UPDATE: Well, I managed to get it close to the magnet, but it fell down and is now nowhere to be seen. It was going in for an oil change and a "clunking diagnosis" on Friday anyway, so it's going in a little ahead of schedule. Hopefully they can find a quick way to look in there from below to see if it's anywhere harmful or confirm that it fell out when it was on the flatbed.

Thanks to everybody for trying to help!

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I dropped a screwdriver bit into the fan on the back of the radiator (?) and can't get it out. I got one of those telescoping magnets from an auto parts store, but it can't get close enough to grab the bit.

Here's the general area, looking straight down at the front of the engine bay:


Here's a close-up. It's stuck so you can just see the back of the bit sticking out. I tried unbending a coat hanger to move the bit into the channel between the fan motor and the fan blades, but the bit won't move. The fan rotates freely with the bit stuck where it is (props to my Panasonic LX3 for getting that shot, by the way):


I see my options right now as either starting the car and seeing what happens , or getting it towed to a shop (during which time the bit will probably get shaken somewhere). What do you think I should do?

 

Can a kid with a small hand get in there? See if u can find a magnet with a bendable handle. I think harbor freight may sell them also. I wouldn't start it ,cause it may get real expensive if u do. good luck and keep us all posted on the outcome.

 

Autozone had a bendy magnet, but the actual magnet was the same diameter as the one I bought. I think I'll try some chewing gum on a hanger next...

 

How about a cotter pin puller...curved and pointed on one end like a center punch and curved and wedged shape on the other to loosen the bit, and then grabbing with a set of mechanical fingers???

 

Try and pull apart some of the higher up stuff on the car, maybe the grill and whatnot to give urself some room

 

Well, I managed to get it close to the magnet, but it fell down and is now nowhere to be seen. It was going in for an oil change and a "clunking diagnosis" on Friday anyway, so it's going in a little ahead of schedule. Hopefully they can find a quick way to look in there from below to see if it's anywhere harmful.

Thanks to everybody!

 

I can't tell you how many times I drop something between the engine and radiator. Looked underneath with a mirror, tried a magnet, tried a claw tool, even loosened some of the plastic trim and/or tire wells. In many cases, what I dropped is gone for good. In some cases, I think the item fell inside the electric fan shroud and is wedged between it and the radiator itself. Beyond this, the only advice I can give is to drive in reverse really quick and hit the brakes to see if the bit comes loose and rolls out from underneath.

One thing I finally got around to buying is a magnetic screw tray. Used it for the first time the other day.

 

I did that last year with a small screwdriver. After an entire evening of frustration I ended up taking it to my local indepent MINI garage. He charged me an hour's labour and got it back out - it was right at the bottom of the shroud, good thing the fan didn't catch it and lauch it somewhere.

 

I crossed my fingers and started it up this morning. No sound of shattered fan blades or leaking of a punctured radiator so I guess wherever it ended up is benign (knock wood).