[Jon117]

Hope the new owners can address this. A review by Carwow ( at the 6:25 mark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxsBUkm9vBs) pointed that they couldn't see the inlet for the air breather in the wheel arch.

I also spotted one in NYC yesterday and tried to examine it in limited time, without trying to look too awkward, but couldn't find it as well.

Definitely hope BMW is following function over form.

[Green///Hell]

It's just aesthetic now

[northtorque]

I saw the same carwow video.... i found it amusing that he looked in the wheel-well for the vent source. Heat "venting" would by definition imply having to vent the source of the heat - thus vent would be from engine bay to outside (excluding funky ducted brake systems of course). (pun intended) That said I too was told that the "vent" is just cosmetic.

[Jon117]

On page 17 of the linked brochure, it says it’s functional but nobody can seem to figure out where the air is entering into the air breather

https://www.bmw.se/content/dam/bmw/m...6789577810.pdf

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by Jon117

On page 17 of the linked brochure, it says it’s functional but nobody can seem to figure out where the air is entering into the air breather

https://www.bmw.se/content/dam/bmw/m...6789577810.pdf

The engine compartment. They're functional heat extraction vents, not wheel well aero curtains.

[Jon117]

Originally Posted by lemetier

The engine compartment. They're functional heat extraction vents, not wheel well aero curtains.

Per the brochure:

“The M gills with model logo ensure optimal airflow around the wheel arches thanks to an integrated Air Breather. At the same time, the pronounced three-dimensional look underscores the M line’s distinctive combination of technical perfection and breathtaking design.“

Air breather = air curtain

So again, can anyone verify where the side gills/air breather are lead from in the wheel arch?

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by Jon117

So again, can anyone verify where the side gills/air breather are lead from in the wheel arch?

Since you're new here, I'll go easy. The brochure content is wrong. The correct answer is above.

[advantage20]

Originally Posted by Jon117

Air breather = air curtain

Actually there are at least 3 vent types in BMW lingo:

- Air Curtain: at the lower extremeties of the front bumper, installed on all models since the F30 3 Series if I recall (functional).
- Air Breather: on the lower part of the front wings just behind the front wheels (usually functional but not always, e.g. G01 X3 as reported).
- M Gills: usually on the higher part of the front wings, but sometimes lower, e.g. X5M/X6M or the just revealed M2C carbon front wings (usually functional but not always as I've understood). M Gills delete and replace the Air Breathers.

[Jon117]

Originally Posted by lemetier

Since you're new here, I'll go easy. The brochure content is wrong. The correct answer is above.

I think that’s a little presumptuous to say wihout confirming with evidence to prove otherwise. All the PR material seems to point that they are functional (https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1435474) based on this quote as referencing them as "air breathers:"

"The front kidney grilles and air breather trim side grilles..."

I'm looking to see if anyone can technically prove/disprove that they are functional.

[Jon117]

Still trying to get a clear answer on this. For those that have swapped out the OEM wheels, do you have any shots of wheel well without the tire?

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by Jon117

Still trying to get a clear answer on this. For those that have swapped out the OEM wheels, do you have any shots of wheel well without the tire?

You've been given one already. The ducts are fed from the engine compartment (the additional ridges in the hood provide a path for hot air to be pulled aft from above the Heat Exchangers, past the Radiator Coolant Expansion Tank on the left side, Heat Exchanger Coolant Expansion Tank on he right, and when it's cold soaked and frozen, helps thaw the washer reservoir on that side too. It all exits through the two big holes in the fenders. Notice the evaporation pattern in the first pic.

So once again, there is NO inlet for them in the wheel well.