Can anybody help me identify what the part is here that is damaged? I've circled it in red.



No, I did not do this, but the person who did isn't working my car anymore, obviously. I'm trying to figure out if it's okay just to bend it back. Right now my car shakes somewhat when it starts up, like things are out of balance. Nope, not planning on driving it again till I can fix this.

It's a 2004 Mini Cooper S. Thanks for any help or info you guys have!

 

Its simply a heat shield. It frequently gets bent when trying to remove the oil filter, which is right next to it.

 

Oh ok, so it should be fairly safe to bend back then? The weird behavior on startup is what sent me looking under the hood.

 

Yes you can bend it back, but you need to look elsewhere for an explanation for your 'weird behavior on startup.'

 

I would pull the plugs and change what I circled.....the PCV valve. It can only be obtained from a MINI parts dept. I think they are around 20 dollars, and it comes with it's own built in bracket.
The PCV valve is very important and something even MINI Service Dept doesn't replace. And it's not because they list it as a "life time part". Merely a frequent maintenance item completely overlooked....

 

I think he might mean that when he starts it up, due to the firewall heat shield hitting the engine header heat shield it is rattling...

 

Yeah the noise went away after bending it back, thanks!