Dropped ring in windshield defrost vent 2008 BMW 128i

[bimmer2008182i]

Hey everyone,

I dropped a diamond engagement ring in the windshield defrost vent for my 2008 BMW 128i. I have tried using a scope camera but no luck on any visuals. Wondering if anyone knew where it could have ended up, my first guess was the cabin air filter but from my understanding this is under the hood of the car and not inside the cabin (I might be wrong)? I haven't had any luck with diagrams or online forums and kind of stuck on what to do to try to get it out. Any help would be appreciated!

[N55e82Simon]

I have no idea where it would go but that sucks. At least you kinda know it’s not lost. An idea would be to tie a string to a washer of similar size and drop it in. Then follow the string with a scope and hopefully find the ring. Could also try removing the cabin filter and scoping from that side. I’m not exactly sure where the bottom of the system is but it probably found its way to that area. Good luck

[tracer bullet]

You could try the "realoem" site. It's got part numbers for just about everything in the car. It might (or not) kind of show you the shape of everything, which might then give you an idea of where it could have gone?

You mentioned diagrams, but if you haven't tried there I'd give it a shot. Just be aware it's super full of ads.

Yes, our cabin filters are accessed with the hood up, they are located at the base of the windshield.

[spidertri]

That sucks for sure.

Do you know which vent setting it was set to when it dropped in there? If the defrost weren't selected then the flaps should have been closed and the ring may just be sitting on top of the closed flap in the middle of the dashboard.

I've been trying to find good pictures of how the ducts interact with the dash vent and the best I've found is this pic of the underside, red circle is the two middle vents that go up to the defrost at the top.

This thread (https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1645334) has awesome pictures linked to show before/after the dashboard is removed showing the HVAC module.

View post on imgur.com

[jdt10768]

try the scope from the cabin air filter side (under hood)
Does the fiance know about this ?? best of luck !

[iminhell1]

Go from the blower motor relay or the blower motor. Those are going to be your best bets. Shine a bright light down from the defrost to guide the camera. I believe you're going to have a blend door in the way but if you set the hvac to defrost it should stay open with the car off.
Don't force anything. If you break a blend door actuator you're pulling the entire dash to replace it.

[tracer bullet]

Hope if the OP ever comes back to read the answers here they also eventually follow up.

[jwolf]

I love my 135i, but I never put a ring on it. Respect for bimmber2008!

[e4603]

Originally Posted by iminhell1

Go from the blower motor relay or the blower motor.

I concur. Removing the blower motor is fairly easy.