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      12-15-2014, 06:25 AM   #1
stonecliff
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Cleaning leaves out of radiator?

Is there an easy way to access the radiator behind the lower grill in the front bumper? I've picked up a few leaves in there and it would be good to clean them out, but I don't see an easy way to access that area.
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      12-15-2014, 03:02 PM   #2
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^Same here, plenty of them.

Have gotten down and looked, the cavity is like a vault with no easy way in while in your driveway and on your back. With a lift I assume you can remove some panels from below, but as always it's so overbuilt that it looks like a pain. To bad the lower front grills don't just pop out, or do they? That would make it simple.

I ended up using a long small diameter wood doll rod to help guide some of the debris to the front and then used long needle nose to pull some of the larger leaves out. But use caution with this technique, not to damage any cooling fins.

Anyone else have any good ideas here?
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      12-30-2014, 09:30 AM   #3
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^^^I did the same thing! Used a flat head screwdriver and needle nose. Pain in the butt! I pulled out some weird bugs and leaves that I picked up in Europe. There must be an easier way...
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      12-30-2014, 11:44 PM   #4
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I'm glad I'm not the only one... There are leaves in there that are months old now.
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      01-06-2015, 08:02 AM   #5
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I just bought 18" fish-tank tweezers from Amazon to try that out. I will report back once I receive them and actually get out in the cold to try them out.
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      04-02-2015, 06:02 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve B. View Post
I just bought 18" fish-tank tweezers from Amazon to try that out. I will report back once I receive them and actually get out in the cold to try them out.
How did this work out?
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      04-02-2015, 03:03 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jackyl22 View Post
How did this work out?
Actually haven't had to remove any leaves/debris yet, but I did try the tweezers and they fit inside the grill and reach the radiator. Copy/paste this in the Amazon search bar "18.6" Long Stainless Steel Curved Tweezer for Fish Tank Plants"
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      04-06-2015, 12:52 PM   #8
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I asked the dealership to please pop-out the lower grille trim and take some compressed air from underneath and blow it all out. They said they'd do it w/no problem and n/c. I'll let you know how it turns out!
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      04-07-2015, 08:31 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve B. View Post
Actually haven't had to remove any leaves/debris yet, but I did try the tweezers and they fit inside the grill and reach the radiator. Copy/paste this in the Amazon search bar "18.6" Long Stainless Steel Curved Tweezer for Fish Tank Plants"
I got a long flat head screw driver and wrapped a piece of 3m double stick tape on the end of it. It worked great lol !!!
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      04-15-2015, 03:17 PM   #10
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Turns out the dealership didn't do a very good job w/removing the debris. I'll have to figure something out...

The screwdriver/tape method works for larger items, but if leaves start breaking down and building up, as they used to in my Cayman, could be a problem...
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      04-16-2015, 04:42 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BitchinManWheels View Post
I pulled out some weird bugs and leaves that I picked up in Europe. There must be an easier way...
guess thats one way you can get it past customs.
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      04-18-2015, 08:21 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gsrbri
I asked the dealership to please pop-out the lower grille trim and take some compressed air from underneath and blow it all out. They said they'd do it w/no problem and n/c. I'll let you know how it turns out!
If you're talking about the center mesh grill, that will be a project because the whole bumper has to come off
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      04-29-2015, 05:40 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edwinm3 View Post
If you're talking about the center mesh grill, that will be a project because the whole bumper has to come off
I don't get the whole design thing of the lower protective mesh section on the bumper, since it's large enough to allow debris build up, why make it so hard for the weekend warrior DIYer to clean it out?
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      04-29-2015, 05:42 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shortseller
Quote:
Originally Posted by edwinm3 View Post
If you're talking about the center mesh grill, that will be a project because the whole bumper has to come off
I don't get the whole design thing of the lower protective mesh section on the bumper, since it's large enough to allow debris build up, why make it so hard for the weekend warrior DIYer to clean it out?
I agree
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      05-15-2015, 05:36 PM   #15
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So here's my solution…..

After several highway trips here in FL, I was accumulating bugs at a fast rate. Plus lots of leaves. I found these on eBay…they are 24" forceps. They fit in the lower and upper grills great, and once you have the bug or leaf between the points, you can lock it in with the self-locking portion of the handles.

I spent about 15 minutes pulling junk out tonight…just be careful not to push the tips into the delicate metal of the coolers. You can see all the stuff I pulled out.

OBTW, these were about $20 with shipping.
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      06-18-2015, 05:03 PM   #16
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+1 for forceps, works great.
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      06-20-2015, 09:40 PM   #17
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This has been driving me nuts too. And then today when I went out to wash the car in the morning, I spotted a cigarette butt in there. Awesome.
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      12-04-2016, 12:31 PM   #18
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Lint Wizard to vacuum leaves/bugs from radiator

I used a "Lint Wizard" hose attachment for my shop vac to get between front grill of the car and vacuum the leaves and bugs that accumulate in front of the radiator of my 2015 Z4 3.5is. If you don't want to order a Lint Wizard you can make your own with a small diameter plastic hose and a strong but flexible wire you can tape to the hose to act as an exoskeleton which you can twist into whatever form you need.

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      12-09-2016, 02:21 AM   #19
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I use a TEKTON 24in claw. Pictured here they also have a 36in one.

Thing is dirt cheap (read: less than $10) and works perfectly.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/TEKTON-36...g&gclsrc=aw.ds
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      05-26-2017, 08:41 PM   #20
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Leaves behind grills. How to clean them out

So I tried opening the hood but there is no way to get there. After driving for a few weeks they don't go away. How to the space between behind the grills and the radiators. I have the problem where the main radiator and lower radiator (transmission?).
Thanks in advance.
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      05-26-2017, 11:03 PM   #21
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So I have a car wash place that has air hoses available to use. I use the hose and point it at the grills and lower parts and the after a few passes, most of the leaves get blown out.
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      05-27-2017, 07:28 PM   #22
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Just did this today. This clamp worked like a charm.

https://t.harborfreight.com/12-inch-....google.com%2F
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