THE LARGEST BMW 2-SERIES FORUM ON THE PLANET
2Addicts
2Addicts
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
2Addicts | BMW 2-Series forum BMW 2 Series (F22) Forum 2 Series Active Tourer Discussions Rats eating my Tourer !!!

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      10-18-2016, 03:59 PM   #1
Colin from Oz
New Member
Belgium
6
Rep
11
Posts

Drives: Active Tourer 218i Luxury Auto
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Belgium

iTrader: (0)

Rats eating my Tourer !!!

I have a couple of questions for you, but, first let me set the horror scene...

A couple of days ago, I was driving back to Belgium from the UK in my Active Tourer and was pulled over for a security search at the customs post.

I opened the bonnet when requested and to my horror... large pieces of foam and material fell out of the bonnet into the engine compartment. I stood there staring blankly

The customs security guy, unphased, laughed and said .. "Ha! We see a lot of that with those cars from Europe; it's the rats there!"

So, my two questions (and I'm not sure if it happened in the week I was in the UK, or in Belgium, France or somewhere else):
  1. Has anyone else had problems like this (I have been driving for 40 years and it's the first time I see it - so is it the Active Tourer that has a particularly delicious insulation?).
  2. Before I expose it to the BMW garage, does anyone know roughly how much it costs to replace the under-bonnet insulation in the Tourer or can I just repair it with strong insulating tape?
Many thanks.

Cheers. Colin

Last edited by Colin from Oz; 10-18-2016 at 04:02 PM.. Reason: Typo
Appreciate 0
      10-23-2016, 02:39 PM   #2
Colin from Oz
New Member
Belgium
6
Rep
11
Posts

Drives: Active Tourer 218i Luxury Auto
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Belgium

iTrader: (0)

For those interested in this story...
On another site, more active on the topic (Ma BMW) I learned that this is a common problem in many parts of Europe.

The animal seems to be a weasel rather than a rat.
It seems to like cables, tubing and soundproofing materials in most cars, BUT, only the soundproofing materials in BMWs - that's a good thing (all is relative).
The cost to replace the soundproofing under the bonnet in an Active Tourer is about €100.
There exists a weasel repellent ... but it doesn't seem to work.
Most people with this problem seem to just remove the half-eaten soundproofing and it doesn't seem to make an audible difference - just looks cheap and tacky.

Not a great finding... but, I suppose I'll have to live with it.
Appreciate 0
      11-01-2016, 01:51 PM   #3
Smallm
Old Member
56
Rep
94
Posts

Drives: 2015 M235i, Dinan stage 4
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Sacramento

iTrader: (0)

I had a problem with Squirrels and headlight wiring once. Wrapped the harness with steel wool and soaked it in Tabasco Sauce and they went away. I like to think that they went away quickly. This likely won't work for your problem.
Appreciate 0
      11-01-2016, 03:36 PM   #4
Maynard
Colonel
United_States
3805
Rep
2,860
Posts

Drives: 228iX & M2C
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Upstate NY

iTrader: (1)

They make a pepper spray you can use to deter pets from chewing household wires - that might work. I hear they are after a soy-based insulator (among other things). You would think that this would be something they would have figured out by now (but now I'm picturing little rat focus-groups deciding if they like the taste of the piano black or the faux woodgrain textured panels better)
Appreciate 0
      12-12-2017, 12:11 PM   #5
CP911
Major
United_States
986
Rep
1,241
Posts

Drives: '18 M240i 6-speed Coupe
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: NW Indiana

iTrader: (0)

Keep some soy/poison pellet traps in your parking spot at home and hope they don't prefer the car again! What else can you really do?
__________________
CP911
Appreciate 0
      12-09-2018, 12:16 AM   #6
paposalsa
Second Lieutenant
50
Rep
243
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW 228i
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Williamsburg, VA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by CP911 View Post
Keep some soy/poison pellet traps in your parking spot at home and hope they don't prefer the car again! What else can you really do?
That is what I do ... also around the garage plus moth balls
Appreciate 0
      12-15-2018, 08:44 AM   #7
bryan_G01
Lieutenant Colonel
bryan_G01's Avatar
1165
Rep
1,931
Posts

Drives: like i stole it...
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

the foam thats on the underside of the bonnet (hood)?

i think it saw it for 125$ usd on one of the part sites. Its not a big expensive item, and easily replaceable. I wouldnt even bother to be honest...
__________________
www.nybmwcca.org
Current Cars:
1995 M3 Coupe Manual Alpine White
1997 M3 Sedan Auto Cosmo Black Metallic
2018 x3 m40 Auto Grey Metallic
Appreciate 0
      12-31-2018, 09:53 AM   #8
///M Houbi
Major
///M Houbi's Avatar
Switzerland
1653
Rep
1,237
Posts

Drives: M2 Competition
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Switzerland

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
See these

https://www.amazon.de/Kemo-2in1-Mard...language=de_DE

https://www.amazon.de/Carpoint-05295...language=de_DE

https://www.amazon.de/Marderabwehr-M...language=de_DE
Appreciate 0
      01-10-2019, 04:19 PM   #9
Winemaker2
Second Lieutenant
United_States
62
Rep
204
Posts

Drives: 2017 230i MSport THP Dinan V2
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: SF East Bay, CA

iTrader: (0)

Rodent Defense

An all natural product containing peppermint oil, rosemary, garlic oil, vinegar and some other ingredients applied at least monthly has cured what was a very destructive and expensive problem that we had with mice and rats. Rodents love European automobiles because of the plant based material they use as insulation and sound proofing, etc. Plus rodents love foam so they can make nests. I can spray the entire engine bay with this product, wheel wells, and even around the vehicle.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:32 AM.




2addicts
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST