Front Bumper Tow Cap

[ZoinksM3]

I was driving to get some car cleaning supplies yesterday when I noticed that the tow-hole cover (what are these things called??) on the front bumper had fallen out.

Is there a place where I can order one online? This happen to anyone else?

[Radiation Joe]

Originally Posted by ZoinksM3

I was driving to get some car cleaning supplies yesterday when I noticed that the tow-hole cover (what are these things called??) on the front bumper had fallen out.

Is there a place where I can order one online? This happen to anyone else?

They come unpainted. You'll have to get it painted, also. I'd just call the nearest dealer and do it over the phone. A paint shop might be less expensive. IIRC, you'll get charged an hour of labor to paint the thing (prep and clean-up), unless they just happen to be painting a car which has your color of paint.

[ZoinksM3]

You are right, they come primed. What a pain in the nutz.

$14.16 for the part. I'm waiting for an estimate to have it painted.

I ordered two. If I've got to get them painted and part of the labor is cleanup, they can paint two at the same time.

Edit: $30 for paint

[kmarei]

i was quoted $70 to paint the rear one
the price of the rear one is $20
fell out at the car wash

[ZoinksM3]

Originally Posted by kmarei

i was quoted $70 to paint the rear one
the price of the rear one is $20
fell out at the car wash

Wow, guess I got lucky. The people at BMW of Dallas said they can do small jobs with the same color-match system used for larger repairs. They do it for bumper touch-ups and the like.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by ZoinksM3

You are right, they come primed. What a pain in the nutz.

$14.16 for the part. I'm waiting for an estimate to have it painted.

I ordered two. If I've got to get them painted and part of the labor is cleanup, they can paint two at the same time.

Edit: $30 for paint

Good time to do your front reflectors, if you haven't already.

[jackos335]

had it happen to me once. Replaced it under warranty and no issues ever since.

[thai357sig]

Originally Posted by jackos335

had it happen to me once. Replaced it under warranty and no issues ever since.

Jacko,
Awesome idea! It fell out within the warranty period, I would claim it a defect and have BMW replace it free of charge!

Are you paying attention OP? Give it a try and let us know. Good Luck!

[ZoinksM3]

I'm going in tomorrow to pick up the part. I'll talk to my SA and see if they will do it under warranty. Free is good.

[ZoinksM3]

I went into the parts shop on Friday to pick up the caps. The price went down each time I talked to them and I walked out with two for $20.

I went to the body shop to give them the parts and the paint code. The service person said they'd paint them pro bono. I'll get them today.

I never ended up talking to my SA about having them replaced under warranty.

[corrupt23jj]

Originally Posted by kmarei

...fell out at the car wash

This just happened to me today around noon. Had a feeling it must have fallen out at the car wash, so just went back about 10 mins ago and luckily it was still there!