[G35c6MT]

'21 M550 remote started the car a few days ago in 10 degree weather after a snowfall and found my grille like this. It appears that this is related to the active shutters opening. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm heading to the dealer next week for an oil change and I expect this to be a warranty repair but any feedback is appreciated.

[LuvMyE92]

I doubt that they'll do it under warranty, looks like road debris took out the grill.

But what do I know? It's certainly worth a try.

[G35c6MT]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

I doubt that they'll do it under warranty, looks like road debris took out the grill.

But what do I know? It's certainly worth a try.

No road debris. The car was parked for 2 days and the missing piece landed right in front of the car.

[CnSky]

My guess is a hairline crack existed and water got inside then froze in the bad weather. The active grill actuator isn't strong enough to do that damage..it would break itself at the motor connection before cracking the grill.

I have also seen parts broken like that when snow builds up over a parked car and then melted away under the car first…the sheer weight of the compacted snow stuck to the car front without being supported can pull parts off when it finally falls.

My wife X1 had every single X1 and M sport badge pulled off the car last heavy snow here and we all know from debadging that stuff is pretty strong.

Worth complaining to the dealer if your in warranty though.

[PetieD 7]

Every now and then, plastic parts will become brittle due to various/extreme weather conditions. I like to think dealership will most likely cover this under warranty especially to keep customers happy and have repeat business down-the-lane.

[akuwes710]

Agreed on trying to replace under warranty.. but dont get mad if they dont cover it.

[G35c6MT]

Originally Posted by akuwes710

Agreed on trying to replace under warranty.. but dont get mad if they dont cover it.

Hoping for the best with the dealer. I wouldn't get mad if there was a reasonable explanation of how this could be my fault. All I did was start the car. It's 100% on BMW.

[CnSky]

I think you should also factor in that extreme weather was at play here and not assume BMW will take this as their design fault.

It's not a common issue so I think you may have a problem convincing them but hope they help you all the same.

I don't think it's active shutter related they open inwards and as I noted the connection is not strong the motor link would snap first if something was in the way.

[CnSky]

My advice is don't tell them you remote started, tell them you were entering the car and heard a snap when starting or they will be able to come up with all sorts of excuses.

(Kids with ball, meteorite who knows what they use as you weren't beside it when it happened in their minds it could have happened just after parking the night before if you get my drift)

Let us know how you get on and especially if they say it's happened a few times to other vehicles as this would be great info for everyone.

🤞

[akuwes710]

Originally Posted by CnSky

I think you should also factor in that extreme weather was at play here and not assume BMW will take this as their design fault.

It's not a common issue so I think you may have a problem convincing them but hope they help you all the same.

I don't think it's active shutter related they open inwards and as I noted the connection is not strong the motor link would snap first if something was in the way.

Agreed, there could be external factors such as weather or unknown event "act of God" that may have caused this.
So its not OP's fault, but if BMW denies liability, he has to prove its their faulty craftmanship or something.

Best of luck, hope OP has a cool advisor

[ezaircon4jc]

Every manufacturer does cold weather testing; much colder than a Chicago winter, think Arctic. IMHO, this is totally a warranty repair.

[DNYC1919]

What's the cost to fix this ?

[particulardude]

Originally Posted by G35c6MT

No road debris. The car was parked for 2 days and the missing piece landed right in front of the car.

Ok - first off, are you married and had your wife been anywhere near the vehicle during those
two days?

No seriously though - were you street parked or
in shared parking where someone could have
bumped it? You started this mentioning the weather but that it was parked so I assume it had to be sitting outside those two days.

Appears that may be the furthest most extending fin which depending on a bumper or hitch of another vehicle could have barely impacted it causing just that piece to be damaged.

Also this is Chicago - may be some nonsensical
vandalism - a woke kick of misguided angst taken out on your innocent sweet whip

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by G35c6MT

'21 M550 remote started the car a few days ago in 10 degree weather after a snowfall and found my grille like this. It appears that this is related to the active shutters opening. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm heading to the dealer next week for an oil change and I expect this to be a warranty repair but any feedback is appreciated.

Any update on this? Just curious on whether they covered it. My guess is they will probably cover it. It's short money either way, less for them.

I would stick with the story that you started your car and it fell to the ground. This is odd though and there is no way the active grills caused this. My guess would be from an impact of some sort, especially since you said it was sitting there for two day unattended and you didn't actually witness the start and the fin break off at the same time.

[G35c6MT]

Parts came in and I'll be at the dealer today. They haven't seen anything like this before, but believe BMW will cover. I'll provide an update later tonight.

[ArchieV]

Originally Posted by G35c6MT

Parts came in and I'll be at the dealer today. They haven't seen anything like this before, but believe BMW will cover. I'll provide an update later tonight.

If you could once you have it snag me a part number and cost from the invoice. I was thinking about upgrading to the shadowline grille but my local BMW couldn't seem to find the part. Only the carbon fiber version which was $900 lol.

[Qsilver7]

If any part of the grille slats sticks out further than the surround…at the right angle & height…one slat can be broken off.

On my 650ix GC…one day coming back to the car I saw that one of my grilles was “snaggle-toothed”. Angry as heck, my first thoughts were that someone backed into my grille, or vandalized it by knocking it out. When I got back home and pulled into the garaged (normal parking spot)…I thought hmmm….let me back up and see if the missing slat is on the garage floor.

Sure enough, I found it laying on the garage floor. I apparently had pulled too far in….and bumped into an old sofa table I use as a shelf in the garage. So it was my own undoing that took out the grille’s slat.

The best thing to come from it was an upgrade from the pre LCI 10 slat grilles to the LCI 9 slat grilles which have a slightly different design.

Only posting to say that it is possible to knock out just one grille slat. You can see the broken out slat sitting in the new LCI grille in the last 2 pics.

[G35c6MT]

Originally Posted by ArchieV

If you could once you have it snag me a part number and cost from the invoice. I was thinking about upgrading to the shadowline grille but my local BMW couldn't seem to find the part. Only the carbon fiber version which was $900 lol.

They replaced it under warranty.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by G35c6MT

They replaced it under warranty.

Nice. Figured they would.

[CnSky]

👍 did you tell them it was a remote start or not?

[G35c6MT]

Originally Posted by CnSky

👍 did you tell them it was a remote start or not?

I told them exactly how it happened. FYI even though my car was unattended for 2 days it was not in an area where someone could've damaged it. I suspect either a defect in my car's grille or an unusual way of snow/ice accumulation caused this. At the time the ice was hard as a rock, and one of the shutters in the passenger side grille was also stuck in a closed position.

Glad to have this resolved by my dealer. They've been great to work with even tho I didn't buy from them.

[CnSky]

Great outcome!! 👍