[BK]

I was washing my car last week, popped open the hood to clear out the leaf traps, and saw a big hole where some rodent had torn up the sound insulation pad under the hood. Crap! There was a bunch of shredded insulation I had to clear out from the engine bay, and I clipped away the shreds of fabric hanging down from the pad to clean it up. I looked through the engine bay, and I couldn't see any other damage (or cooked squirrel), thankfully.

I ordered a new pad from Tischer for like $60, along with the 6 plastic expanding rivets that hold it on. Installing it was as easy as buttoning your shirt and it's not worth a DIY, but it was a nice day, so I took some photos that I'll share.

[BK]

Here's the hole. When I discovered it, the black felt was shredded and hanging down around the edges. I cut it away with scissors and cleaned up the mess. So this photo is actually the "cleaned up" version, but it's still fugly. I've already removed the plastic rivets in this shot, so the pad is just held in by the tabs.

To remove the rivets, you just unscrew the middle part, then pop out the outer part. The pad is also held on by tabs tucked in around the edges. Simple as can be.

[BK]

Here's the replacement pad, along with a new bag of rivets. Based on other posts, I thought these plastic rivets would be a PITA and would be one-time use, but they were not the kind I thought they were. But no big deal. New pad, new rivets at 0.30 each.

Also a shot of the hood with the pad removed. Apparently, there has been Cosmoline baking on the inside of the hood for over 2 years now. Also, a piece of plain masking tape mysteriously attached to my hood. OCD that I am, I cleaned this up.

[BK]

Shot of the new pad, prior to putting in the rivets. Now the engine bay looks cleaner. I didn't realize how much pollen and dirt the old pad had on it.

So that's it. No more squirrel damage. I'll be checking my engine bay every day for a while, though, to see if the little bastards climb up in there again, but so far, so good. I've read that they climb up in warm engine bays as the weather gets cold, so I'll be watching for them during the winter.

[LilFingers]

Wow man that's pretty crazy, I'm glad its not more serious then that. I know my dad had something similar where rats or something else were chewing on wires inside and causing alot of problems.

[BK]

When I lived in the city, cars parked in the alley behind my townhouse constantly had wires chewed on by rats (this was Dupont, and there are a ton of rats there). It seems like that's a common problem in the city. Thankfully, it doesn't look like anything like that happened to me.

Pretty sure it was a squirrel. I've never seen a rat where I live now. But we have lots of squirrels. About a year ago, I saw a couple of squirrels climbing up into my wheel wells, then under the car. Pissed me off to no end. I scared them away and didn't have any damage, but I was pissed that all my Internet searching told me there's not a lot you can do about it when you park outside. I need a garage!

[shimshimhada]

lol, the text you used makes it look like an ad or something.

I think there are chipmunks living in the benz, and I've been seeing way more squirrels lately.

[FrankoQ]

Time to set up some traps, motion sensors, trip alarms, etc.
Catch the offender!!!

[bimmernupe]

Damn when is the last time u opened ur hood . I usually give my bay a quick wipe down w/ every wash.

[Bimmer330i]

Years ago, I owned a Passat Turbo Wagon and I didn't have a garage to park it in. One day, when I took it in for service, the mechanic said "you have to come and see this"... so when I went back into the service bay, he showed me the air cleaner. It was packed full of nuts that some critter had been storing there. I have never seen such a thing. Crazy!!!

[f82phan]

Looks like your engine bay blew a load in that first pic

[BK]

Originally Posted by e90phan

Looks like your engine bay blew a load in that first pic

FWIW, I open my hood every wash (each week). So the little criminal did this sometime within a week. I'm betting he did the whole thing one night. I didn't notice any difference driving it all week even though there was some hood insulation scattered in the engine bay.

As hot as the engine gets, the filler material doesn't melt at all. I guess that's a very good thing.

After Bimmer330i's post, I'm worried about my air filter. I may do a more thorough inspection (open that up and look around some more) this weekend.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by e90phan

Looks like your engine bay blew a load in that first pic

BK, thankfully it was just the insulation pad not some critical wire

I enjoyed the illustrations

[Raja Ventureshield]

that's crazy as hell. damn squirrels.

[DANMACINSD]

This happened with my wife's Honda Odyssey, because she parks outside and I park in the garage. I actually took the van in because the windhsield washers had quit working, upon further inspection those little SOB's chewed through the rubber hose. Dealer said it happens a lot, especially in winter. He recommended stashing a few bounce sheets throughout engine bay. I guess the scent keeps them away...not sure if it works for squirrels though.

[sapperelite]

Sorry about your insulation but I have one even better. I went out to start my Jeep after the tropical storm that hit us, had been maybe a week and a half, and noticed it was running a little rough. Drove it about 50 meters and opened the hood. After a few minutes of crawling around I noticed a couple pieces of wire lying on the engine block. Long story short, a damn squirrel ate through my fuel injector wire, right at the connection. The Jeep dealer told me the whole harness had to be replaced at a cost of 1200, parts only. I finally found a harness on a wrecked Jeep in CA for 300. Now all I have to do is figure out how to change it out...

[IDreamofBimmers]

wow!!! that's funny lol!!!

[bimmernupe]

What no one here got the squirrel coverage through their insurance?

[avandss]

hmm my 09 323 doesnt seem to have this pad.... can i add it and what will it do?

[bsd107]

Originally Posted by avandss

hmm my 09 323 doesnt seem to have this pad.... can i add it and what will it do?

I added it to my 09 335 E90 and it fit just fine. I didn't have the car long enough before installing to truly tell if it reduced engine noise (which is supposedly the primary reason for the pad).

But I can say for sure that the external surface of the hood is now much cooler to the touch.

[johno8888]

I want the pad for my 09 328i e90. How hard is the install? I am not normally a DIYer but this looks pretty easy.

Wonder if its a different part # for the e90.

[BK]

Originally Posted by johno8888

I want the pad for my 09 328i e90. How hard is the install? I am not normally a DIYer but this looks pretty easy.

Wonder if its a different part # for the e90.

bsd107 used this same part # for his 2009 E90 (mine is a 2006 E90) and it fit. The install is as easy as it gets. Seriously, there can't possibly be an easier DIY than this one. IIRC, all you need is a Phillips head screwdriver.

Consider purchasing an extra expanding rivet or two. If you drop one into the engine bay, you might lose it for good. At $0.30 each, it's good insurance.

Prices from Tischer BMW (send a PM to Jason@Tischer):

Insulation piece 51487059260 $57.98
Expanding rivets (x6 needed, maybe add one or two more) 51481915964 $0.30 each