Mystery Bolt came off in driveway

Absent from forums as of late due to not being able to drive my car really since June because clutch and torn left ACL/MCL don't mix..

Pulled into my dad's driveway tonight and heard an odd noise and just kept driving up the driveway just fine.. my dad looked and found a mystery bolt still warm so clearly off the car

I have reason to believe it's a suspension bolt but I'm towing it to the shop tomorrow night to find it's home.. just looking for a head start if anyone recognizes where this may have come from..

Image taken next to computer mouse for size reference.

UPDATE: So the winner is QAfred it was bolt #5, #2 was loose too and we couldn't reach the top two very well even with swivel sockets.. I will be speaking with that shop in the morning to have this addressed...

That's 99% for the transmission. You should be fine without needing a tow. Just don't race or anything, and replace asap.

wild guess # 3 on the link?
http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...89&hg=33&fg=25

Originally Posted by boongsin12

wild guess # 3 on the link?
http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...89&hg=33&fg=25

If that's the case am I correct in assuming there are a corresponding number of bolts just like it holding the rest of the shaft into the case?

Originally Posted by lcoleman

That's 99% for the transmission. You should be fine without needing a tow. Just don't race or anything, and replace asap.

+1, pretty sure it is tranny mount bolt. # 2 or #5.

Originally Posted by lcoleman

That's 99% for the transmission. You should be fine without needing a tow. Just don't race or anything, and replace asap.

Good to know, takes a load off my mind, I started work on my Saturn backup car project the weekend before I ruined my knee so a whole pile of parts sat in my back yard all summer.. I really want just one major project at a time and I can't really squat well right now..

Originally Posted by QAfred

+1, pretty sure it is tranny mount bolt. # 2 or #5.

Thank you for the diagram, makes it easier to visualize, if that's the case is it something easily accessible from a lift? Hoping just to bring it to the shop, raise it up and put it back together in a short timeframe since I can't stand too long..

Since everyone is being so helpful does anyone have a torque spec sheet handy so I can make sure everything else is secure to spec? I don't want to do this once there's snow all over everything..

Has anyone worked on it lately? Transmission that is? Take a look at attached photo above, these are pretty easy to access once you are back in working order.

Originally Posted by sc2sick

Thank you for the diagram, makes it easier to visualize, if that's the case is it something easily accessible from a lift? Hoping just to bring it to the shop, raise it up and put it back together in a short timeframe since I can't stand too long..

Since everyone is being so helpful does anyone have a torque spec sheet handy so I can make sure everything else is secure to spec? I don't want to do this once there's snow all over everything..

M8 15 ft lb, M10 31 FT.LB, M12 53ft. lb...it is an automatic? correct.

Originally Posted by QAfred

Has anyone worked on it lately? Transmission that is? Take a look at attached photo above, these are pretty easy to access once you are back in working order.

Did a thermostat about a month ago, oil change at regular intervals.. Struts/Springs in May, that's about it, nothing near the transmission.. I have a stack of previous maintenance history..

It looks like on 11/28/11 the clutch and flywheel were replaced. I have attached in the invoice in case there is anything relevant in there that I might not have noticed. The work was done by Orr Autosport in Eden Prairie, MN

Originally Posted by QAfred

M8 15 ft lb, M10 31 FT.LB, M12 53ft. lb...it is an automatic? correct.

Manual, hence the not driving because of destroyed left knee.. it was hard driving a 93 Dodge Caravan for a while....

Originally Posted by sc2sick

Manual, hence the not driving because of destroyed left knee.. it was hard driving a 93 Dodge Caravan for a while....

oh yeah, you did say that, then it is:
M8=16, M10= 32, M12= 53 FT. LBS...yeah, believe it or not....1 Ft LB delta on the M8 and M10 compared to the automatic...according to my Bentley manual- which is current up to 2001 model year. I doubt the torque changed on 2003's.

Fantastic, if this forum had reputation enabled I would be clicking many places in this thread. I'm far more at ease now.

Either from the transmission to engine or bumper reinforcement to bumper shock. Those are the only two places a bolt like that gets used.

Originally Posted by mkodama

Either from the transmission to engine or bumper reinforcement to bumper shock. Those are the only two places a bolt like that gets used.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-e46-e36-...-/350543143924

It looks a bit different to me, but it could be a stock image. If it doesn't belong in the other places it's definitely another spot to check.

Originally Posted by sc2sick

Did a thermostat about a month ago, oil change at regular intervals.. Struts/Springs in May, that's about it, nothing near the transmission.. I have a stack of previous maintenance history..

It looks like on 11/28/11 the clutch and flywheel were replaced. I have attached in the invoice in case there is anything relevant in there that I might not have noticed. The work was done by Orr Autosport in Eden Prairie, MN

okay then, definitely check torque on all the bolts, he may have ate lunch after sliding transmission in place, leaving them all loose

Originally Posted by QAfred

okay then, definitely check torque on all the bolts, he may have ate lunch after sliding transmission in place, leaving them all loose

Yeah, I'm hoping the rest are all there considering I didn't exactly go easy on it when I took it through Tail of the Dragon in May

Originally Posted by sc2sick

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-e46-e36-...-/350543143924

It looks a bit different to me, but it could be a stock image. If it doesn't belong in the other places it's definitely another spot to check.

^that looks nothing like a bumper bolt from an e46.

I'm thinking it's probably a bumper bolt or transmission bolt.

Originally Posted by sc2sick

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-e46-e36-...-/350543143924

It looks a bit different to me, but it could be a stock image. If it doesn't belong in the other places it's definitely another spot to check.

It varies from car to car and I think between body kits as well. One option was an internal torx head, and the other option was an external torx head.

I've only had experience with the internal torx on the bumper bolt so I wouldn't have known that. Thanks!

I'm thinking maybe this is the bolt holding the starter on? Thinking maybe the starter was recently replaced.

Or else the clutch was recently replaced and the tech couldn't quite get to one of the two top bolts and gave up trying to get it tight and just left it. It probably wouldn't be the first time as that top bolt is a bun of a sitch.