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      03-20-2012, 04:23 PM   #1
Jax543210
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Z4 - Update - Hole Found - lawn clippings and such in cabin

Z4 2007

---Update I have a hole in my firewall ----
Anyone know the part number of the blind plug that fits in there? I haven't been able to find the part on realoem.com
------------------------------------------------------


Whenever I use a leaf blower near my car it causes the interior to fill up with small yard debris. How is this stuff getting in my car? Where is the opening?

1) I checked my cabin air filter. It's clean and seated properly. The clasp holding it in was/is secured tightly as well.

2) Windows up all the way; yes.

3) Doors closed properly; yes.

4) Rubber gaskets around doors,windows: water tight and sealing; yes.

5) Took a look under the dash by removing plastic panel above the pedals; but nothing stands out to me, but I also don't know what I'm looking for.

The debris ends up pretty much everywhere.

Attached is what the plastic panel above the pedals looks like covered in debris. The debris is also on the carpet in the open area under the center of the dash next to the gas pedal (not visible without first removing the plastic panel above the pedals). Difficult to photograph because of lighting conditions.

Does anyone know if the hole above the brake pedal pictured below is normal?

I have another thread about noise coming from this area of the car that sounds like there is an open hole in the firewall. I wonder if the debris is coming from the same opening?
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Last edited by Jax543210; 03-20-2012 at 04:58 PM.. Reason: update
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      03-20-2012, 04:37 PM   #2
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I double checked that opening in the photo above. I can see straight into the engine compartment. WTF?

Does everyone else have an opening like that? I hope not. Anyone know the part number to seal that sucker up?
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      03-20-2012, 05:25 PM   #3
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looks like it'll be a standard body plug. BMW measures those in metric, and length x width (e.g. 25x45mm)

found in group 51 in ETK.

i'll pull mine tonight and see if there is a part number on it.
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      03-20-2012, 05:43 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by v3.2mc View Post
looks like it'll be a standard body plug. BMW measures those in metric, and length x width (e.g. 25x45mm)

found in group 51 in ETK.

i'll pull mine tonight and see if there is a part number on it.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...64&hg=51&fg=80

Is it number 6, part number 51718226005?
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      03-20-2012, 06:32 PM   #5
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possibly. i just looked at mine... the clutch line goes through it from the master and down to the slave. obviously, being an auto, your car is not equipped with this line. it makes sense that BMW would simply plug the hole for the auto cars for production purposes.

unfortunately, i have lent my metric caliper to a friend and do not have one handy. your best bet is to measure the length and width of the hole, and match to the diagram you found in ETK. if you've already measured at 25x45mm, then the PN you listed above should work just fine.
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      03-20-2012, 06:44 PM   #6
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measured: the hole is closer to 30mm x 35mm
That makes me think: number 14 which is 30x 36 or part number 51711872829
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      03-20-2012, 07:24 PM   #7
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yar she blows! order up!
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      03-20-2012, 07:28 PM   #8
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See, I was right! A small gremlin had taken up residence in your car and wrecked some havoc!

Glad you found what is probably the culprit causing those sound issues you've posted about. Good detective work!
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      03-21-2012, 06:08 PM   #9
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Sneaky buggers...who knows where they took the original plug.
Part is on order. Should be here by Friday.
Hopefully there aren't any other gifts from the gremlins lurking about.
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      03-21-2012, 08:18 PM   #10
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In the meant time, 1.5" wide electric tape, or stuff some Styrofoam in it to see if the noise and dirt stops coming in.
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      03-21-2012, 08:49 PM   #11
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Could this be the hole where the non-M Z4 with the sound generator goes?
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      03-23-2012, 12:35 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jax543210 View Post
Sneaky buggers...who knows where they took the original plug.
Part is on order. Should be here by Friday.
Hopefully there aren't any other gifts from the gremlins lurking about.
Did you by any chance get any water in the car from this? I have a recurring wet spot on my carpet, drivers side right below where the hood release handle is, up against the sill............... rained hard today while at work and driving home............... carpet was wet again .............. not a flood, but enough, about 4 inches long along the sill right under the speaker and hood release. I hate trying to isolate these things
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      03-23-2012, 04:19 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by partlowr View Post
Could this be the hole where the non-M Z4 with the sound generator goes?
Nope, the sound generator is in another hole which I also located over the pedals. The sound generator hole is more to the right towards the center of the car.
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      03-23-2012, 04:25 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by antennahead View Post
Did you by any chance get any water in the car from this? I have a recurring wet spot on my carpet, drivers side right below where the hood release handle is, up against the sill............... rained hard today while at work and driving home............... carpet was wet again .............. not a flood, but enough, about 4 inches long along the sill right under the speaker and hood release. I hate trying to isolate these things
No, but I would say it's possible because as I was driving today without the plug (and the cover above the pedals still removed) and I held my hand up against the hole. At highway speeds air pushes through the hole. After driving when the car is parked gobs of engine heat comes through that hole. And a leaf blower was able to blow lawn clippings into the cabin through that hole. So if your wheel arch plastic or your under carriage plastic covers let some water through then I can see water making its way through the hole, although it's probably not the cause of your leak.

Based on your description and looking at other posts in the forums, many cases of water intrusion in the footwell area that you described seem to come from the door. Although it can't hurt to remove a dozen screws and take a look above your pedals.
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      03-23-2012, 04:27 PM   #15
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Plug installed. Very cheap and flimsy and does not fit that tightly. Probably fell out on it's own or due to a bump.

PS
Car was instantly quieter on start-up. The imaginary door that's open under the dash syndrome - gone!

Last edited by Jax543210; 03-23-2012 at 05:06 PM.. Reason: update
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      03-23-2012, 06:19 PM   #16
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What do you think the whole point of the hole was in the first place?

IDK, if it doesn't fit that tight, maybe use some RTV or another adhesive to keep the little bugger in place?
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      03-23-2012, 06:57 PM   #17
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the manual trans cars have the clutch line pass through it. BMW most likely only produced one firewall for all cars.
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      03-23-2012, 07:14 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Finnegan View Post
What do you think the whole point of the hole was in the first place?

IDK, if it doesn't fit that tight, maybe use some RTV or another adhesive to keep the little bugger in place?
Yep, did that because the fit was lousy.
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      03-23-2012, 07:18 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by v3.2mc View Post
the manual trans cars have the clutch line pass through it. BMW most likely only produced one firewall for all cars.
Yep same parts: the plastic cover above the pedals has a cut out for the clutch pedal even though it's an auto. I actual closed off that opening in the plastic panel before I put the panel back in the car since there is no clutch pedal in my car.
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      03-23-2012, 08:25 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jax543210 View Post
No, but I would say it's possible because as I was driving today without the plug (and the cover above the pedals still removed) and I held my hand up against the hole. At highway speeds air pushes through the hole. After driving when the car is parked gobs of engine heat comes through that hole. And a leaf blower was able to blow lawn clippings into the cabin through that hole. So if your wheel arch plastic or your under carriage plastic covers let some water through then I can see water making its way through the hole, although it's probably not the cause of your leak.

Based on your description and looking at other posts in the forums, many cases of water intrusion in the footwell area that you described seem to come from the door. Although it can't hurt to remove a dozen screws and take a look above your pedals.
I've done quite a bit of search reading as well, and most say the door is the culprit................ either the bottom seal or the inner plastic seal behind the door panel thats held on by adhesive. It's weird that it's only in that one area though, and not spread ............. it's probably either from under the door (rubber seal) or running off the roof by the windshield pillar and dripping right on that same spot, another fairly common reported issue................... looks like a weekend project.

John
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