Air vent adjuster knob broke off, anyone experienced this before?

JingChai · 01-06-2016, 05:58 PM

Yesterday I was driving back from work and adjusted the air vent and this happened.

Of all the cars I've owned/driven, this is the first time this has ever happened!Has anyone experienced this before?

If so how do you repair this? I figure I can crazy glue the two pieces back together but the fork has to be stuck into the vent first.

cdgatti · 01-06-2016, 06:19 PM

yes same thing happened to me, adjusted the vent and found out that I had the hardware in my hand. thought that's weird then made the mistake of checking the others, they all fell apart exactly the same way! My car was about 7 years old when it happened. I don't think you can fix it short of buying whole new vent assemblies. I have learned to just live with mine in a fixed position.

harms · 01-06-2016, 06:38 PM

Exact thing happened to me.

I pulled my vent apart and glued it back together, but proper fix needs a new vent.

fazman · 01-06-2016, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JingChai

Yesterday I was driving back from work and adjusted the air vent and this happened.

Of all the cars I've owned/driven, this is the first time this has ever happened!Has anyone experienced this before?

If so how do you repair this? I figure I can crazy glue the two pieces back together but the fork has to be stuck into the vent first.

Mine happened last summer. Tischer and ECS sell new ones for about $60-ish. Some enterprising people in regional sections wanted to sell used ones for $35

(Which I just couldn't stop laughing at)... seriously a used one is not worth more than $20 at most since it will probably fail in a year anyways.

Honestly, if you plan to hang on to your ride... just get a new one since it's a PITA to get the trim off to replace the vent (might as well just make it one and done so you never have to think about it again).

But reality does sink in, I almost never move that vent anyways... so I just leave it stuck in the correct position and live with it. If someone really doesn't want air blowing on them... I'll just hit the other slider to control the airflow on that vent rather than re-direct. I have a lot better things I can do with my $60 or $20 instead of this fix

JingChai · 01-06-2016, 06:55 PM

I assumed that the built quality of a BMW would be higher than this.

I can still adjust the vent with a thin long stick if I have to.

N54Twin · 01-06-2016, 07:02 PM

Yeah! crazy glue and don't wait for it to cure completely for u to move it side to side.

dave4 · 01-06-2016, 07:30 PM

It happened to me as well. At one time all 4 were broken. What I did was I took the trims off, took the vents out and super glued the pieces together. I don't have pictures as it happened 2 years ago, but with common sense you will figure out how they should be in place just by looking at it.

After 2 years they are still holding strong and I can move them side-to-side.

alexg212 · 01-06-2016, 10:18 PM

Yes. Terrible design. One popped off. Checked another, barely touched it, and it flew off as well. Some MIT level engineering.

hongsc · 01-07-2016, 01:13 AM

The newer ones/replacements are suppose to be sturdier. Replaced them over a year ago and no problems since at the dealership. The right, middle, and left adjusters broke. Wait until the door handle area starts to peel. BMW quality at its finest.

alexg212 · 01-07-2016, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hongsc

The newer ones/replacements are suppose to be sturdier. Replaced them over a year ago and no problems since at the dealership. The right, middle, and left adjusters broke. Wait until the door handle area starts to peel. BMW quality at its finest.

Peeling trim, and missing ac vent knobs add character. Coils, injectors, hpfp, and DI carbon build up issues keep things interesting.

Gohan335i7 · 01-07-2016, 01:32 AM

Classic!!! That happened to me about 2 years ago ,& I have yet to fix it ( I guess it doesn't annoy me that much),but seeing your post makes me want to get it done. I also agree that there are better things I could be saving that money for like future maintenance, preventative maintenance, or maybe a performance upgrade

. 60$ also sounds like a good deal IMO. -Gohan335i7E90Post

JingChai · 01-24-2016, 02:01 PM

Good news, I found this video on how to remove the dashboard trim:

I removed the trim on the driver side with just a flathead screwdriver and got to the back of the vent. With that I dropped the fork piece inside and aligned it so I can put some super glue on the knob piece.

Took only about 10 minutes but I got the knob glued to the fork and now it's all fixed.

This video should be helpful for anyone that had their adjuster knob fall out.

Thanks again!

Masry335i · 01-24-2016, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexg212

Peeling trim, and missing ac vent knobs add character. Coils, injectors, hpfp, and DI carbon build up issues keep things interesting.

keeps things interesting. Never live a boring life again

fazman · 01-24-2016, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JingChai

Yesterday I was driving back from work and adjusted the air vent and this happened.

Of all the cars I've owned/driven, this is the first time this has ever happened!Has anyone experienced this before?

If so how do you repair this? I figure I can crazy glue the two pieces back together but the fork has to be stuck into the vent first.

This seems like a more economically viable repair option i plan to try in the near future: http://venttabs.com/vent-tab-bmw-e90...3-2006-2013-1/

Richard71 · 07-08-2016, 04:20 AM

Hi....

In case of broken vent tab, you can online replace it with new one. You can buy online. It is cheapest solution to save money. Buy according to model types of your vehicle. No need to change Entire vent Just Replace Tab.

All tabs are on best cost.

Thanks

Jonty25252 · 07-12-2016, 04:25 AM

Hi

Feel Relax if you are facing vent tab broken issue. Because you can buy only tab online and replace it with broken tab. This is best on cost and easy to install. Cost of vent clips is less than $10. I Hope you use it.

Thanks

NeverGiveUp · 06-25-2019, 04:33 AM

So, what I did with mine is take off my whole vent assembly and JB plastic weld the two pieces back together, solid fix.

Wolf 335 · 06-25-2019, 08:10 AM

https://www.venttabs.com/shop-by-vehicle/bmw/

BadContrakt · 06-25-2019, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

https://www.venttabs.com/shop-by-vehicle/bmw/

Wtf? An entire website and company dedicated to vent tabs?

Cashing in on BMWs fine craftmanship I see. Good for them.

nsjames · 06-25-2019, 10:22 AM

I used CA to put mine back together.

been like that for 20K miles.

ewicky · 06-25-2019, 02:15 PM

Mine haven't broke but they were sticky. I took all of them apart and applied a dry powder lubricant to every little hinge/bushing area where all the vanes connect and stuff. Now they move easily.

Wolf 335 · 06-25-2019, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadContrakt

Wtf? An entire website and company dedicated to vent tabs?

Cashing in on BMWs fine craftmanship I see. Good for them.

There is one catch with those vent tabs, from what i remember someone mentioning here on the forum is that they have a limitation in movement.

Edit: online reviews show that people are not having issues with any movement.

01-06-2016, 05:58 PM	#1
JingChai Lieutenant 154 Rep 424 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Air vent adjuster knob broke off, anyone experienced this before? Yesterday I was driving back from work and adjusted the air vent and this happened. Of all the cars I've owned/driven, this is the first time this has ever happened!Has anyone experienced this before? If so how do you repair this? I figure I can crazy glue the two pieces back together but the fork has to be stuck into the vent first. Attached Images
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01-06-2016, 06:19 PM	#2
cdgatti Colonel 255 Rep 2,547 Posts Drives: e90 328i Join Date: May 2011 Location: KY iTrader: (4)	yes same thing happened to me, adjusted the vent and found out that I had the hardware in my hand. thought that's weird then made the mistake of checking the others, they all fell apart exactly the same way! My car was about 7 years old when it happened. I don't think you can fix it short of buying whole new vent assemblies. I have learned to just live with mine in a fixed position. __________________ OEM Black grill and Blackline tails - LCI halogens with Lux V2 coded as DRL - 3M Crystalline - BMS PBX - OEM Euro Airbox with K&N - Hardwired CTEK - Bilstein B6 w/OEM springs and SP perches - Conti DWS06 - HiFi-Helix DSP - JLAudio HD/XD-Morel - CD changer trim - AE optical out
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01-06-2016, 06:38 PM	#3
harms Captain 75 Rep 605 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Exact thing happened to me. I pulled my vent apart and glued it back together, but proper fix needs a new vent.
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01-06-2016, 06:55 PM	#5
JingChai Lieutenant 154 Rep 424 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	I assumed that the built quality of a BMW would be higher than this. I can still adjust the vent with a thin long stick if I have to.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-06-2016, 07:02 PM	#6
N54Twin Major 413 Rep 1,362 Posts Drives: F85 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (9)	Yeah! crazy glue and don't wait for it to cure completely for u to move it side to side.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-06-2016, 07:30 PM	#7
dave4 Second Lieutenant 49 Rep 223 Posts Drives: BMW 330xi Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: VA iTrader: (1)	It happened to me as well. At one time all 4 were broken. What I did was I took the trims off, took the vents out and super glued the pieces together. I don't have pictures as it happened 2 years ago, but with common sense you will figure out how they should be in place just by looking at it. After 2 years they are still holding strong and I can move them side-to-side.
	Appreciate 2 manixbuy1.50 Quote

01-06-2016, 10:18 PM	#8
alexg212 Second Lieutenant 52 Rep 278 Posts Drives: 335is Coupe/Mustang Gt Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: DFW iTrader: (0)	Yes. Terrible design. One popped off. Checked another, barely touched it, and it flew off as well. Some MIT level engineering.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-07-2016, 01:13 AM	#9
hongsc Captain 153 Rep 982 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328i Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Amazon Prime iTrader: (1)	The newer ones/replacements are suppose to be sturdier. Replaced them over a year ago and no problems since at the dealership. The right, middle, and left adjusters broke. Wait until the door handle area starts to peel. BMW quality at its finest. __________________ 2011 BMW 328i Space Grey\|18" Avant Garde m359\|Michelin Pilot Sport A/S2\|Eibach Pro-Kit Springs\|Koni FSD\|M3 U+L Control Arms\|Lux Angel Eyes\|Stoptech\|Hawk 5.0\|aFe Race Pipes\|BMW PE
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01-07-2016, 01:32 AM	#11
Gohan335i7 Captain 312 Rep 766 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 335i [10.00]	Classic!!! That happened to me about 2 years ago ,& I have yet to fix it ( I guess it doesn't annoy me that much),but seeing your post makes me want to get it done. I also agree that there are better things I could be saving that money for like future maintenance, preventative maintenance, or maybe a performance upgrade. 60$ also sounds like a good deal IMO. -Gohan335i7E90Post
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-24-2016, 02:01 PM	#12
JingChai Lieutenant 154 Rep 424 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Good news, I found this video on how to remove the dashboard trim: I removed the trim on the driver side with just a flathead screwdriver and got to the back of the vent. With that I dropped the fork piece inside and aligned it so I can put some super glue on the knob piece. Took only about 10 minutes but I got the knob glued to the fork and now it's all fixed. This video should be helpful for anyone that had their adjuster knob fall out. Thanks again!
	Appreciate 1 UK_Nomad44.00 Quote

07-08-2016, 04:20 AM	#15
Richard71 Acura Vent Slider 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: Red in Color With Aloy Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Worldwide iTrader: (0)	Buy new one vent tab if it is broken Hi.... In case of broken vent tab, you can online replace it with new one. You can buy online. It is cheapest solution to save money. Buy according to model types of your vehicle. No need to change Entire vent Just Replace Tab. All tabs are on best cost. Thanks
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-12-2016, 04:25 AM	#16
Jonty25252 New Member 2 Rep 5 Posts Drives: Its red color with alloy Join Date: May 2016 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Don't Worry Replace it With New Tab Hi Feel Relax if you are facing vent tab broken issue. Because you can buy only tab online and replace it with broken tab. This is best on cost and easy to install. Cost of vent clips is less than $10. I Hope you use it. Thanks
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-25-2019, 04:33 AM	#17
NeverGiveUp Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: BMW 328xi Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Kansas, MO iTrader: (0)	So, what I did with mine is take off my whole vent assembly and JB plastic weld the two pieces back together, solid fix. Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-25-2019, 08:10 AM	#18
Wolf 335 Brigadier General 2341 Rep 3,539 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: GTA - Greater Toronto Area iTrader: (0)	https://www.venttabs.com/shop-by-vehicle/bmw/
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06-25-2019, 10:22 AM	#20
nsjames Brigadier General 2440 Rep 4,330 Posts Drives: 08 328xi Touring Join Date: May 2017 Location: ohio iTrader: (0)	I used CA to put mine back together. been like that for 20K miles.
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06-25-2019, 02:15 PM	#21
ewicky Lieutenant 204 Rep 525 Posts Drives: '07 335xi 4D AT Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	Mine haven't broke but they were sticky. I took all of them apart and applied a dry powder lubricant to every little hinge/bushing area where all the vanes connect and stuff. Now they move easily.
	Appreciate 0 Quote