Can anyone tell me what just happened to my e36 M3?!

[esteve]

Hey guys,

I was driving home today and heard this big thunk under my car, thinking I might have hit something on the ground I pulled over right away, and saw this (see photo).




Can anyone tell me what happened and how serious this is (doesn't look good, I know).

Thanks for your input... had to walk home, good thing it was only about half a mile from my house.

-Steve

[MRacer88]

Is that part of the drivetrain....???

[justaddwada]

because this photo is so underexposed and there is so much light, its hard to tell whats going on here. Is that fluid towards the left side of the photo from your car?

[esteve]

That's the best I could do with my Blackberry unfortunately. I am going back to take more photos with my SLR. There was a small amount of fluid, yes. It was a dripping a little. The right side of the photo is the front of the car.

Strangely, it didn't seem to impact the cars driveability immediately, but I didn't drive it more than 50 meters before pulling over.

Any guesses before I put up more pics?

[Stück]

I think you ran that over and it got wedged against the car.

Doesn't look like a e36 or hell BMW part I've ever seen.

Jack the car up and yank that crap out of there.

[esteve]

Ok here are a few clearer photos. I jacked it up but didn't yank on the thing yet, as it's in an area with traffic so I wanted to be more careful first.

Let me know if anyone can identify this part! Thanks!

[gregmm6]

It looks like a weed trimmer fell off a truck and got stuck. Just pull it out.

[esteve]

I can't imagine I wouldn't have seen it in the road, and that it would have even cleared my front m3 bumper... but if you insist I will go back with a broom...

[gregmm6]

When you go back make sure that it's not attached to a landscaper that you didn't see either.

[esteve]

I thought it was just roadkill on the shoulder so I purposely didn't frame that in my photos.

If it is a weedwacker it probably would also be useful in cutting down the tree in my yard. Off I go...

[mikeknor]

When you go back make sure that it's not attached to a landscaper that you didn't see either.

thats funny thats exactly what that is a weed wacker

[Broox]

omg this thread = win

[amdspitfire]

LOL, just a wheed whacker, its one of the good ones too with the heavy duty dual lines

[apollo322]

Those tight strings are a dead giveaway, it's a weed whacker alright.

[gregmm6]

I thought it was just roadkill on the shoulder so I purposely didn't frame that in my photos.

That's good. Having him wedged under the car would be a freaking mess.

[esteve]

The DYI fix for this problem will be posted shortly on youtube.

[DrewDude320i]

i would check to make sure nothing was punctured or bent before you drove off.

[Lantz]

awesome

[lkwd318ti]

weedwacker mod hahah
I looked at the first pic and thought it was part of the drivetrain too

[speedster]

i didnt think that was part of your car in the first pic. doesnt look like anythin on a e36, and as soon as i saw the clear shots i knew it was a weedwhacker head, haha.


Ya that doesnt look good, thatll be a $90 fix...

[skierman64]

i would check to make sure nothing was punctured or bent before you drove off.

Especially brake lines or fuel lines.

[espguitarist]

Haha. That's actually pretty funny. I thought it was a rear axle at first, but I couldn't figure out which way it was pointing. Looked like it had ripped itself loose from the diff. Now THAT would have been bad...

[esteve]

I should have referred to the Bentley Manual first.



DIY posted in case anyone needs it in the future. This fix was much cheaper than expected.



[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVwV1GHTC2Y[/ame]


Thanks guys -- I have to say, you guys know your E36s...and landscaping tools.

[RADI0ACTIV3M4N]

LOL, OP is a winner.

[z06bigbird]

Weedwacker 1
BMW 1 (maybe)