Nut

wdc330i · 06-26-2020, 03:13 PM

I just found this brass-coated nut under the driver's side door of my 2. I feel like I've found other stray bits around the car in the garage. Anything I should be worried about?

FC · 06-26-2020, 03:22 PM

If it indeed is from your car, it would almost certainly be a (solid) brass nut for a ground terminal.

If functions in your seats (power, heat, memory, etc) or elsewhere in your car act funny, it could be that the ground lug lost that nut and by extension some wires are ungrounded.

If it is rather thin, then that's a dead giveaway, as that would be a jam nut. But grounded lugs also use regular nuts.

A random example:

wdc330i · 06-26-2020, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC

If it indeed is from your car, it would almost certainly be a (solid) brass nut for a ground terminal.

If functions in your seats (power, heat, memory, etc) or elsewhere in your car act funny, it could be that the ground lug lost that nut and by extension some wires are ungrounded.

If it is rather thin, then that's a dead giveaway, as that would be a jam nut. But grounded lugs also use regular nuts.

A random example:

It could well be solid brass. It's probably about 1/4-inch thick...No weirdness so far, but I haven't tried to move my seat or turn on the seat heater (for obvious reasons).

FC · 06-26-2020, 03:38 PM

That's a surprisingly tarnished brass nut for a car so new. I still think it may not be from your car. The worst that should happen if that you would blow a fuse. I wouldn't worry too much.

wdc330i · 06-26-2020, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC

That's a surprisingly tarnished brass nut for a car so new. I still think it may not be from your car. The worst that should happen if that you would blow a fuse. I wouldn't worry too much.

Reassuring! And the owner/landlord did work on cars in the garage when he lived here.

Alan · 06-26-2020, 06:29 PM

It’s only one tiny piece on a car with so many parts, I think you’re fine ... you have Thousands of pieces left keeping the car together

kognito · 06-26-2020, 06:46 PM

Nothing brass coated will be structural

wdc330i · 06-26-2020, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

It’s only one tiny piece on a car with so many parts, I think you’re fine ... you have Thousands of pieces left keeping the car together

ff · 06-26-2020, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

It’s only one tiny piece on a car with so many parts, I think you’re fine ... you have Thousands of pieces left keeping the car together

That's what I kept telling myself after replacing a head gasket, and had one really long bolt left over afterwards.

Nick M3 · 06-26-2020, 09:33 PM

that doesn’t look like a modern BMW fastener.

06-26-2020, 03:13 PM	#1
wdc330i dogged Join Date: Dec 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: '22 M440 xDrive GC Posts: 13,281	Nut I just found this brass-coated nut under the driver's side door of my 2. I feel like I've found other stray bits around the car in the garage. Anything I should be worried about? Attached Thumbnails

06-26-2020, 06:46 PM	#7
kognito older fart than ZBB Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: On the road again Posts: 8,897	Nothing brass coated will be structural __________________ 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 2020 Fusion Titanium

06-26-2020, 09:33 PM	#10
Nick M3 Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 12,453	that doesn’t look like a modern BMW fastener. __________________ 2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo

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06-26-2020, 03:22 PM	#2
FC Solving problems Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 25,248	If it indeed is from your car, it would almost certainly be a (solid) brass nut for a ground terminal. If functions in your seats (power, heat, memory, etc) or elsewhere in your car act funny, it could be that the ground lug lost that nut and by extension some wires are ungrounded. If it is rather thin, then that's a dead giveaway, as that would be a jam nut. But grounded lugs also use regular nuts. A random example:

06-26-2020, 03:38 PM	#4
FC Solving problems Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 25,248	That's a surprisingly tarnished brass nut for a car so new. I still think it may not be from your car. The worst that should happen if that you would blow a fuse. I wouldn't worry too much.

06-26-2020, 06:29 PM	#6
Alan Carmudgeon Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4,661	It’s only one tiny piece on a car with so many parts, I think you’re fine ... you have Thousands of pieces left keeping the car together