What the HE!! is this?

Ok so yesterday took my 335x in for my free Brakeflush and an o2 sensor wire repair (also since they just did wire repair, it seems like my gas milage is worse now then ever before!). Picked it up today then once I'd gotten all the way home hit the right turn single "DING... Rear right Brake light malfunction" Turn around dealer bumps me in front of like 20 people and I'm out in an hour, np sH* happens.

So here's where it gets nuts, driving maybe 30 miles since picking it up wicked loud metal noise! I pull over, systems are all OK, no lights nothing. But opening the door, and right below where the xdrive badge is, I see a metal piece sticking out. I yanked a little bit, and it comes right out systems are all still fine. I get home and look underneath trying to locate:
a. where it would have come from
b. why would it be stuck to an area where there are no signs of it coming apart/ or even fitting

Here is a clickable picture of the unwelcome guest.



Here is a pic of how it sat before I pulled it (so just a little yank and it came right off (drivers door)). If anyone knows if this is a BMW part then its 100% on the dealer, and I'd like it replaced especially if it was protecting something. If this is just some random road piece, no biggie.



Thanks for any help

lol all our amazing experts I put more faith in then my dealer maybe you guys need some incentive I'll be auctioning off the piece of bimmerfest east

im stumped. I'm guessing something off the exhaust, but it's a shot in the dark. Get the car in the air and get under the car and take a good look.

road debri

Originally Posted by Joe in Dublin

road debri

Ran over metal piece causing it to bounce up. Got stuck in plastic aero shield under car.

Maybe.

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

Ran over metal piece causing it to bounce up. Got stuck in plastic aero shield under car.

Maybe.

lol thats what I'm thinking... I was driving over 50 when it started, so if it came off the exhaust that would have to take a pretty crazy bounce to get to the front left of the car (but stranger things have happened lol). I'll be at the dealer today, or tomorrow such a waste of my after work nap time.

Thanks for the ideas guys

Like suggested, get under the car and see if anything looks like it is missing that piece. The majority of items under the car that you can "see" are going to be black plastic. Doesn't look like a part of the suspension, so like someone said, unless it is part of the exhaust I'd assume this is a road debris you picked up.

Debri for sure, looks like its been bounced down the road for awhile, to thin and wrong material for suspension, looks like a piece if heat shield..

Originally Posted by Joe in Dublin

Debri for sure, looks like its been bounced down the road for awhile, to thin and wrong material for suspension, looks like a piece if heat shield..

I didn't even need to go back out, but I don't like being past a 1/4 of a tank, and wanted it full

Heat Shield would be my guess.

SA never has seen anything like it they're throwing it on the rack now for me

had me come back and look with them, nothing they said I really lucked out with how big that piece was

Thanks for the help boys I hope I never need it again.

Maybe somebody's producing chastity belts for men and some guy got one off and threw it out the window.

(sorry... )

That's a heat shield off of an exhaust system.

Only BMW doesn't place them on their cars. The heat shields on bimmers are on the body and don't look like that.
So it musta come from the road.