Possible Defect - check your vehicles - missing radiator bolt

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Hi all,

Recently I discovered a missing piece of nut underneath the radiator also seems like a missing weld. To be more precise, it’s the “Transmission Oil Heat Exchanger” (part 17217553389) that is bolted onto the front axle carrier. You’ll need to remove the front plastic dust undercover (which is between the front bumper and aluminium reinforcement plate), takes 5 mins to undo this screws.

The nut on one side looks normal and is also welded onto the chassis. But the nut on the other side is completely missing. To me it looks like a broken piece of weld, not just missing bolt.


I wrote to BMW Australia who advised me to take to the local dealers for inspection. It took them 1 week and 2 emails for them to acknowledge.

As advised I visited my local dealers who checked against another E70 and to my surprise that also had the missing weld and bolt on one side a little bit of surface rust. My dealer hasn’t come back to me with a conclusive response, not sure if they’ll even respond, hence the reason for your support.


I’m not sure if this is meant to be like this or it’s a defect, looks to me like a manufacturing defect. But I need your assistance; if and when you have time, please check your vehicles too to see if you have the missing bolt here. I’d also be interested to know what responses you receive from your dealers in case you see this. If you have bolts on both sides please post photos and model of your vehicle. Any help is appreciated guys.
Assuming a lot more vehicles out there with this issue

Mine is a 2008 E70 4.8i