What's this cosmoline stuff found in the engine bay of 1M?

[YoungGuns]

Hey guys, please excuse me if this sounds like a noob question. But I've read that some 1M owners have removed the wax like cosmoline from the engine bay. I've noticed it in several places... kinda like yellowy wax. Googled it bit and says it has to do with preserving machinery and such. If that's the case, why is it that I haven't seen the substance in other cars? Is it important to remove?

Thanks

[Papethova]

Its used for shipping across the Atlantic.

Its meant to be removed, but it usually just melts and seeps out on its own. You can remove as much as you can just to prevent it from running along your paint and making a mess.

[JimD]

It may continue to come out for the first summer. I had some come out of the doors of my 128 for awhile. It seems like it is just wax. It comes off pretty easily but isn't real attractive.

Jim

[YoungGuns]

Oh okay thanks guys! I was reading up that they were dipping guns from WWI n II in cosmoline n it was painstaking to remove. Pape do you know how they apply it to the cars? Is it just the parts in the Engine bay?

Thanks again

[Papethova]

If I recall correctly I think the entire vehicle is covered with a layer of it.

Then at the port (VPC) the layer is removed but the cosmoline in the cracks and crevices remains. Then as mentioned before during the warmer months it starts to melt and run out.

Its most noticeable on the sideskirt underneath the doors. My 135 leaked for almost 2 years.

[Papethova]

Here is a pic of a coated car.

This link explains some of the process http://www.e90post.com/vpc/index.asp.htm

[YoungGuns]

Originally Posted by Papethova

If I recall correctly I think the entire vehicle is covered with a layer of it.

Then at the port (VPC) the layer is removed but the cosmoline in the cracks and crevices remains. Then as mentioned before during the warmer months it starts to melt and run out.

Its most noticeable on the sideskirt underneath the doors. My 135 leaked for almost 2 years.

Thanks a lot Pape, went thru the link you gave me, I had no idea that they wax all bmws to be shipped from Germany. That's a lotta work