Did this part just fall off? Was it stolen? What?

I have a 645. It's about 8 years old. I got it new, and it still drives well.

Today I noticed that the black covers that house/surround the fog lights and shield the interior of the car, are missing. Both sides are missing.

It seems odd to have both sides missing. I believe it must have happened over the last week, since I periodically check my car.

Now, I haven't bumped into anything, but I don't know if anyone has bumped into my car so hard that the covers would fall off. I think that would do some damage that I would have noticed. No damage.

I also don't recall going over major potholes, but I don't remember all major potholes I've driven over. This seems like the likely scenario.

So....

Over time, does this part fall off? What are the likelihood that the parts were stolen? But, that doesn't make sense either. Why would you steal such a cheap part(s)? Do people do that?

Perhaps a much larger question, my car is about 8 years old. 645/650s have been around long enough so that there's a number of them on the road, and BMW has discontinued the design-look (for a new one). Does this mean I can expect thieves pilfering parts off my car that BMW no longer makes?

thanks.


Oh, and does this problem need to be urgently fixed? Or can I wait?


thanks again.

Originally Posted by gtdriver

I have a 645. It's about 8 years old. I got it new, and it still drives well.

Today I noticed that the black covers that house/surround the fog lights and shield the interior of the car, are missing. Both sides are missing.

It seems odd to have both sides missing. I believe it must have happened over the last week, since I periodically check my car.

Now, I haven't bumped into anything, but I don't know if anyone has bumped into my car so hard that the covers would fall off. I think that would do some damage that I would have noticed. No damage.

I also don't recall going over major potholes, but I don't remember all major potholes I've driven over. This seems like the likely scenario.

So....

Over time, does this part fall off? What are the likelihood that the parts were stolen? But, that doesn't make sense either. Why would you steal such a cheap part(s)? Do people do that?

Perhaps a much larger question, my car is about 8 years old. 645/650s have been around long enough so that there's a number of them on the road, and BMW has discontinued the design-look (for a new one). Does this mean I can expect thieves pilfering parts off my car that BMW no longer makes?

thanks.


Oh, and does this problem need to be urgently fixed? Or can I wait?


thanks again.

I assume you mean the left and right square panels on either side of the lower grill?

I had to replace them on my '07. They clip in and I think they can come out over time. Replacements are about $25.00 ea at the dealer.

I put a small amount of glue in this time so they stay there.

BMW are making parts for cars that were around in the 1970s & 1980s, hey may be ,along parts for cars a lot older too. Lack of availability is not going to be the driver for parts being stolen.
It seems like an odd piece to steal, usually the type of parts that get stolen are parts that's get damaged. It would be strange for these panels to get damaged without the fog lights getting damaged too, so if they were stolen surely they would have taken the fog lights too?

Those covers are about $25 each. Maybe the clips broke? Has the front end of the car ever been repaired? They might not have been refitted correctly then & eventually fell out?

Originally Posted by roseng

I assume you mean the left and right square panels on either side of the lower grill?

I had to replace them on my '07. They clip in and I think they can come out over time. Replacements are about $25.00 ea at the dealer.

I put a small amount of glue in this time so they stay there.

Dude, this link is F-ing awesome. Thanks.

Anyways, I mean the stuff around #2:

http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?1/09/46/40

So 2 points to the fog light, you see the flat area and the housing immediately surrounding the fog light? Not exactly square.

I don't know if we are talking about the same thing, but that's the thing I need replaced. It's just odd to me that they would both fall off. I think it's a bump in the road that did it, but I can't rule out crazy people. Someone brushed my car at work. At work!! You think the lot would be filled with careful and courteous professionals. Sigh.....

(I don't think the trim coming off is related to the bumper brush. The brush is too light to have lodged the trimming. But, you never know.)

Originally Posted by rebel.ranter

BMW are making parts for cars that were around in the 1970s & 1980s, hey may be ,along parts for cars a lot older too. Lack of availability is not going to be the driver for parts being stolen.
It seems like an odd piece to steal, usually the type of parts that get stolen are parts that's get damaged. It would be strange for these panels to get damaged without the fog lights getting damaged too, so if they were stolen surely they would have taken the fog lights too?

Those covers are about $25 each. Maybe the clips broke? Has the front end of the car ever been repaired? They might not have been refitted correctly then & eventually fell out?

Yes, thanks for that. I would think so too, but I had to ask. And people are f-ing weird. I bought some BMW valve caps just for kicks and put them on my car. One day I noticed that they were missing. So who knows? I figure some arts and crafts students thought the trim would be perfect for their art project. 8) (I live near a college.)

It takes some effort to get those out, so I think someone decided to borrow them from you. If they had been removed several times, the clips could have been damaged. You usually have to slide a screwdriver in the hole to remove them.

I lost mine to a parking stop. I was in a parking spot waiting on curbside delivery. I knew I bumped the stop slightly but didn't think anything of it. The next morning when I went to jump in the car I looked down and notice the covers missing, but like rebel said they only $25, no biggie.

I noticed the drivers side missing the other day, I think someone must not have $25 and needed one pretty bad.

I pulled up to far on a curb one day, and did not notice, until I was backing out and heard the lip underneath catch on the curb. I grimaced then left. The next day I noticed the same part you are talking about missing from my passenger side. I thought abou tit and realized it may have popped out when I pulled out form that parking spot. I drove back up to where I had parked and sure enough it was in the bushes in front of where my car was sitting. It just popped out due to the flex in the bumper as i pulled away. I can imagine this happening pretty easy and not thinking about it, especially if you are leaving in a hurry.

PECK What kind of rims are those on your 6. Thoes are beuatiful!

houbmw-cm,

Thanks!

The wheels are 20" MRR GT-7
I got them from Bavarian X with Continental DWS tires mounted and balanced and shipped to my house for $2100.