[mosen7]

I’m juggling my kids at home with cooking. I decide to let them play in the garage with me while I get in a little workout. My 2 year old gets suspiciously quiet and out of sight. Next, I hear a little ding clang at the tail of my x5. I see him sitting there and I recall seeing an empty palm size plastic star bubbles container. He points to the exhaust pipe and the says a couple of the words he can say “in there?”
Now, I have that in my exhaust pipe. I cannot see it. Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by mosen7

I’m juggling my kids at home with cooking. I decide to let them play in the garage with me while I get in a little workout. My 2 year old gets suspiciously quiet and out of sight. Next, I hear a little ding clang at the tail of my x5. I see him sitting there and I recall seeing an empty palm size plastic star bubbles container. He points to the exhaust pipe and the says a couple of the words he can say “in there?”
Now, I have that in my exhaust pipe. I cannot see it. Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

You asking for suggestions on the bubble bottle or your kid?

Well, I don't know what the diameter of the bottle is but if you are sure its in there, my guess is its smaller than the diameter of the exhaust so fire up the car, hit the gas and see if it either flies out or at least comes to the end where you can see it. Then we go from there

[cobramite]

This:

[mmm50i]

Have you tried to just start up your car and smash the gas pedal until 4k rpm? It might just shoot out of your exhaust pipe. This works on getting water out too.

[mosen7]

Originally Posted by mmm50i

Have you tried to just start up your car and smash the gas pedal until 4k rpm? It might just shoot out of your exhaust pipe. This works on getting water out too.

I’ll give it a go. I did go for a little drive just 10 minutes after. No noise, no sign of it coming out. No way to tell from the outside. I may have to mention on my next scheduled service

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by mosen7

I’ll give it a go. I did go for a little drive just 10 minutes after. No noise, no sign of it coming out. No way to tell from the outside. I may have to mention on my next scheduled service

Do you happen to have another one of those bubble containers that you can post a pic of so we can see what it looks like? I'm assuming it's 100% plastic?

[mosen7]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Do you happen to have another one of those bubble containers that you can post a pic of so we can see what it looks like? I'm assuming it's 100% plastic?

Yes right here.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by mosen7

Yes right here.

Thanks. Any idea if it had the string attached? What is the dim in my pic?
.

[mosen7]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Thanks. Any idea if it had the string attached? What is the dim in my pic?
.

No string attached and 2”

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by mosen7

No string attached and 2”

Ok, well then, plenty small enough to get pushed in without any resistance. Each exhaust goes in a few inches before turning inward and down and then end up in the last muffler. The pipes are the same size as the opening so.. ..

- Its either still in there in which case will or did melt and become a gooey mess at some point, sticking to the inside of the muffler when you went for your drive
- It could have come out when you went for a drive and would have been hard to notice something that small and flying out at a high rate of speed

Basically, I wouldn't worry about it cause in either case here, no real harm done as the exhaust flow is only in one direction.

Future prevention techniques might include.. ..

- Only buy toys bigger than the exhaust pipe opening
- Stick large sweet potatoes in the openings when not driving the car
- Coral the car so kids can't get near it
- Super glue the kids fingers to their palms

Seriously, if you ever do come across it again, let us know, otherwise Motor On.

[mmm50i]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Thanks. Any idea if it had the string attached? What is the dim in my pic?
.

Can you see it lodged in there still? Perhaps try an old school metal coat hanger and try to hook/fish it out since it’s a star shaped container.

[starlights]

Did it have bubble liquid? It would be strange to see bubbles coming out of your exhaust as you drive :P

I think it should fall off on its own as you drive as others have stated

[Gibson6594]

Originally Posted by starlights

Did it have bubble liquid? It would be strange to see bubbles coming out of your exhaust as you drive :P

I think it should fall off on its own as you drive as others have stated

Careful, BMW will add this the it's next Executive Package.

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by Gibson6594

Careful, BMW will add this the it's next Executive Package.

That is hillarious, good one!

[mosen7]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Ok, well then, plenty small enough to get pushed in without any resistance. Each exhaust goes in a few inches before turning inward and down and then end up in the last muffler. The pipes are the same size as the opening so.. ..

- Its either still in there in which case will or did melt and become a gooey mess at some point, sticking to the inside of the muffler when you went for your drive
- It could have come out when you went for a drive and would have been hard to notice something that small and flying out at a high rate of speed

Basically, I wouldn't worry about it cause in either case here, no real harm done as the exhaust flow is only in one direction.

Future prevention techniques might include.. ..

- Only buy toys bigger than the exhaust pipe opening
- Stick large sweet potatoes in the openings when not driving the car
- Coral the car so kids can't get near it
- Super glue the kids fingers to their palms

Seriously, if you ever do come across it again, let us know, otherwise Motor On.

Melted foreign plastic in the tail pipe….ugh, I guess it could be worse.
And I hear you on the one direction flow in exhaust.
Buying some super glue and the potatoes too just in case.

Thanks for the feedback!
I feel much better having talked about it with you here.

[mosen7]

Originally Posted by mmm50i

Can you see it lodged in there still? Perhaps try an old school metal coat hanger and try to hook/fish it out since it’s a star shaped container.

No, cannot see a thing in there. I did think about getting a metal hanger. If I get my hands on one I’ll give it a go

[mosen7]

Originally Posted by Gibson6594

Careful, BMW will add this the it's next Executive Package.

Ha!

Executive Bubbles Package _ $3,750
*Required: Air suspension

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by mosen7

No, cannot see a thing in there. I did think about getting a metal hanger. If I get my hands on one I’ll give it a go

Welllll, what sounds like a good idea may not be, I wouldn't fish around inside there with anything. If by chance it's still in there and if its still in its original form, ie: not a molten blob of plastic, I wouldn't want to accidentally push it further in. My guess is your child stuffed it in and it simply slid down till friction took over and stoped it or it hit a chamber baffle. The closer it is to the pipe, meaning between the muffler itself and the end of the exhaust pipe, the easier it will be for it to fly out upon a hard acceleration, if it hasn't already. I guess my thoughts are that poking around in a blind area could only make matters worse.

The only device I can think of to "see" what's potentially in there is to use a endoscope with a light on it. Your local auto parts store may have one they can lend you. Both Autozone and Advanced Auto near me will lend tools, you give then your CC, they scan it, you take the tool, when bringing it back, they release the CC of any charges.

.

[mosen7]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Welllll, what sounds like a good idea may not be, I wouldn't fish around inside there with anything. If by chance it's still in there and if its still in its original form, ie: not a molten blob of plastic, I wouldn't want to accidentally push it further in. My guess is your child stuffed it in and it simply slid down till friction took over and stoped it or it hit a chamber baffle. The closer it is to the pipe, meaning between the muffler itself and the end of the exhaust pipe, the easier it will be for it to fly out upon a hard acceleration, if it hasn't already. I guess my thoughts are that poking around in a blind area could only make matters worse.

The only device I can think of to "see" what's potentially in there is to use a endoscope with a light on it. Your local auto parts store may have one they can lend you. Both Autozone and Advanced Auto near me will lend tools, you give then your CC, they scan it, you take the tool, when bringing it back, they release the CC of any charges.

.

That’s brilliant. I’ll look into that.
See if I can record what I see and share. Would be fun to see right