[newoldbeemer]

So I drove from San Jose to Los Angeles with family and at the end of the day was just driving into the hotel opposite Disneyland, I hear a big metallic clunk. No warning or alert light or anything.

Parked the car, put th family in a room and looked under. It turned out to be a panel that had lost a few nuts and was dragging by one side. (See attachment one).

I called roadside assistance and they sent a tow truck but the dealer opens only Monday. The tow truck guy came, looked at the problem and he suggested it's just a panel, I can just drive without it for now. It seemed to be one of the panels holding the exhaust pipe, but the exhaust pipe was still pretty firm in it place. This looked like a kind of fallback panel, not what's primarily holding it in place.

Question is, I have a choice now - to take the tow truck guys advice and go ahead with the vacation. Or, option 2 I could sacrifice one day out f the vacation and go to bmw on Monday (I have to drive back Tuesday).

What would you do?

Attaching pics of the panel.

[live4wknds]

i'd wait until i'm back home and then schedule a visit with my dealer...

[HFW003]

No biggy, do it when you get home.

[F32]

Wow. Really?

It's a frikkin panel.

[Sephanite]

you got your answer

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by Sephanite

you got your answer

+1

[newoldbeemer]

Thanks guys. I was wondering if it's some kind of important panel that holds something in place or protects a part of the exhaust pipe or something like that, so just wanted to check for others opinion before I decide to drive another 400 miles without getting it fixed.

[DesertSmokeBBQ]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

Thanks guys. I was wondering if it's some kind of important panel that holds something in place or protects a part of the exhaust pipe or something like that, so just wanted to check for others opinion before I decide to drive another 400 miles without getting it fixed.

I'd say "fling the keys into the ocean and start over with a new car.

[pz619]

If I learned anything from The Fast and the Furious, danger to the manifold could result in under car panels unbolting and falling loose.

Honestly wait till you are back. I'm sure it's fine.

[dreamspeed]

Like others are saying, enjoy your vacation and worry about it later.

1. You are probably taking the 5 back up to San Jose, not some kind of dirt road.

2. Undercar panels are usually just for aero or slight protection. Not having it won't really affect anything.

[newoldbeemer]

Yes I am taking the 5 back to Bay Area.
Thanks again!

[drob23]

It's there to prevent the exhaust from falling if the rubber hangers were to go out. Not a big deal in the slightest. Should be right after the cats or downpipes. I've also seen upgraded versions of these braces marketed as chassis stiffening, not sure I buy it.

Just installed a hitch a few hours ago on the ladyfriend's GTI which involved dropping the exhaust from the hangers pretty much all the way up to this brace. Even with all the hangers disconnected, it was still not touching this brace (though had a floor jack there just in case).

[Philipangoo]

Weight reduction mod! Lol but seriously it looks like just a piece that functions as a heat shield or some sort of streamlining underpanel for aerodynamics. Nothing serious, but its pretty crazy that it came undone in the first place. Did you bring your car in for service recently ?

[newoldbeemer]

Well I had m performance suspension installed recently and then I had the car reprogrammed for drivetrain malfunction. I'm not aware that either of these involve taking apart the underside of the car..

Update: I've driven 500 miles after that, no problem

[btbossman]

Ive driven almost 2k miles without it on and NO issues. I removed it because my Meisterschaft exhaust piping was too large and was chaffing the plate causing horrendous vibrations in my car. From everything I have heard it is useless.