What is this part and why is it dangling in my N54 engine bay? Where does it go?

[Joebie]

Hello,

New N54 owner here. Only owned my car for 2 days so I'm still getting used to where and what everything in the bay is.

When turning the steering wheel of my car I could hear some clunking, upon investigation, there is a plastic piece wedged down near where the steering column that it just lightly hitting the column when you turn the wheel.

When I discovered this I was relieved that its nothing serious dealing with the rack or column, but the problem is, I have no clue what this part is or what it does, or where it is supposed to go.

Here are the best pictures I could snap of it.

Looking down at the steering column area from above the engine. The part in question is wedged below the diverter valves.


Looking up from below the car, drivers side, pic taken from next to the steering rack.


Looking up from below past the steering rack again




It seems like to actually get the part out or fix it I'll have to take the airbox and diverter valves off, its too far up there to wiggle out from the bottom.

Let me know what to do with this part and thank you!

[Joebie]

OK so I took off the parts necessary to get the plastic piece in question out of there and here it is. It is pretty much identical to the part next to it that comes off the charge pipe. I'm just guessing here but the function seems like it might be to protect the engine from excess boost?

The markings in the plastic are as follows

BMW MAHLE
1371 7575658-03
109912 13 DE
70341145

then in other places theres a number 160708

and 70341415

So is there even supposed to be two of these? Or did one of the POs just loose one down in the bay and buy another?

[Dackelone]

That's the sound generator. Its there to route noises into the cabin. Especially on WOT and up shifts.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=13_1254

[Joebie]

Thanks. So are there supposed to be two of them?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Joester

Thanks. So are there supposed to be two of them?

Should only be one on your car. Did your car have two?

[Joebie]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Should only be one on your car. Did your car have two?

Yeah so the part that was causing my steering to clunk was this part. I have the same part attached to the charge pipe as well. So there are two of them.

I guess I have a spare now, lol.

The one that is attached looks newer and shiny compared to the one that was making my steering clunk. I'm guessing a PO just lost it or something and bought a new one.

[Dackelone]

Did you buy your car used? Maybe the previous owner made some mods? lol

[Joebie]

Yeah it's had a few previous owners.

Now I only have 1 sound generator. Maybe the previous owner though that throwing another one in the engine bay would generate more sound? :P

Thanks for the help Dackelone.

[TX135i]

I wasn't aware that the 135 had a sound generator. I'll have to say I'm a little disappointed now.

[dh58]

How heavy is it?

#weightreduction lol... I don't need that!

[Joebie]

Originally Posted by dh58

How heavy is it?

#weightreduction lol... I don't need that!

Its not very heavy, a couple pounds at most. I would be most interested in eliminating it just to free up some room in this cramped engine bay. I'll take any amount of space I can get under this hood!

[dh58]

Can the one that is installed correctly be removed with no issues? I don't need this noise. Am happy to free up space and give the car more breathing room.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by TX135i

I wasn't aware that the 135 had a sound generator. I'll have to say I'm a little disappointed now.

A "Sound Generator" is different than an ASD(Active Sound Design) which, I think is what you are thinking this is. ASD is the fake electronic sounds that get piped into the car's stereo system speakers - on newer BMW models.

A sound generator is more analog... it just lets some of the intake noises into the cabin. Just like how BMW uses thinner(or none) insulation under the hood to let more "sounds" into the car. Because they know the owner of a sport car will want some of these types of "noises".

[Joebie]

Originally Posted by dh58

Can the one that is installed correctly be removed with no issues? I don't need this noise. Am happy to free up space and give the car more breathing room.

I don't see why not. You would need to somehow cap off where it comes off the intake though or you will have the biggest boost leak in the history of mankind.

[TX135i]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

A "Sound Generator" is different than an ASD(Active Sound Design) which, I think is what you are thinking this is. ASD is the fake electronic sounds that get piped into the car's stereo system speakers - on newer BMW models.

A sound generator is more analog... it just lets some of the intake noises into the cabin. Just like how BMW uses thinner(or none) insulation under the hood to let more "sounds" into the car. Because they know the owner of a sport car will want some of these types of "noises".

OK, thanks Dack! You were right about what I was thinking....I feel so much better now!

[dh58]

Originally Posted by Joester

I don't see why not. You would need to somehow cap off where it comes off the intake though or you will have the biggest boost leak in the history of mankind.

Ahhh... could you show where its connected to the intake? I don't remember seeing it from the front intake?

[Joebie]

Originally Posted by dh58

Ahhh... could you show where its connected to the intake? I don't remember seeing it from the front intake?

Just go look down by your diverter valves and you will see the plastic sound generator hanging off the charge pipe.

[dh58]

Originally Posted by Joester

Just go look down by your diverter valves and you will see the plastic sound generator hanging off the charge pipe.

ahh! thank you