Mystery item in engine bay

john970 · 02-07-2008, 12:05 PM

What is the red cap thing in the upper left portion of the engine bay (i.e. towards the firewall)?

Dave · 02-07-2008, 12:40 PM

i am goign to guess something electric or to do with the ac

SCA · 02-07-2008, 12:42 PM

It is the positive connection to jump the battery which is located in the trunk. Depending upon the model there is a negative (ground) post on the strut tower.

Dave · 02-07-2008, 12:44 PM

sweet i was close!
good thing to know or i would be jumping it from the trunk!

Twisted · 02-07-2008, 12:44 PM

That's the positive where you can charge your battery if its dead or where you connect jumper cables...

I've got a 1er hatch so i can confirm that

Mark M · 02-07-2008, 12:44 PM

Suspect it is the positive battery terminal cap. In all of my bimmers so far, the battery is in the trunk of the car but the harness runs up the passenger side. Where it enters the engine bay, there is a positive junction terminal typically in that location.

john970 · 02-07-2008, 12:46 PM

What about the two black capped post things near the driver's side strut tower? fluid filler tubes?

SCA · 02-07-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john970

What about the two black capped post things near the driver's side strut tower? fluid filler tubes?

A/C R134a fill would be my guess.

BiffF15 · 02-07-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheUltimateDriver

A/C R134a fill would be my guess.

I would concur with that.

BMWeber · 02-08-2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john970

What about the two black capped post things near the driver's side strut tower? fluid filler tubes?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheUltimateDriver

A/C R134a fill would be my guess.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BiffF15

I would concur with that.

+3

blue-coupe · 02-08-2008, 10:04 AM

You guys know your stuff!

pumaknight · 02-08-2008, 10:13 AM

Geeks!!!!:biggrin:

larryn · 02-08-2008, 10:14 AM

I've been trying to figure out if some of that plumbing up front by the oil filter housing is going to the auxiliary oil cooler. I suppose it's possible. :iono:

atr_hugo · 02-08-2008, 10:16 AM

^ Watch this space for futher details. Larry - had the same thought and took this pic yesterday - it occurred to me that the plumbing to the oil cooler might be near the filter housing and there are substantial hoses coming out of the bottom end of the housing. (Bear in mind, I've been told by BMW that the 135i has an oil cooler and it's stacked behind the coolant radiator).

PS - I was going to open the filter cannister cover before I noticed the tamper tell-tale (the green spot of paint). I was a good boy and didn't dood it. ; -)

larryn · 02-08-2008, 10:27 AM

Bingo! If you look here, you'll see the oil cooler parts for the 335i coupe. Those hoses are the ones that show by the filter housing in the pics above (in the first post)...

They are plumbed slightly differently on the 135i, but that's them.

mikeo · 02-08-2008, 02:15 PM

Larry, you lost me. Please put a pointer arrow on the fitting you are referrencing on Hugo's pic.

larryn · 02-08-2008, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeo

Larry, you lost me. Please put a pointer arrow on the fitting you are referrencing on Hugo's pic.

I can't point to something that's not there. Take a look at this pic. I highlighted the pieces missing.

mikeo · 02-08-2008, 03:12 PM

Thanks! Now I get it.

And I guess we'll have to "get it" from the dealer if we want an in-fender oil cooler.

larryn · 02-08-2008, 03:26 PM

One more damning point. The 335i has two oil filter housings. It's pretty obvious as to what they do, and why they are different. The US 135i has the top one, and the Euro has the bottom one (or a 335i with the external oil cooler)...

The bottom one with the oil fittings on it is listed as having a thermostat, obviously to let oil go to the oil cooler of not.

mikeo · 02-08-2008, 03:40 PM

That is bad news for the US buyer. Larry, what ETK link are you using. I can't seem to pull anything up on the one I use.

larryn · 02-08-2008, 03:56 PM

I use Realoem.com

If I go into limp mode, I'll have them add it... If I don't, and they've got enough air going thru to cool things, then my car is lighter than one with the external oil cooler. :smile:

asv · 02-08-2008, 04:07 PM

This is very disappointing news. I wonder what the rationale for the difference is..

02-07-2008, 12:05 PM	#1
john970 1er 73 Rep 1,205 Posts Drives: 08 135 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	Mystery item in engine bay What is the red cap thing in the upper left portion of the engine bay (i.e. towards the firewall)? Attached Images
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02-07-2008, 12:40 PM	#2
Dave formerly izzo/comeback 287 Rep 3,382 Posts Drives: 2016 RC 350 F Sport Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 135i [6.80]	i am goign to guess something electric or to do with the ac __________________ BMW CCA # 418268
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02-07-2008, 12:42 PM	#3
SCA Brigadier General 565 Rep 3,742 Posts Drives: Multiple BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: 🇺🇸 iTrader: (0)	It is the positive connection to jump the battery which is located in the trunk. Depending upon the model there is a negative (ground) post on the strut tower.
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02-07-2008, 12:44 PM	#4
Dave formerly izzo/comeback 287 Rep 3,382 Posts Drives: 2016 RC 350 F Sport Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 135i [6.80]	sweet i was close! good thing to know or i would be jumping it from the trunk! __________________ BMW CCA # 418268
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02-07-2008, 12:44 PM	#5
Twisted TwistedHouse 0 Rep 55 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jan 2008 iTrader: (0)	That's the positive where you can charge your battery if its dead or where you connect jumper cables... I've got a 1er hatch so i can confirm that
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02-07-2008, 12:44 PM	#6
Mark M Major 240 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: E30M3 E83X3 E90335D Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lancaster, PA iTrader: (0)	Suspect it is the positive battery terminal cap. In all of my bimmers so far, the battery is in the trunk of the car but the harness runs up the passenger side. Where it enters the engine bay, there is a positive junction terminal typically in that location.
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02-07-2008, 12:46 PM	#7
john970 1er 73 Rep 1,205 Posts Drives: 08 135 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	What about the two black capped post things near the driver's side strut tower? fluid filler tubes?
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02-08-2008, 10:04 AM	#11
blue-coupe Second Lieutenant 115 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 1999 Z3 Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (0)	You guys know your stuff!
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02-08-2008, 10:13 AM	#12
pumaknight Second Lieutenant 4 Rep 280 Posts Drives: Currently Seat Leon Cupra FR Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Geeks!!!!:biggrin:
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02-08-2008, 10:14 AM	#13
larryn Lieutenant General 2148 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	I've been trying to figure out if some of that plumbing up front by the oil filter housing is going to the auxiliary oil cooler. I suppose it's possible. :iono:
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02-08-2008, 10:16 AM	#14
atr_hugo No longer moderate 325 Rep 4,401 Posts Drives: '13 135i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: - iTrader: (0)	^ Watch this space for futher details. Larry - had the same thought and took this pic yesterday - it occurred to me that the plumbing to the oil cooler might be near the filter housing and there are substantial hoses coming out of the bottom end of the housing. (Bear in mind, I've been told by BMW that the 135i has an oil cooler and it's stacked behind the coolant radiator). PS - I was going to open the filter cannister cover before I noticed the tamper tell-tale (the green spot of paint). I was a good boy and didn't dood it. ; -) Attached Images
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02-08-2008, 10:27 AM	#15
larryn Lieutenant General 2148 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	Bingo! If you look here, you'll see the oil cooler parts for the 335i coupe. Those hoses are the ones that show by the filter housing in the pics above (in the first post)... They are plumbed slightly differently on the 135i, but that's them.
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02-08-2008, 02:15 PM	#16
mikeo Santa Fe Concorso 103 Rep 2,984 Posts Drives: '11 M-sport 328i, '13 X1 28i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM iTrader: (3)	Larry, you lost me. Please put a pointer arrow on the fitting you are referrencing on Hugo's pic. __________________ Santa Fe Concorso - The Southwest's Premier Automotive Gathering.
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02-08-2008, 03:12 PM	#18
mikeo Santa Fe Concorso 103 Rep 2,984 Posts Drives: '11 M-sport 328i, '13 X1 28i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM iTrader: (3)	Thanks! Now I get it. And I guess we'll have to "get it" from the dealer if we want an in-fender oil cooler. __________________ Santa Fe Concorso - The Southwest's Premier Automotive Gathering.
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02-08-2008, 03:26 PM	#19
larryn Lieutenant General 2148 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	One more damning point. The 335i has two oil filter housings. It's pretty obvious as to what they do, and why they are different. The US 135i has the top one, and the Euro has the bottom one (or a 335i with the external oil cooler)... The bottom one with the oil fittings on it is listed as having a thermostat, obviously to let oil go to the oil cooler of not. Attached Images
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02-08-2008, 03:40 PM	#20
mikeo Santa Fe Concorso 103 Rep 2,984 Posts Drives: '11 M-sport 328i, '13 X1 28i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM iTrader: (3)	That is bad news for the US buyer. Larry, what ETK link are you using. I can't seem to pull anything up on the one I use. __________________ Santa Fe Concorso - The Southwest's Premier Automotive Gathering.
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02-08-2008, 03:56 PM	#21
larryn Lieutenant General 2148 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	I use Realoem.com If I go into limp mode, I'll have them add it... If I don't, and they've got enough air going thru to cool things, then my car is lighter than one with the external oil cooler. :smile:
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02-08-2008, 04:07 PM	#22
asv Captain 44 Rep 657 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	This is very disappointing news. I wonder what the rationale for the difference is..
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