your car insurer.

[Ravenseal]

Originally Posted by M2siast

Was that what happened to our fellow G42 owner?

Correct.

[GregW / Oregon]

My F82 has good protection, but the problem is it’s not removable, so the only way to clean out behind it is with a leaf blower or tweezers. Don’t follow hay trucks!

[Ravenseal]

Originally Posted by M2siast

It seems the G42 was being driven on gravel roads……

Not a chance my car will ever be on a gravel road. I refused to even drive into a gravel parking lot…

I still think there’s not too much to worry about.

It’s still equally at risk from road debris, speed bumps, curbs, etc.

Maybe where you live the roads are always perfectly clean, but that’s not the case everywhere. Specially the US.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by M2siast

It seems the G42 was being driven on gravel roads……

Not a chance my car will ever be on a gravel road. I refused to even drive into a gravel parking lot…

I still think there’s not too much to worry about.

Agree.

I recall some years back Porsche owners got all up in arms over the poor exposed radiators and started installing mesh/expanded metal guards.

Problem is guards with any substance affect air flow. There's web site with a chart that for the diameter of the mesh wire and opening size provides the amount of air flow restriction.

At any rate after a bit the furor died down.

Never had a bare radiator (or condenser which was in front of the radiators) or oil cooler or (with my JCW) an air to air inter cooler damaged by a rock/road debris striking it on the fly.

Did manage to hit a (stationary) tire carcass late one night -- it was in the middle of the road and I hit it when I drifted over probably on the verge of falling asleep behind the wheel -- and the impact broke the bottom of my Boxster's driver side radiator. About the only thing that would have saved the radiator would have been a belly pan off an M1 Abrams tank...

Some few years later a bouncing cinder block fragment ended up in my lane on a busy freeway in the Pleasanton CA area and hit the underside of the car. Hit the converter housing and left it with a substantial gouge but no signs of any other damage. But it turned out the impact caused the converter brick to come loose and over time the converter manifested a dull deep knock when the engine was cold and a buzzing noise when hot. And once in a while a P0430 error code. But after engine shut down and cool down upon engine restart the brick was back into it correct position until the next time. This happened maybe 2 times a year. But the car/engine always passed CA smog.

Finally the noise got so bad I bought a set of used converters and had a tech swap them. Noise gone. And the used converters operated just fine.

Then just a few weeks after getting a (used) 2003 Porsche Turbo late at night I hit a mule deer out on 50 highway west of Ely NV. Not even driving the 50mph posted limit. Creature stepped out from behind a guard rail right the path of my car. Impact took out both the passenger side radiator and condenser and head light. Two months later and $25,000 in repairs all was fine. But rather than wire mesh grills to protect the radiator/condenser critter bars would be more appropriate.

Another time in my Turbo a bounding rock hit the underside of the car and punched a fist sized hole in a plastic panel located about in the middle of car.

Yet another time at night in my 2006 GTO on a mountain road took a blind corner -- was not driving that fast -- but was unable to avoid it and hit a soft ball sized rock with the right front tire. Blew out the tire side wall.

A flying rock did chip my Boxster's windshield and after few years I had to have the windshield replaced when the chip turned into a windshield wide crack at eye ball height.

More recently on my drive home from Loveland CO in my new 2023 JCW the windshield picked up a chip which when I arrived home I had a tech at Safelite fix to (hopefully) prevent the chip from turning into a crack.

In all I have driven close to 1M miles and never had a radiator/condenser holed by a flying rock. But I have had several cars hit and one totaled from being hit by other cars. Believe it or not but in all cases but one I was stopped. The exception was I had just pulled away from a stop light when the butthead in the car behind mine and on his cell phone accelerated and ran into the back of my Boxster.

Drive my M2 as often as I can. Don't worry about flying rocks. I worry about other drivers and when I venture out on "interesting" roads I really worry about deer...

[soflacarguy]

I appreciate RockCrusher sharing your experiences and providing some reassurances.

I will say, however, while the likelihood of the vehicle taking serious damage from debris or rocks impacting and damaging these parts are in our favor - this open rectangular area will still vacuum and collect a smorgasboard of leaves, pebbles, etc.

I think iirc it was the Carwow reviewer who really got down there and showed us how much junk his test car collected. That on its own will drive my OCD crazy.

[soflacarguy]

Originally Posted by M2siast

And the alternative is to cover those areas to trap all that junk in there, as demonstrated by the picture above?

You’re talking about Greg’s picture? Don’t follow hay trucks!

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by M2siast

And the alternative is to cover those areas to trap all that junk in there, as demonstrated by the picture above?

Whatever grille there is should be easily removable.