R50/53 Fishing for Bolts
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3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 161
Likes: 12
From: Roseville CA
Fishing for Bolts
Hey All,
Figured I'd ask for help since I've exhausted all my other options. I managed to lose a bolt in the door panel while trying to replace my window regulator. Conveniently, when BMW designed the car they made sure to have a small sealed section so that if you drop the bolt it doesnt just fall into the open door cavity and its impossible to get out. It's fallen into a little crevasse that is on such an angle from the opening that you cant get any tools into it. So far the only tool thats successfully made it in is a bent coat hanger on a weird angle. That just lets me touch the bolt but I cant get it out. Does anyone have any suggestions before I just dremel a little hole in the door and pull it out that way?
The red outlines the sealed part of the door. The green is roughly where the bolt is
The workshop grabbers wont fit
I tried using a magnet (I suspect the bolt is stainless, all my magnet wanted to do was attach itself to the door)
The only other thing I can think of using are the long, thin, curved surgical tweezers. But, I'm not buying them just to find out they dont work.
Figured I'd ask for help since I've exhausted all my other options. I managed to lose a bolt in the door panel while trying to replace my window regulator. Conveniently, when BMW designed the car they made sure to have a small sealed section so that if you drop the bolt it doesnt just fall into the open door cavity and its impossible to get out. It's fallen into a little crevasse that is on such an angle from the opening that you cant get any tools into it. So far the only tool thats successfully made it in is a bent coat hanger on a weird angle. That just lets me touch the bolt but I cant get it out. Does anyone have any suggestions before I just dremel a little hole in the door and pull it out that way?
The red outlines the sealed part of the door. The green is roughly where the bolt is
The workshop grabbers wont fit
I tried using a magnet (I suspect the bolt is stainless, all my magnet wanted to do was attach itself to the door)
The only other thing I can think of using are the long, thin, curved surgical tweezers. But, I'm not buying them just to find out they dont work.
How did you get it out?
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Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
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3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Damascus, MD
I'm guessing he turn the car over and shook it.
