Missing piece on rear bumper

jjl · 07-18-2018, 11:35 PM

Just noticed that there was a cover piece missing on the rear bumper of my M40i. Anyone know what the missing piece is and what it's covering, and how it could have been lost? I'm leasing the car, is BMW going to cover the cost of replacing this piece? Thanks.

bmtespar · 07-18-2018, 11:38 PM

It’s the cover for your tow point. A bolt with a loop screws in their in case you need to be pulled. Dealer will most likely replace it for you.

jjl · 07-19-2018, 04:47 PM

Thanks. My dealer said it was dislodged either by an impact (there was no impact) or it was stolen, but ultimately agreed to cover the cost of a replacement. Said the part had to be painted to match the grey on the bumper, i thought it would have been a stock part the same color on all M40i's. Regardless, if people are stealing these things to make some money it's a sad world we live in.

bmtespar · 07-19-2018, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjl

Thanks. My dealer said it was dislodged either by an impact (there was no impact) or it was stolen, but ultimately agreed to cover the cost of a replacement. Said the part had to be painted to match the grey on the bumper, i thought it would have been a stock part the same color on all M40i's. Regardless, if people are stealing these things to make some money it's a sad world we live in.

Glad they are replacing it for you. It is strange that it has to be painted to match. I could understand if it was part of the body color but that grey color is the same on all of the vehicles. Maybe he/she is incorrect.

jjl · 07-19-2018, 06:32 PM

Yeah I wasn't buying it when he told me it had to be painted but he didn't bring out the part to check. should have asked him to. Hate knowing more than salespeople, which is often the case, not just with cars.

BobsM3Coupe · 07-19-2018, 07:08 PM

At least these parts are held to the bumper front and rear by a restraining strap. I know on my 2010 M3 Coupe, those little covers over the tow hook attachment points front and rear did not have any retention strap and also needed to be painted the body color. Got real expensive when one disappeared.
The new X3 M40i's are all the same color. Towing Lug Cover - Dark Shadow, Your dealer is misinformed.
Someone no doubt swiped yours for sure.

Tchgrif · 07-20-2018, 05:07 AM

years ago in my old x4 I stopped in Zainesville Ohio to refuel and when I came out of the store these three inbred local hillbillies in a beater truck had poped out my tow hook cover on the front of my car. of course I did not see them do it but it was in such a prominent area not to mention I had just cleaned off the headlights right before going into the store. came back out they were laughing hysterically as I am sure that was the pinnacle of their lives. I ordered a new one prepainted online for 35 bucks and have not stopped in that sad little town ever since. Sorry that has happened to you too, people suck.

dean285 · 07-20-2018, 10:32 AM

Same thing happened to me but the part was tethered and I just popped it back in. A car parked incredibly close and he/she hit my bumper. So frustrating when stuff like that happens.

KTMF · 07-20-2018, 01:34 PM

Did you go through a car wash? The brushes or just the high powered water blast can knock it out easily.
I've also had mine hanging out of position (but still tethered) after driving over some rough roads. It is not very secure.
I might put a small drop of glue on it ?

jjl · 07-20-2018, 03:40 PM

i did go through a car wash, but it was still on after the was for sure. Who knows...wish there was video tape available. Waiting for the replacement, meanwhile the bumper looks like s***.

bmtespar · 07-20-2018, 03:44 PM

Video tape

jjl · 08-09-2018, 05:44 AM

so, mystery solved, it was the car wash that made the tow hook cover come off, they didn't tape it before sending it through. Thankfully this time around I noticed it was missing after it came through the wash, they stopped the car wash and found the piece, told me to ask for it to be taped next time. To be honest this cover should not be that easy to dislodge, but first world problems i suppose. All you car wash users have been warned.

nyalpine90 · 08-09-2018, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjl

so, mystery solved, it was the car wash that made the tow hook cover come off, they didn't tape it before sending it through. Thankfully this time around I noticed it was missing after it came through the wash, they stopped the car wash and found the piece, told me to ask for it to be taped next time. To be honest this cover should not be that easy to dislodge, but first world problems i suppose. All you car wash users have been warned.

you use auto car wash

skier219 · 08-09-2018, 07:59 AM

You are brave to take a black car through a car wash.

jjl · 08-09-2018, 01:39 PM

I live in NYC, got no choice. Plus, b/c it's a lease, I care a tiny bit less than if i owned outright.

ParadigmDawg · 08-09-2018, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjl

I live in NYC, got no choice. Plus, b/c it's a lease, I care a tiny bit less than if i owned outright.

That sounds like my attitude towards it. Surprisingly, I see very little swirls or scratches and mine has been through the carwash 50 times.

BTW, they have never taped my tow hook cover and it has never came off.

smylonas · 08-16-2020, 12:33 PM

The design of the rear tow cover is such that you depress the arrow at the bottom. Because of this when going through the car wash the brush has enough force to depress it and then pull it out. The little diamond shaped retaining tab is no match for the brush. Ours kept popping out of our m40i until we lost it. Car wash company was nice enough to replace it for us. They told us that alot of late model bmw have parts fly off. I haven't put mine on yet until i figure a way to make sure it stays on. Poor design....

JDsX3 · 08-16-2020, 12:57 PM

On my 2019 X3 SdRIVE30i, the rear tow cover is not tethered and I find about once a month it has popped slightly open. Fortunately it has never fallen off, but it seems that just slightly brushing against it (for example when loading the trunk) will pop it.
I probably should figure out some sort of tether for it before it is lost.

UPDATE:

Just went out and checked. Since I had never pulled the cover all the way out, simply pushed it back in when it popped out, I didn't see that it is in fact properly tethered.

nitinsharma1000 · 12-10-2020, 05:33 PM

Car wash popped mine off too. So I have to find a new one. I have a x30i so it has to be painted.

07-18-2018, 11:35 PM	#1
jjl First Lieutenant 232 Rep 380 Posts Drives: '24 Porsche Macan S Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Missing piece on rear bumper Just noticed that there was a cover piece missing on the rear bumper of my M40i. Anyone know what the missing piece is and what it's covering, and how it could have been lost? I'm leasing the car, is BMW going to cover the cost of replacing this piece? Thanks. Attached Images __________________ '24 Macan S Prior: '21 X3 M40i Dark Graphite/Black '18 X3 M40i Carbon Black/Cognac '15 X5 xDrive 30i M Sport Space Gray/Mocha
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07-18-2018, 11:38 PM	#2
bmtespar Major 709 Rep 1,066 Posts Drives: 19 X3 30i, 18 230iX Vert Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Atlanta Ga iTrader: (0)	It’s the cover for your tow point. A bolt with a loop screws in their in case you need to be pulled. Dealer will most likely replace it for you.
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07-19-2018, 04:47 PM	#3
jjl First Lieutenant 232 Rep 380 Posts Drives: '24 Porsche Macan S Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Thanks. My dealer said it was dislodged either by an impact (there was no impact) or it was stolen, but ultimately agreed to cover the cost of a replacement. Said the part had to be painted to match the grey on the bumper, i thought it would have been a stock part the same color on all M40i's. Regardless, if people are stealing these things to make some money it's a sad world we live in. __________________ '24 Macan S Prior: '21 X3 M40i Dark Graphite/Black '18 X3 M40i Carbon Black/Cognac '15 X5 xDrive 30i M Sport Space Gray/Mocha
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07-19-2018, 06:32 PM	#5
jjl First Lieutenant 232 Rep 380 Posts Drives: '24 Porsche Macan S Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Yeah I wasn't buying it when he told me it had to be painted but he didn't bring out the part to check. should have asked him to. Hate knowing more than salespeople, which is often the case, not just with cars. __________________ '24 Macan S Prior: '21 X3 M40i Dark Graphite/Black '18 X3 M40i Carbon Black/Cognac '15 X5 xDrive 30i M Sport Space Gray/Mocha
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07-19-2018, 07:08 PM	#6
BobsM3Coupe Brigadier General 1456 Rep 3,931 Posts Drives: X5MC Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: California iTrader: (4)	At least these parts are held to the bumper front and rear by a restraining strap. I know on my 2010 M3 Coupe, those little covers over the tow hook attachment points front and rear did not have any retention strap and also needed to be painted the body color. Got real expensive when one disappeared. The new X3 M40i's are all the same color. Towing Lug Cover - Dark Shadow, Your dealer is misinformed. Someone no doubt swiped yours for sure. Last edited by BobsM3Coupe; 07-19-2018 at 07:14 PM..
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07-20-2018, 05:07 AM	#7
Tchgrif Lieutenant 259 Rep 453 Posts Drives: X4 M40i Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: pgh pa, USA iTrader: (0)	years ago in my old x4 I stopped in Zainesville Ohio to refuel and when I came out of the store these three inbred local hillbillies in a beater truck had poped out my tow hook cover on the front of my car. of course I did not see them do it but it was in such a prominent area not to mention I had just cleaned off the headlights right before going into the store. came back out they were laughing hysterically as I am sure that was the pinnacle of their lives. I ordered a new one prepainted online for 35 bucks and have not stopped in that sad little town ever since. Sorry that has happened to you too, people suck.
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07-20-2018, 10:32 AM	#8
dean285 Private 28 Rep 81 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 30i Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Toronto, ON iTrader: (0)	Same thing happened to me but the part was tethered and I just popped it back in. A car parked incredibly close and he/she hit my bumper. So frustrating when stuff like that happens.
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07-20-2018, 01:34 PM	#9
KTMF Enlisted Member 21 Rep 37 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Northern California iTrader: (0)	Did you go through a car wash? The brushes or just the high powered water blast can knock it out easily. I've also had mine hanging out of position (but still tethered) after driving over some rough roads. It is not very secure. I might put a small drop of glue on it ?
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07-20-2018, 03:40 PM	#10
jjl First Lieutenant 232 Rep 380 Posts Drives: '24 Porsche Macan S Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	i did go through a car wash, but it was still on after the was for sure. Who knows...wish there was video tape available. Waiting for the replacement, meanwhile the bumper looks like s***. __________________ '24 Macan S Prior: '21 X3 M40i Dark Graphite/Black '18 X3 M40i Carbon Black/Cognac '15 X5 xDrive 30i M Sport Space Gray/Mocha
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07-20-2018, 03:44 PM	#11
bmtespar Major 709 Rep 1,066 Posts Drives: 19 X3 30i, 18 230iX Vert Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Atlanta Ga iTrader: (0)	Video tape
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08-09-2018, 05:44 AM	#12
jjl First Lieutenant 232 Rep 380 Posts Drives: '24 Porsche Macan S Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	so, mystery solved, it was the car wash that made the tow hook cover come off, they didn't tape it before sending it through. Thankfully this time around I noticed it was missing after it came through the wash, they stopped the car wash and found the piece, told me to ask for it to be taped next time. To be honest this cover should not be that easy to dislodge, but first world problems i suppose. All you car wash users have been warned. __________________ '24 Macan S Prior: '21 X3 M40i Dark Graphite/Black '18 X3 M40i Carbon Black/Cognac '15 X5 xDrive 30i M Sport Space Gray/Mocha
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08-09-2018, 07:59 AM	#14
skier219 Captain 607 Rep 969 Posts Drives: X3 M40i, M2C, Ferrari 328 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	You are brave to take a black car through a car wash.
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08-09-2018, 01:39 PM	#15
jjl First Lieutenant 232 Rep 380 Posts Drives: '24 Porsche Macan S Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	I live in NYC, got no choice. Plus, b/c it's a lease, I care a tiny bit less than if i owned outright. __________________ '24 Macan S Prior: '21 X3 M40i Dark Graphite/Black '18 X3 M40i Carbon Black/Cognac '15 X5 xDrive 30i M Sport Space Gray/Mocha
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08-16-2020, 12:33 PM	#17
smylonas Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: '01 X5, 2'11 X3, 2'20 X3 M40i Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Pennsylvania, USA iTrader: (0)	The design of the rear tow cover is such that you depress the arrow at the bottom. Because of this when going through the car wash the brush has enough force to depress it and then pull it out. The little diamond shaped retaining tab is no match for the brush. Ours kept popping out of our m40i until we lost it. Car wash company was nice enough to replace it for us. They told us that alot of late model bmw have parts fly off. I haven't put mine on yet until i figure a way to make sure it stays on. Poor design....
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08-16-2020, 12:57 PM	#18
JDsX3 Photojournalist, Tech & Product Analyst 507 Rep 471 Posts Drives: BMW X3, i4, Corvette Stingray Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	On my 2019 X3 SdRIVE30i, the rear tow cover is not tethered and I find about once a month it has popped slightly open. Fortunately it has never fallen off, but it seems that just slightly brushing against it (for example when loading the trunk) will pop it. I probably should figure out some sort of tether for it before it is lost. UPDATE: Just went out and checked. Since I had never pulled the cover all the way out, simply pushed it back in when it popped out, I didn't see that it is in fact properly tethered. __________________ Current:2024 i4 Mineral White Metallic with Blue Exterior Accents, Canberra Beige Perforated SensaTec, Premium Package, Driving Assistance Pro Package, Drive Recorder. 2019 X3 Mineral White Metallic, Caberra Beige interior with most options. Corvette Stingray Arctic White w red interior. Past:2002 Z3, Corvette Stingray and about 40 other cars Last edited by JDsX3; 08-16-2020 at 01:05 PM..
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12-10-2020, 05:33 PM	#19
nitinsharma1000 New Member 17 Rep 16 Posts Drives: 2017 X1 xDrive28 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Car wash popped mine off too. So I have to find a new one. I have a x30i so it has to be painted.
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