Under Hood Insulation Frustration

[73tiiDavidPA]

Just stopped by the BMW dealer to pick up my under hood insulation kit that I ordered for my '73 tii a month or two ago (part 51-48-1-805-775, $69.04). Counter guy was not too pleasant, especially when I told him that this can't be the correct part.

The kit is tagged correctly, even a Mobile Tradition sticker or printing on the label. What's inside is totally wrong. All the pieces are very new looking foam and perhaps a tad too thick with sticky back paper on one side. Beyond that the two side pieces are shorter then the middle, which is wrong, and the middle piece is curved at the front and sort of trapezoid in shape.

After getting the parts guy to look up the part and see the picture he said he would re-order. Hopefully this is just a bag and tag mistake by some warehouse guy. If not, I've lost a lot of confidence in Mobile Tradition.

Anyone else order a hood insulation kit from the dealer lately? Thanks for letting me vent.

David

'73 tii - Verona, stock, fun!

[02fanatic]

It's been awhile, but I had done some research on the underbonnet foam, and as I recall there are two skinny rectangular pieces and one fatter rectangular piece. The fat piece DOES NOT go in the middle. It goes on the pass side of the bonnet where there is more space from the brace and the kink in the sheet metal along the outer edge. The center piece is suppose to be rotated 90-degrees and placed down under the torsion bar between the bonnet braces. The third skinny piece fits nicely between the brace and the outer edges on the driver side.

I have a write up on the placement and a pic at home...I can send to you later if you like.

From your description of what you received, something doesn't sound right. I bought my foam from Bavarian Autosport (BMW p/n's) but they actually had the pieces listed incorrectly in their catalog.

Let me know if you need more help on this...like I said "very few" people install the underbonnet foam correctly (at least per original BMW)!

Hope this helps,

John

[73tiiDavidPA]

John,

If you have a photo or instructions that would be great!

[nealf]

I was in Main Line this morning to pick up an oil filter for my 2800CS and asked if they had a Mobile Tradition catalog and his reply was "no, and BMW is phasing out those parts as well. Get them from your car club" Wonder if the manager would share his lack of enthusiasm for a sale...

Neal Friedant

'73 2002

'70 2800CS

'90 535i

[73tiiDavidPA]

The younger guy with glasses closest to the cashier, or the older guy nearest the door? My gruff parts guy was the guy with glasses. When he began looking up the part on the PC I tried to step around sort of behind the counter to see the part diagram on the screen and he very sternly said I must stay back there, I can't come back there...

I felt like telling him Foxtrot Oscar....

I guess they keep national secrets behind the counter.

[John_in_VA]

As John said, the center piece is positioned down to the front edge of the hood, while the side pieces are positioned to touch the line of demarcation at the upper edge.

I got some skinned foam product from a heat/AC place to cover the entire under surface. Others said you might find this at the big-box home centers.

[Tilux]

I bought a set recently, too, from the dealer. In no way, shape, or form can that work without cutting it up.

Coincidentally, I was looking at the under hood of my 633 CSi and that stupid curved piece would fit perfectly in the center of that hood.

Drat!

[02fanatic]

Correction to what I said earlier...there is suppose to be two of the larger foam piece and only one small piece.....

John

[Guest Anonymous]

I have the foam pieces on my 72 and the turbo has the foil faced, which I much prefer. BMP's "Classic" catalog shows the foil pics. I think about $70 for the kit. one of my problems with the gray foam is that my breather pipe came off and it discolored the foam.

[Guest Anonymous]

guess he was having a bad day.....

[SteveJ]

Having a bad day or whatever.

Vote with your dollar. If they don't want your vote, take it elsewhere.

What is the saying? Those that do not remember(or learn from) the past will be doomed to repeat it. In other words, if these dealers don't remember the lean, pre-yuppie years of BMW, well...maybe they just need to go back to those times. I'm sure there are other companies that want your vote, er...dollar.

I think the LAST thing I bought at a BMW dealer was a key fob for the wifes 328 about 2 years ago. Not a bad experience. Just like any trip to the dentist.