Part number for the Reinforcement Plate Bolts

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by aureliusmax

From a practical engineering standpoint, I don't see any proof of that actually occurring. Given the size of the frame, materials, etc and a number of other manufacturers that don't have this plate.
I can see it acting as a stiffening brace and a skid plate from off road debris, but if that thin plate is not there having the front frame crack in half is just preposterous.

Seems you don't care to take the advice of BMW engineers - your call.

It's works like the thin diagonal brace in wall framing in a house - it prevents the shape from twisting (and cracking the welded joints).

But hey, it's your car.

[aureliusmax]

Originally Posted by wpoll

Seems you don't care to take the advice of BMW engineers - your call.

It's works like the thin diagonal brace in wall framing in a house - it prevents the shape from twisting (and cracking the welded joints).

But hey, it's your car.

BMW engineers are quite a failed lot. Cost cutting without passing savings onto the customer, replace heavy duty metal pieces with plastic components, hollowing out quality of materials...
and Don't change your transmission fluid, it's "life-time"
can go watch scotty kilmer on youtube to find out why BMW's are some of the worse quality mechanically engineered cars for dependability .

How many have you seen on E53 with the brace removed with cracked welds ? This is a 20 year old car there should be enough instances by now.

[cn90]

1+,

Agree with @aureliusmax.

While investigating an oil leak, I left out this aluminum plate for weeks while chasing the leak (turned out to be the return hose to the PS Pump, easy fix).
I drove around for weeks w/o the plate.
Zero issues whatsoever. Yes, I re-used the bolts a few times. Zero issues.

E46 3-series has no plate, E39 5-series has no plate, E83 X3 has a tiny plate.

Every time there is a thread like this, there are armchair generals coming out saying:
- You must use new bolts.
- You must drive with the plate.
Or the sky will be falling....These are the people that believe the BMW engineers like a Bible.

Then there are those of us who don't believe everything BMW engineers tell us. We challenge their wisdom...

This topic (re-use the bolt, and can one drive without the plate) has been beaten to death. For more entertainment, people should search for that thread.

PS: if we want to advance society, we need to challenge the conventional wisdom...

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by cn90

...

Every time there is a thread like this, there are armchair generals coming out saying:
- You must use new bolts.
- You must drive with the plate.
Or the sky will be falling....These are the people that believe the BMW engineers like a Bible. ...

I never said you must use new bolts (and I don't).

I did say you should never drive without the plate installed. Guilty as charged. Was quoting BMW on that...

I never said anything about the sky or the bible... or believing everything BMW say. Which I don't.

What I WAS trying to say (and I didn't make the point very well) - just because we don't understand the reason for a design consideration doesn't make it wrong.

Again, wild guess on my part - the X5 was marketed as an all-road vehicle (unlike the e46 for example) so BMW probably added a bunch of extra design considerations because of this.

In normal use, I also doubt that having the reinforcing plate off will cause any issues - I was just trying to point out that stating it has zero structural effect is just plain incorrect.

And you don't need to be an engineer to see that...

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by aureliusmax

B
can go watch scotty kilmer on youtube to find out why BMW's are some of the worse quality mechanically engineered cars for dependability .

I wouldn't trust Scotty kilmer to change the oil on my BMW, let alone give me his opinion on the quality of the vehicles.

But yes, try to avoid driving without the plate. The sky won't fall, you're wheels won't fall off. But it's good to have if you get into an accident I'm sure. I also fall into the reuse the bolts crowd, but under torque to avoid over stretching the bolts when reinstalling. Have done so at least 10 times, but Andrew did some testing and determined the stretch/failure point of older bolts. See the thread on those bolts for details. Interesting for sure.

[X5only]

I always use new bolts and it costs me around $14 total for the complete set. I first buy them from FCPEURO and with their lifetime replacement warranty, I always get new ones when I turn in the old ones, and my only cost is shipping costs which is around $7 each way. Guaranteed replacement and no questions asked. Their prices may be a few dollars more than other online vendors but they're still way, way cheaper than the dealer, but given the lifetime warranty, it's a no-brainer to buy from them.

[Maruzo]

Originally Posted by X5only

I always use new bolts and it costs me around $14 total for the complete set. I first buy them from FCPEURO and with their lifetime replacement warranty, I always get new ones when I turn in the old ones, and my only cost is shipping costs which is around $7 each way. Guaranteed replacement and no questions asked. Their prices may be a few dollars more than other online vendors but they're still way, way cheaper than the dealer, but given the lifetime warranty, it's a no-brainer to buy from them.

It can't be $14 for the complete set, which includes the flanged locking hex nut:
33306760587, and the hex bolt with washer: 31101096987.

The flanged nut is $1.75 each on ECS Tuning and the hex bolt is $19.17 EACH!

[BigBody]

Originally Posted by Maruzo

It can't be $14 for the complete set, which includes the flanged locking hex nut:
33306760587, and the hex bolt with washer: 31101096987.

The flanged nut is $1.75 each on ECS Tuning and the hex bolt is $19.17 EACH!

He bought them once from FCP. He utilizes their lifetime warranty to “warranty” the bolts every time he removes them. His cost ends up being shipping to send them back to FCP. Which I guess is around $14.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Maruzo

It can't be $14 for the complete set, which includes the flanged locking hex nut:
33306760587, and the hex bolt with washer: 31101096987.

The flanged nut is $1.75 each on ECS Tuning and the hex bolt is $19.17 EACH!

You have to pony up the dough on your first order from FCP. After that, it's only $14 total. Their lifetime guarantee is legit but they have to be losing their asses on things like these bolts. My bet, if everyone on xoutpost and other forums were to do this, red flags would eventually trip and either the program would be discontinued or modified at some point. Just a guess though.

I do most of my part ordering from FCP. Used the lifetime guarantee a couple times and would like to see it continued. That said, x5only is smart for using the guarantee. I just remove my plate too often at 3-5 times a year.

Here's a link to the main thread on these with Andrew's testing. I don't remember the page though sorry.

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...lation-14.html

[Maruzo]

Great thread. Thanks Crystal!