Part number sleuths, I need your help!

[spencers]

One of the clips on my microfilter housing cover will not clip in. It appears that the white piece that it locks into is gone.

Upon looking at RealOEM, it doesn't list a part number. I only see the spring clip itself (#8). I don't want to buy a whole microfilter housing just to get the part that it locks in to.

http://realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/t/x/24.png
http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BN33&mospid=47710&btnr=64_0847&hg=64&fg=10

The spring lock I'm talking about is #64318385244
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7369/72013x600.jpg

The part I'm talking about is the white hole that the clip attaches to.
http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/6004/e46windshldcover013.jpg

Any ideas on what the part number is would be great.

[Oli77]

Dental cement, hot glue or epoxy in the hole with Dremel tool action, and voila, a new lock for the clip.

[danewilson77]

Dental cement, hot glue or epoxy in the hole with Dremel tool action, and voila, a new lock for the clip.

That's not gonna work for Spence...though it may for some. You may have to visit a junk yard for this one. I say this having done no research. I will keep my eyes open and look around for ya.

[Cadeez]

You might have to buy #4 to get it

[mach.schnell]

Holy Crap, I'm right now looking for the same thing.

That white "socket" is melted into the housing from underneath, so none of the other various parts seem work (e.g. the battery cover fastener)

http://data.bmrparts.com/bmwparts/BMW_CLIMATE/BMW_330Ci_CONV_E46_CLIMATE_Filter_Housing_140_A431 1000004U.html

ABB has been the supplier to BMW for microfilter housing parts, so BMW might not ever lay eyes upon the fastener socket.

[spencers]

I find it odd if they're molded in.. I mean mine is completely gone! Yes, I too have thought about using one from the battery cover.. Probably doesn't fit, huh?

Glad to see that I'm not the only one out there with this problem.

I'll just have to find a used one at some point or just remove the spring clip (far right). Or I may try Oli's idea....
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4904/enginea.jpg

[mach.schnell]

I find it odd if they're molded in.. I mean mine is completely gone! Yes, I too have thought about using one from the battery cover.. Probably doesn't fit, huh?Nope. Tried it. Right before reading your post, actually.

Mine's gone too (but on the left side) so I guess it's easy to break off the melted tab underneath that is supposed to be a "lifetime" mounting. (hey, where's the facepalm smiley?)

Also looked at the fastener from the right bulkhead 51718202799. The front twisty hooks into a metal clip but the back twisty locks into a white plastic square insert. Hopeful eh?

Turns out that insert is mounted in 64318362894 which is, .... wait for it... the "Microfilter housing, bottom part" number 3 in the above diagram if you look in the far right corner at the front, its that little tiny square so... there's no part number for that one either.

It's the Luger factor. I mean just take a look at that pistol. It's gorgeous. A marvel of intricate German engineering that jambs every fifth shot so you die.

[spencers]

Are you saying 51718202799 might work? :)

[danewilson77]

I just tried the orange interior trim clip. It works....but....it's hard to get it off again.

[spencers]

I just tried the orange interior trim clip. It works....but....it's hard to get it off again.

Please explain

[danewilson77]

The Orange interior clips....the ones that go in the dash....look to be the same dimensions as the white clips in the housing. The hole...that the screw goes into, however is slightly smaller. If I were in your shoes...I would buy 3 of the Orange dash clips..so they matched...and ever so slightly broaden the hole that receives the screw.

I am unsure however, how the white clips in the housing are held in.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[spencers]

Ah! Cool. That makes sense. I imagine I could epoxy them to the microfilter housing.

Thanks for trying it out

[danewilson77]

The Orange interior clips....the ones that go in the dash....look to be the same dimensions as the white clips in the housing. The hole...that the screw goes into, however is slightly smaller. If I were in your shoes...I would buy 3 of the Orange dash clips..so they matched...and ever so slightly broaden the hole that receives the screw.

I am unsure however, how the white clips in the housing are held in.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

....and what I might also do..is go to the dealer. See if they have a MF housing in stock. If they do.....check to see if the nuts come installed in the housing. If not....ask the guy what the P/N is?