Freshly washed, freshly R3V'd **Update post 27**

[Rugbyfan]

I was heading to work this morning at 5am on the interstate. There was a fully intact tractor trailer tire in my lane so I swerved over just to hit another one in another lane. They must've fell off a support truck or something. Anyway, impacted at 75mph. Below is the damage. The skid plate did its job. It looks like the radiator support, skid plate, radiator, and valance are the only casualties. I will pull things apart tomorrow when the shop opens. Any thoughts on bending the rad support back in to position? I know these things are weld on, anyone ever replace one? how hard is it?

What say you R3V?

[chance]

man that sucks

[2mAn]

could've been really bad without that skidplate!

[CHIF8008]

I had the exact thing happen to me.but Im pretty sure i got air born with the front as i am much lower than you. Do not even try re-using the plate. I bent mine back for the time being(because there was no way i was gonna drive without it) but that weekend, due to the plate being compromised , shatered my pan on the freeway while going over a interchange. Good luck withe the rad support repair. I just bent mine back, but it should be replaced.

[Roysneon]

If you've got the time and space it doesn't look too bad to replace.

Either 1,2,3 here

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1113&mospid=47309&btnr=41_0134&hg=41&fg=10

Or

Get the whole thing together #1 here

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1113&mospid=47309&btnr=41_0129&hg=41&fg=10

Even prices from realoem look pretty good. If you've got time, space and a welder it doesn't seem too bad to do it yourself.

[ak-]

Oh wow dude.
Things could of been worse! Good luck with the fix!

[Gerta]

^ No kidding! OP, good luck with those repairs! Maybe it's time for a bolt in rad support?

[ScHpAnKy]

raceskids? I'm surprised it held up that well, I tapped a speedbump and it hairline'd my pan.

[Rugbyfan]

Thanks guys, that skidplate seemed to save the day. Who the hell leaves two brand new truck tires in the road?!?
oh well. I will replace the skid, though I am really hoping the rad support can be bent as I don't have welding experience. My buddy has a e36m rad that I will use, but the radiator in there was a custom job. shit happens.

I will keep you guys updated when I get it on a lift tomorrow.

[Rugbyfan]

I really couldn't see any oil at all. I would imagine even a hairline would be pissing oil, and after 2 hours my dipstick was still full. Coolant was leaking from the rad.

And yes it was a Raceskids, and after this experience I will buy another..

The police officer was like "so are you going to drive it home?"

My response was "see that puddle you're standing in? without it your car catches a fever."

[SmokeE30]

Well Raceskids plates have been known to fail to protect oil pans but your seemed to luck out, looks like the skid plate hit the pan but the pan held up. Take the opportunity to make your radiator support bolt in so it can quickly be removed like e36s setup

[Albuquerque30]

Damn. It could have been A LOT worse, so you're lucky there. I'm surprised that skidplate held up as much as it did without cracking your pan. I'd go with peerless' plate though, but I'm slightly biased on that account.

[Nick_S]

You got pretty lucky considering how bad it could have been. Good luck with the repair.

[Rugbyfan]

**update**

went to the shop today and got everything apart and took pictures along the way.

The first task was getting the skidplate off. It was in rough shape, but again did its job. The 6 bolts at the rad support held as did the two rear. Removal required significant bending/cutting to remove.



I then checked the oil pan. Other than a few scuffs, we're good!



After that was off I removed the radiator, which was trashed. Here you can see where the crank pull and power steering pulley made contact. The pulley, belts and hoses were ok



Once everything was off I checked the actual radiator support. The upper portion was completely fine and not bent. Only the lower half was bent.







To me and a few others guys at the shop, we agreed, since its not part of the frame, bend it back. That's how I'm leaning at this time. Could've been much worse. Thoughts? also since the original mounting point for the RaceSkids is now unusable (the lower rad support), whats the beefiest skid I can get?

[e30vert]

Peerless skid on e30tech is beefiest plate that I know of. It uses a hoop that "welds" on. Since you mentioned no welding experience then this would need to be outsourced to someone who could do that work for you.

A comealong hooked up to a tree or other very strudy object would allow you some control over how much you pull that support out.