Bumper Question

[E34 530]

Am I missing this cover on the right side of my bumper? The left side has some sort of cover but the right doesn't. I've always wondered this but was just to lazy to ask.


Right side...
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/2006_0124Image0012.jpg


Left side...
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/2006_0124Image0013.jpg

[calmloki]

Yes, yes you are. Thank you. I'll be here all week!

[Boom n Zoom]

This is the cover on the right handside.

it has two clips at the top, just pull firmly, yet sharply and it will come out.
Be aware of the (Temp??) sensor top lefthand hole when you refit the cover.

BnZ

[calmloki]

Quite right - I was thinking he had his sides mixed as the original post shows the left side identified as the right side and visy versy and I didn't bother correcting him. That's what I get for being a smartass!
Tom Walrod

[E34 530]

Is this the piece that will fit the hole??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E34-525-Fog-Light-Covers-535-540-M5_W0QQitemZ8031857968QQcategoryZ33709QQrdZ1QQcmdZ ViewItem

[calmloki]

I doubt it - those are identified as fog light covers - you want a brake duct cover. Though why someone would choose to get less cooling air to his brake rotors is pretty unclear to me. Have you considered removing the other cover and exposing the brake duct? Cost less, fast, and easy.
Tom Walrod

[E34 530]

I doubt it - those are identified as fog light covers - you want a brake duct cover. Though why someone would choose to get less cooling air to his brake rotors is pretty unclear to me. Have you considered removing the other cover and exposing the brake duct? Cost less, fast, and easy.
Tom Walrod


Until I actually got under there to take the pictures today, I never knew my car even had brbake ducts. I always thought the 540 was the only one with cooling ducts. I just thought it looked nicer with the cover, but I might take your advice and take the over one off. That is how I bought the car one year ago.

[mattyb]

that duct is meant to be like that. it also cools the alternator on some models

[romeox929]

whats the part number for that particular piece? Seems like a subtle upgrade. I tried searching realoem.com but no luck.

[jjw]

Upgrade for what? That's the duct for the alternator cooling on V8 cars. If yours is not V8, then it is useless, only creat more drag.

[calmloki]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Upgrade for what? That's the duct for the alternator cooling on V8 cars. If yours is not V8, then it is useless, only creat more drag."

Truly, is this so? I'm more familiar with E30 and E28, my 525iT is new to me, but on the other cars the same appearance duct is for brake cooling, which I think is a great idea even if I'm not using my brakes like RacerX. Don't see the point of cooling just one front rotor....
Tom Walrod

[mikell]

You're stock with those parts - I'd say don't mess with it, unless you want to install 540 brake ducts or something..

[calmloki]

Ok, mark me down as embarassed and unobservant. Took a look and my new-to-me 525iT has the duct covers! It's pretty soggy today and I don't feel like laying in the street to see if both sides have the ducts or not. I still feel that if both ducts are there I would just uncover the covered one - easier than replacing the missing one. Of course, doing nothing is easier still!
Tom Walrod

[E34 530]

I'm still not getting this 100%. Do you guys think I should take the other one off, buy another cover, or just leave it how it is??

[mikell]

Leave it - that's how BMW designed it. the 8 cyl cars are different than the 6 cyls in this respect.

[calmloki]

My '93 525iT has BOTH left and right covers. You are missing one. You can leave it alone - hasn't hurt you over the last year. You can buy a single new replacement for the bone stock look. Or you could do what I would do, which would be to remove the remaining cover and see how that looks to you. But I just can't keep myself from taking things apart. Whatever you do, I doubt it will cause you to careen off the road or blow up. But what do I know - I didn't even realize my new-to-me touring had the covers!
Tom Walrod

[jjw]

He is not missing any cover. It is suppose to look like that. It's a 530i, and that hole is for the alternator cooling.

[calmloki]

Ok, at this point I'll defer to the V8 owners. I'm wrong. I went searching and found a picture of a white 530i that clearly shows only one open duct hole, right side blocked:
http://tinyurl.com/9rfnh
First ad, click on any image, then click lower right image.
Do nothing with your duct cover.
530s are supposed to look horribly unbalanced.
:-)
Tom Walrod