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Bump in hood right above the power steering resevoir?

3K views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  Barneyhyphen 
#1 · (Edited)
1999 323i stick. JUST had a new hood etc fitted, following a small accident.

Old hood had a fairly good sized (1/4" tall, 3/4" dia) "bump" (reverse dent) in the surface of the hood, exactly in line with the cap of the power steering fluid resevoir,

Padding on the underside of the hood is also damaged in the same place, as well as right above the top of the oil dipstick AND the round fingerpull/handle of the dipstick is also cracked.

Before replacing the hood, we had "thought" the bump had been caused by someone leaving a spanner (wrench), socket, screwdriver or the like, on top of the resevoir, after working on the engine, and shutting the hood down on it.

BUT, the same dent has now appeared, withing 6 weeks of the new hood being fitted!!!!!

Could this be a bad/broken driver's side engine mount? Allowing the engine to lift on the driver's side when under load?

We observed the engine last night, when revved but stationary but the engine appeared to "lift" only perhaps 1/8", not nearly enough to do the damage.

Maybe under load the "lift" would be greater?

Apply hand brake, foot heavily on the foot brake, hood open, stand AWAY from the front of the car and have "helper" drop the clutch whilst observing the engine "lift"?

Any input &/or thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks.

BH
 
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#6 ·
Sorry for 8 month delay in responding!!

It WAS the mounts. Would never have thunk it but there it is. All now resolved.

Might be a piece of info worth posting somewhere permanent, for anyone else discovering seemingly unexplainable bumps in the hood?

Thanks all the input.

BH
 
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