Brake Vent Duct blocked?

spartan75 · 07-23-2016, 08:39 PM

I've read some recent chatter on here lately about the front air curtains being blocked on some vehicles. I saw that mine are not blocked... Cool. Then I was checking out the two big intake ducts on the front that are supposedly designed to help cool the brakes and improve efficiency dynamics. I was surprised to find that mine are completely closed off. It looks like I could easily remove the cover, but I'm curious why they're closed... Are yours open or closed? Does anyone have any insight?

Thebush121 · 07-24-2016, 06:06 AM

You can remove that plastic piece thats blocking it. I recall seeing another thread about it. Funny thing is, mine was blocked when I picked up the car. A month later, a CEL came on so I took it to the dealer and they removed that piece without me asking.

BentZero · 07-24-2016, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartan75

I've read some recent chatter on here lately about the front air curtains being blocked on some vehicles. I saw that mine are not blocked... Cool. Then I was checking out the two big intake ducts on the front that are supposedly designed to help cool the brakes and improve efficiency dynamics. I was surprised to find that mine are completely closed off. It looks like I could easily remove the cover, but I'm curious why they're closed... Are yours open or closed? Does anyone have any insight?

Is that a convertible?

spartan75 · 07-24-2016, 09:45 AM

Yes, it's a convertible...

orangeglim · 07-24-2016, 05:54 PM

Checked mine this morning. 2016 M235i coupe. Not blocked. But I noticed from your pictures that your air curtains aren't blocked? Mine are.

BentZero · 07-24-2016, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartan75

Yes, it's a convertible...

Yeah, I figured with your open air curtains that you have a vert. Also looks like the vert doesn't come with the additional oil cooler Perhaps that's why those ducts are closed for you. They're open on my MY16 coupe

spartan75 · 07-24-2016, 10:53 PM

I believe I do have the auxiliary oil cooler... It can be seen on the front passenger side (3rd pic)

As far as the brake ducts go...After digging around I found a thread from back a few months ago.
http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...php?p=19854368

There's lots of theories on why the brake vent ducts are closed ( local weather, salt from roads ,etc) . I've decided to take mine off... May put them back on in the winter... If I remember

Zooks527 · 07-25-2016, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BentZero

Yeah, I figured with your open air curtains that you have a vert. Also looks like the vert doesn't come with the additional oil cooler Perhaps that's why those ducts are closed for you. They're open on my MY16 coupe

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartan75

I believe I do have the auxiliary oil cooler... It can be seen on the front passenger side (3rd pic)

Aux oil cooler on the passenger side, and every 235 gets one. Aux water cooler on the driver's side. I forget the pattern behind who does and doesn't get one of those.

BentZero · 07-25-2016, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartan75

I believe I do have the auxiliary oil cooler... It can be seen on the front passenger side (3rd pic)

As far as the brake ducts go...After digging around I found a thread from back a few months ago.
http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...php?p=19854368

There's lots of theories on why the brake vent ducts are closed ( local weather, salt from roads ,etc) . I've decided to take mine off... May put them back on in the winter... If I remember

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zooks527

Aux oil cooler on the passenger side, and every 235 gets one. Aux water cooler on the driver's side. I forget the pattern behind who does and doesn't get one of those.

Oops, additional water cooler. AFAIK, US coupes are the only ones that get it standard. Don't remember if it's optional. I guess BMW thinks that convertibles are only owned by people that don't like to drive a car hard. :/

Zooks527 · 07-25-2016, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BentZero

Oops, additional water cooler. AFAIK, US coupes are the only ones that get it standard. Don't remember if it's optional. I guess BMW thinks that convertibles are only owned by people that don't like to drive a car hard. :/

Or they're betting that many 'vert people won't be taking them to the track due to roll bar requirements, so they don't think the need will be there

Dylan86 · 07-25-2016, 05:49 PM

Dear BMW,

Why?

EuroDude · 07-25-2016, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan86

Dear BMW,

Why?

Dear Dylan86,

Because we said so!

Love,
BMW

Dylan86 · 07-25-2016, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EuroDude

Dear Dylan86,

Because we said so!

Love,
BMW

lol pretty much sums it up.

mdputnam · 07-26-2016, 10:50 AM

I wonder if there is a correlation to the brake duct and the air curtain? The idea if the air curtian is to create a smooth flow of air around the outside face of the wheel

The brake duct is designed to blast a stream of air through the inside of the wheel around the disk and back outside through the face of the wheel.
Seems like the brake duct air flow would mess up the air curtian

mdputnam · 07-26-2016, 06:00 PM

According to the BMW parts list, the brake duct cover is for:

Cumberlandjames · 07-17-2017, 06:58 AM

Good info. I was cleaning mine on the weekend and happened to look up to see where these great intake ducts actually go and to my surprise, they were blocked. Couldn't believe the crap inside accumulated from a year of driving. I removed the plates as I do tend to do a little "spirited" driving whenever I get the chance. Just love winding, hilly back roads. Luckily I live near the Laurentians and there are tons of great back roads with little traffic.
Anyway.... Does anyone know if there is a grill to go over the opening or is it just left a great gaping hole?

Sypher · 07-17-2017, 08:32 AM

Mine has the ducts opened but curtains closed. For those with the ducts closed, does your car have the M brakes?

rightrudder · 07-17-2017, 02:48 PM

Just another data point: 2017 M240i, brake ducts wide open, but air curtain vents blocked.

rightrudder · 07-17-2017, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cumberlandjames

Anyway.... Does anyone know if there is a grill to go over the opening or is it just left a great gaping hole?

It's just an open hole. Pretty standard for a brake duct, as leaves, water, etc. will blow right through and exit the wheel well.

3rdcoast228i · 07-17-2017, 03:13 PM

2016 228i Msport coupe

Duct appears open but the covers are on.

There has to be a reason they put the covers on. I wonder opening them up makes brake dust worse on the wheels? Perhaps it's a wind noise issue, or as someone else suggested, maybe for dynamics.

pz619 · 07-17-2017, 07:07 PM

So I'm not as well versed as others, but does anyone have open air ducts and air curtains on the same car? I'm thinking they might interfere with each other as they are both directing air, via different directions, to the same area.

chois2 · 07-19-2017, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pz619

So I'm not as well versed as others, but does anyone have open air ducts and air curtains on the same car? I'm thinking they might interfere with each other as they are both directing air, via different directions, to the same area.

My M240i Vert has both open ducts and open curtains. June 2017 build.

07-23-2016, 08:39 PM	#1
spartan75 New Member 8 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW M235xi Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Jordan, Utah iTrader: (0)	I've read some recent chatter on here lately about the front air curtains being blocked on some vehicles. I saw that mine are not blocked... Cool. Then I was checking out the two big intake ducts on the front that are supposedly designed to help cool the brakes and improve efficiency dynamics. I was surprised to find that mine are completely closed off. It looks like I could easily remove the cover, but I'm curious why they're closed... Are yours open or closed? Does anyone have any insight? Attached Images
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07-24-2016, 06:06 AM	#2
Thebush121 Private First Class 53 Rep 116 Posts Drives: 2016 m235i Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	You can remove that plastic piece thats blocking it. I recall seeing another thread about it. Funny thing is, mine was blocked when I picked up the car. A month later, a CEL came on so I took it to the dealer and they removed that piece without me asking.
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07-24-2016, 09:45 AM	#4
spartan75 New Member 8 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW M235xi Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Jordan, Utah iTrader: (0)	Yes, it's a convertible...
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07-24-2016, 05:54 PM	#5
orangeglim Lieutenant 345 Rep 442 Posts Drives: 2019 M2C Join Date: May 2016 Location: NC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 M2C [0.00]	Checked mine this morning. 2016 M235i coupe. Not blocked. But I noticed from your pictures that your air curtains aren't blocked? Mine are.
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07-24-2016, 10:53 PM	#7
spartan75 New Member 8 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW M235xi Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Jordan, Utah iTrader: (0)	I believe I do have the auxiliary oil cooler... It can be seen on the front passenger side (3rd pic) As far as the brake ducts go...After digging around I found a thread from back a few months ago. http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...php?p=19854368 There's lots of theories on why the brake vent ducts are closed ( local weather, salt from roads ,etc) . I've decided to take mine off... May put them back on in the winter... If I remember
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-25-2016, 05:49 PM	#11
Dylan86 Colonel 1330 Rep 2,214 Posts Drives: F15d msport, F22 m235i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: GTA iTrader: (0)	Dear BMW, Why? __________________ My F22 Road/Track Build
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07-26-2016, 10:50 AM	#14
mdputnam Lieutenant 289 Rep 556 Posts Drives: 135i & M235i Convertibles Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	I wonder if there is a correlation to the brake duct and the air curtain? The idea if the air curtian is to create a smooth flow of air around the outside face of the wheel The brake duct is designed to blast a stream of air through the inside of the wheel around the disk and back outside through the face of the wheel. Seems like the brake duct air flow would mess up the air curtian
	Appreciate 1 Quote

07-26-2016, 06:00 PM	#15
mdputnam Lieutenant 289 Rep 556 Posts Drives: 135i & M235i Convertibles Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	According to the BMW parts list, the brake duct cover is for:
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07-17-2017, 06:58 AM	#16
Cumberlandjames Private First Class 54 Rep 176 Posts Drives: 2016 M235i Xdrive cabriolet Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Ottawa Ont iTrader: (0)	Good info. I was cleaning mine on the weekend and happened to look up to see where these great intake ducts actually go and to my surprise, they were blocked. Couldn't believe the crap inside accumulated from a year of driving. I removed the plates as I do tend to do a little "spirited" driving whenever I get the chance. Just love winding, hilly back roads. Luckily I live near the Laurentians and there are tons of great back roads with little traffic. Anyway.... Does anyone know if there is a grill to go over the opening or is it just left a great gaping hole?
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07-17-2017, 08:32 AM	#17
Sypher Second Lieutenant 83 Rep 260 Posts Drives: '16 228i xdrive Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	Mine has the ducts opened but curtains closed. For those with the ducts closed, does your car have the M brakes?
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07-17-2017, 02:48 PM	#18
rightrudder Private First Class 50 Rep 157 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M240i Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Just another data point: 2017 M240i, brake ducts wide open, but air curtain vents blocked.
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07-17-2017, 03:13 PM	#20
3rdcoast228i Captain 225 Rep 610 Posts Drives: 2016 228i Msport Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	2016 228i Msport coupe Duct appears open but the covers are on. There has to be a reason they put the covers on. I wonder opening them up makes brake dust worse on the wheels? Perhaps it's a wind noise issue, or as someone else suggested, maybe for dynamics.
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07-17-2017, 07:07 PM	#21
pz619 Brigadier General 3279 Rep 3,256 Posts Drives: F87 M2C 6MT, Tesla 3 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	So I'm not as well versed as others, but does anyone have open air ducts and air curtains on the same car? I'm thinking they might interfere with each other as they are both directing air, via different directions, to the same area.
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