Cracked clips on the MICROFILTER AIR CHANNEL - engine bay air entering cabin - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

RUFM5 · 9th March 2008, 18:51

Has this ever happenned to anyone? Many people may just not have noticed that the air we are breathing might be coming in from the engine bay. The clips cracked from the MICROFILTER AIR CHANNEL (pn:64318379621) allowing a gap to the interior cabin duct.

#7 on realoem.com;

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...73&hg=64&fg=10

Vason · 9th March 2008, 23:55

I recently checked my air filters and happened to notice how the air channels secured in place. Mine are fine but I can see how this might happen if the clips were to brake causing a not so tight fit. Expensive pieces those are...ouch!

DouglasABaker · 10th March 2008, 03:58

I have a broken clip as well, but unless you break them all there is little chance of air leaking in in significant quantities...

d-

RUFM5 · 10th March 2008, 04:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by DouglasABaker

I have a broken clip as well, but unless you break them all there is little chance of air leaking in in significant quantities...

d-

Correct. I had one of three clips broken on the right side with no leaks however I had two of three clips on the left side causing a leak.

AfricaOffroad · 10th March 2008, 08:02

I noticed mine were not properly locking into the firewall, was getting very hot air feeding into the cockpit during heavy traffic driving.

Damn BMW technicians lack of attention to detail ! The other day they had an E39 M5 in the work bays, true enough, both ducts not properly clipped in.

On mine, one clip was damaged, but as you say, it locks into place properly.

everycredit · 10th March 2008, 08:40

I had a weird noise coming from my car about a month after I bought it. It was related to the air speed of the cabin blower. I pulled one of those out and reached in. Sure enough, one of those clips had snapped off and was dancing on the fan blades.

beast27 · 25th August 2009, 15:22

I have the same issue on one side and will try and take pics. I'm going to mess around with it after the engine cools down to see if it's a broken clip or just not snug into place....

WaldoM5 · 25th August 2009, 20:08

my drivers side one is broken.

100%Cocoa · 25th August 2009, 21:22

These are famous for breaking on the E39. I've got through a few in my time with this car, and in city traffic you can definitely notice the difference with just 1 clip broken. All that oil I've spilled over the years burns off and gets sucked straight into the cabin. It's a very poor design and it drove me nuts for ages. I don't think BMW took into account just how often they need removing for various maintenece jobs!
I recently learned the secret though, and it's made their removal and refitting as easy as taking off the oil cap...... Just cover the 3 lugs in WD40 before refitting...... As with so many things in life, if you lube it up properly, it'll just slide straight in. No problem.

beast27 · 26th August 2009, 01:25

Fixed mine. Appearantly it wasn't secured properly to the firewall and simply screws and snaps into place. (part number 7 in above realoem link). Glad this didn't result in a parts purchase...