[RipMyJailbreak]

Apologies if this is a stupid question. I have recently purchased an M240i and have noticed that in every picture I have seen online that the left hand side lower grill is open to allow airflow into a radiator.
The issue is that on my car the left grill is closed just as the right hand side is and there is no airflow to that radiator (pictured below). I cant imagine why but I suspect this was most likely done by the previous owner but I thought I would ask in case anyone knows if it came like this from the factory.

If the car should not have the left grill closed then I will replace it with the correct part.

Thanks in advanced.

EDIT: I took the car to BMW and as suspected the grill in the picture should be open as the radiator behind it is getting no airflow. Being a UK car the other side is blanked off because there is nothing behind it. Part ordered through BMW for £45. Thank you all for the replies.

View post on imgur.com

[TAZ007]

When I got my F23 new, one side was open. That provided flow to the turbo intercooler. I'm not sure why both would be closed as minor design changes, over the years, would not include moving a major mechanical component. It may have been replaced under the previous ownership. You might want to speak with a BMW tech before changing parts to get "expert" advice.

[Nickies]

Originally Posted by RipMyJailbreak

Apologies if this is a stupid question. I have recently purchased an M240i and have noticed that in every picture I have seen online that the left hand side lower grill is open to allow airflow into a radiator.
The issue is that on my car the left grill is closed just as the right hand side is and there is no airflow to that radiator (pictured below). I cant imagine why but I suspect this was most likely done by the previous owner but I thought I would ask in case anyone knows if it came like this from the factory.

If the car should not have the left grill closed then I will replace it with the correct part.

Thanks in advanced.

View post on imgur.com

On mine, both sides are open and have radiators. The center one is also open for a radiator.

[VAcurler]

On my 2021 M240i F23 (US based) the passenger side is open and has a radiator. The driver's side is closed and there is nothing there. On the far right side of the middle opening there is a duct leading to the brakes.

[Bmwhead]

The M240i has, not counting the air curtains and the air intakes for the brakes, several air intakes on the front. Old BMW models have an oil radiator on the right side but in our cars it is not equipped, nor do we have any radiator to cool the intake air because our car instead of an intercooler equips a liquid cooler that cools the air by liquid and is integrated into the turbo itself. What we have is the main radiator in the center and one or two auxiliary radiators on the sides that complement the main one and have the same function: to control the temperature of the refrigeration circuit. The right is equipped on all models so if it is covered it would have been for some customization issue but it will be detrimental to the car and you are disabling an element that is there for something. The second auxiliary radiator on the left side has the same function and is installed in markets with warm climate specifications and in vehicles equipped with GPF. By the way, these auxiliary radiators are to blame for not having fog lights.

[MarcoZandrini]

Originally Posted by Nickies

On mine, both sides are open and have radiators. The center one is also open for a radiator.

My 2018 M240i has the same setup.

[cooolone2]

2020 M240iX all are open, all have heat exchangers!

[vballer]

My 2018 M240i vert 6MT has an open passenger's side with a small a radiator. The driver's side is closed.

[dradernh]

2017 M240i here; both sides are open with heat exchangers visible through the openings.

[pikcachu]

Only cars classified for hot climate weather have them open... like US models

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

Only cars classified for hot climate weather have them open... like US models

Both are open on my Canadian car, we are not normally classified as a hot climate area and have configuration differences from US cars (such as standard cold weather package on the M240i).

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by aerobod

Both are open on my Canadian car, we are not normally classified as a hot climate area and have configuration differences from US cars (such as standard cold weather package on the M240i).

maybe global warming

[msendit]

Originally Posted by aerobod

Both are open on my Canadian car, we are not normally classified as a hot climate area and have configuration differences from US cars (such as standard cold weather package on the M240i).

Side note: this is what we're calling 'open' right?

It always bugged me that they decided to put 2 of them and then block off roughly 1/2 the area on each. I'm not missing a secret 'completely open' one?

[Nickies]

Originally Posted by msendit

Side note: this is what we're calling 'open' right?

It always bugged me that they decided to put 2 of them and then block off roughly 1/2 the area on each. I'm not missing a secret 'completely open' one?

All my grilles are fully open with no block off and I don't have a race car.

My car was ordered for a US Northwest Coast delivery from Germany.

[msendit]

Originally Posted by Nickies

All my grilles are fully open with no block off and I don't have a race car.

My car was ordered for a US Northwest Coast delivery from Germany.

Neat! So there are secret open ones...

Got last 7 VIN so I can dig them out? (DM is fine too) Getting two stock clip-on pieces seems way easier than what I had in mind (take off completely and just secure some mesh)...

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by msendit

Side note: this is what we're calling 'open' right?

It always bugged me that they decided to put 2 of them and then block off roughly 1/2 the area on each. I'm not missing a secret 'completely open' one?

Yes, about 60% of the area exposes the cooler/radiator behind. Not being fully open doesn’t really matter as the radiator matrix and exit duct behind will be the restriction points on the flow, as opposed to the entry point in the grille.

[Poochie]

Amazing.. Years later but the mystery aux radiator and oil cooler sage still lives on.. History does repeat itself..



F22: The Great Radiator Controversy https://www.2addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1112993

[amutti]

FWIW, my 2021 F23 M240i xdrive U.S. Massachusetts delivered situation…

In my photo, #5 is closed, everything else is open.

Edit: I have both S823 - Hot Climate Version and S842 - Cold-Climate Version listed for my vin. I wonder if there is something behind the vent?

[MarcoZandrini]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

Only cars classified for hot climate weather have them open... like US models

My 2018 M240i has BOTH the cold (code 823) and hot climate (code 843) packages!

[USA-RET]

Originally Posted by dradernh

2017 M240i here; both sides are open with heat exchangers visible through the openings.

Same with my 2017.

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini

My 2018 M240i has BOTH the cold (code 823) and hot climate (code 843) packages!

Mine has the hot-climate version as S823 and cold-climate version as S842.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by aerobod

Mine has the hot-climate version as S823 and cold-climate version as S842.

That's what my 2017 M240i has, too.