Question about 2nd vent from left (for left-hand drive cars)

tranquility · 08-02-2010, 09:56 PM

What is that metal bar inside (please see photo, I tried to circle it in red, the diagonal one *inside*, not the outside grill):

Is it normal?

MDLFCS · 08-03-2010, 02:20 AM

This appears to be a premium-looking appearance or a luxury touch. It is more painted, than a metal bar.

Yes, it is normal. Otherwise, you move the bar up and down as well as sideways to adjust the direction of air flow.

Otago · 08-03-2010, 03:47 AM

sensor?

tranquility · 08-03-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDLFCS

This appears to be a premium-looking appearance or a luxury touch. It is more painted, than a metal bar.

Yes, it is normal. Otherwise, you move the bar up and down as well as sideways to adjust the direction of air flow.

I'm referring to the diagonal bar inside the vent, not the horizontal/vertical bars. Thx.

juhap · 08-03-2010, 12:56 PM

It serves no purpose. It was put in there only to annoy you

I have it too. Not that I had ever noticed it until you asked.

mcbeee · 08-03-2010, 01:00 PM

It looks like a temp sensor of some sort.

Why do you need to know?

tranquility · 08-03-2010, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juhap

It serves no purpose. It was put in there only to annoy you

I have it too. Not that I had ever noticed it until you asked.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcbeee

It looks like a temp sensor of some sort.

Why do you need to know?

Just wanted to know if it was a loose part for me, but since you guys have it, I guess it's a normal design...whatever that part is...

Thx.

Rubber Ducky · 08-04-2010, 05:21 AM

It's a thingee. All cars have them.

jc-e89 · 08-05-2010, 05:41 AM

i'm not sure if i have it. let me check my options list...

cdeslandes · 08-05-2010, 09:54 AM

It's just the liquid helium coolant line for the flux capacitor...

Silver-Bolt · 08-05-2010, 01:53 PM

Live video feed to the IRS.

cdeslandes · 08-05-2010, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver-Bolt

Live video feed to the IRS.

God, I hope not...

mcbeee · 08-05-2010, 04:30 PM

C'mon guys, stop fooling around, we all know it's really the detonator cap for the auto destruct mechanism. The 60 second timer starts at one minute past warranty expiration.

tranquility · 08-05-2010, 10:34 PM

Hey, I just thought that it was weird to have a diagonal metal bar inside. It looks odd.

Silver-Bolt · 08-06-2010, 09:17 AM

Just a guess but it may be an air quality sensor. Outside air is shut down when polution levels are too high.

CaliSun · 08-06-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

God, I hope not...

Better than a live video feed to the highway patrol!

fisherman · 08-06-2010, 12:11 PM

Could it be the receiving microphone for the voice recognition system ? Tried the voice rec for the first time today, and it really works !

tranquility · 08-06-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisherman

Could it be the receiving microphone for the voice recognition system ? Tried the voice rec for the first time today, and it really works !

I always thought that the mic would be on the steering wheel somewhere? If the mic's in the vent, wouldn't the noise interfere w/ its reception?

fisherman · 08-06-2010, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

I always thought that the mic would be on the steering wheel somewhere? If the mic's in the vent, wouldn't the noise interfere w/ its reception?

I think the special BMW airflow noise cancelling system would then kick in and eliminate any ambient noise.
I'm a rookie ( 350 miles ) , so I can say dumb stuff for a couple more weeks and get away with it.
After that, I'll have finally made it through the owners manual and tested everything...

teagueAMX · 08-06-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisherman

I'm a rookie ( 350 miles ) , so I can say dumb stuff for a couple more weeks and get away with it.

tranquility · 08-07-2010, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisherman

I think the special BMW airflow noise cancelling system would then kick in and eliminate any ambient noise.
I'm a rookie ( 350 miles ) , so I can say dumb stuff for a couple more weeks and get away with it.
After that, I'll have finally made it through the owners manual and tested everything...

LOL, you had me going and I was gonna write a quick rebuttal to that.

mcbeee · 08-07-2010, 06:04 PM

Sooner or later someone will get hold of the exploded view parts list and tell us wtf it really is so we can all sleep at night .......

08-02-2010, 09:56 PM	#1
tranquility sportscars only 3244 Rep 3,195 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	Question about 2nd vent from left (for left-hand drive cars) What is that metal bar inside (please see photo, I tried to circle it in red, the diagonal one inside, not the outside grill): Is it normal? Attached Images Last edited by tranquility; 08-03-2010 at 10:28 AM..
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08-03-2010, 02:20 AM	#2
MDLFCS Private First Class 14 Rep 168 Posts Drives: 2009 Zee Four 35i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alaska iTrader: (0)	This appears to be a premium-looking appearance or a luxury touch. It is more painted, than a metal bar. Yes, it is normal. Otherwise, you move the bar up and down as well as sideways to adjust the direction of air flow.
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08-03-2010, 03:47 AM	#3
Otago Second Lieutenant 23 Rep 244 Posts Drives: 09 Z4 sDrive 30i manual Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0)	sensor?
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08-03-2010, 12:56 PM	#5
juhap Lieutenant 14 Rep 530 Posts Drives: sDrive35i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Finland iTrader: (0)	It serves no purpose. It was put in there only to annoy you I have it too. Not that I had ever noticed it until you asked.
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08-03-2010, 01:00 PM	#6
mcbeee Lieutenant 5 Rep 446 Posts Drives: '09 Z4 s35i & '03 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 Z4 3.0i [5.00] 2001 Z3 3.0i [0.00] 2009 Z4 s35i [7.00]	It looks like a temp sensor of some sort. Why do you need to know? __________________ Member ZSCCA 2009 Z4 s35i with Dinan Stage II software, Sport and Exec packages, 19" 296 rims , a stubby and mud flaps '03 Z4 3.0i Sterling Grey (Hers) '01 Z3 3.0i Sapphire Black, M sport package (Mine)
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08-04-2010, 05:21 AM	#8
Rubber Ducky Lieutenant 47 Rep 519 Posts Drives: 2020 M340i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cocoa Beach FL iTrader: (1)	It's a thingee. All cars have them.
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08-05-2010, 05:41 AM	#9
jc-e89 Private 6 Rep 56 Posts Drives: BMW e89 z4 35i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Australia iTrader: (1)	i'm not sure if i have it. let me check my options list...
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08-05-2010, 09:54 AM	#10
cdeslandes Captain 27 Rep 676 Posts Drives: 2010 Z4 s35i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Jeep Wrangler ... [0.00] 2013 Volvo XC90 [0.00] 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35i [8.67]	It's just the liquid helium coolant line for the flux capacitor... __________________ 2010 BMW Z4 s35i 2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2013 Volvo XC90
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08-05-2010, 01:53 PM	#11
Silver-Bolt Captain 26 Rep 805 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 35is Melbourne Red Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 Z4 35is [9.00]	Live video feed to the IRS.
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08-05-2010, 04:30 PM	#13
mcbeee Lieutenant 5 Rep 446 Posts Drives: '09 Z4 s35i & '03 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 Z4 3.0i [5.00] 2001 Z3 3.0i [0.00] 2009 Z4 s35i [7.00]	C'mon guys, stop fooling around, we all know it's really the detonator cap for the auto destruct mechanism. The 60 second timer starts at one minute past warranty expiration. __________________ Member ZSCCA 2009 Z4 s35i with Dinan Stage II software, Sport and Exec packages, 19" 296 rims , a stubby and mud flaps '03 Z4 3.0i Sterling Grey (Hers) '01 Z3 3.0i Sapphire Black, M sport package (Mine)
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08-05-2010, 10:34 PM	#14
tranquility sportscars only 3244 Rep 3,195 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	Hey, I just thought that it was weird to have a diagonal metal bar inside. It looks odd.
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08-06-2010, 09:17 AM	#15
Silver-Bolt Captain 26 Rep 805 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 35is Melbourne Red Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 Z4 35is [9.00]	Just a guess but it may be an air quality sensor. Outside air is shut down when polution levels are too high.
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08-06-2010, 12:11 PM	#17
fisherman Private 2 Rep 92 Posts Drives: 2011 sDrive 30i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: RI iTrader: (0)	Could it be the receiving microphone for the voice recognition system ? Tried the voice rec for the first time today, and it really works !
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08-07-2010, 06:04 PM	#22
mcbeee Lieutenant 5 Rep 446 Posts Drives: '09 Z4 s35i & '03 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 Z4 3.0i [5.00] 2001 Z3 3.0i [0.00] 2009 Z4 s35i [7.00]	Sooner or later someone will get hold of the exploded view parts list and tell us wtf it really is so we can all sleep at night ....... __________________ Member ZSCCA 2009 Z4 s35i with Dinan Stage II software, Sport and Exec packages, 19" 296 rims , a stubby and mud flaps '03 Z4 3.0i Sterling Grey (Hers) '01 Z3 3.0i Sapphire Black, M sport package (Mine)
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