What is this part?

[Jheard]

First sorry if this is posted in the wrong place. I am new to the BMW club. I just got a 2011 135i and when I got it it had a torn up serpentine belt. So in replacing it I found that the power steering pulley had come off. So to fix it I removed the electric fan. So this part is oddly unsupported and just hanging here. What is it and where should it be connected to?
It is just hanging and pushing on the intercooler.
Thanks you for your help

[scratchgolf135]

That’s your trans cooler. Should be able to find some good pics online for how to mount it back up

[NorthernDancer]

HIGHLY recommend you find a very good BMW independent garage as soon as possible. You don't want to be taking your car to Joe's corner garage, you want someone who knows and works on BMW's every day. BMWCCA has clubs in San Fran and Sacramento.

[Jheard]

Thank you! I dont know why it is not mounted correctly but now I can figure it out.

[1and1]

Yep, that's the trans cooler, and it mounts to the lower part of the fan shroud, pretty much where and as it is sitting in the pic above. There is one small torx screw that holds it in place which you should be able to locate pretty easily.

[Jheard]

What is the failure point on these or how can this be upgraded. It feels like it is so jammed in there that it is just looking to fail and blow up all over the underside of my car.

[1and1]

I don't recall hearing about an OE trans cooler failing often enough to really be a concern for the normal daily driver folks...

You can convert to a generic oil cooler configuration for more efficiency. This works really well if matched with a 1m rep bumper and 1m ducting, with one side for the stock oil cooler and the uprated trans cooler on the drivers side.

Here's a random example, but there are lots out there:
https://burgertuning.com/products/n5...mission-cooler


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