This Set of Parts

Let`s make sure you are clear on what this listing offers, exactly.

Basically

This listing offers a set of blind plugs (for 20mm hole. ridge around back).

Fitment

The set of parts being offered here is expected to fit

Part Number

The part number officially assigned for this part is 07147140850.

Pictures

The pictures you see on this listing might be of the actual set of parts you would be buying, or it might not be, due to how multi-item listings work.

Tech Notes

Technical analysis

We dismantle many BMW and Mini doors. At the flat bottom edge of these doors, we often find machined holes, typically 20mm in diameter, sealed with black soft plastic round plugs that BMW calls "blind plugs." Sometimes these rot. We offer good, used replacements so that you do not have to live with a sizable hole at the bottom of your door, open to the elements.

Initially, we were puzzled about the purpose of these machined holes. Were they water drain holes? They seemed too high up for that. Even so, we were curious. On one of the E46 doors we finished dismantling, we poured a large glass of water into the inside of the door. None of the water exited from these large, round, machined holes. Instead, the water exited at the officla drain holes: subtle gaps in the door metal, at the very bottom, by the outboard side. There is one such gap toward the rear of the door, and one such gap toward the front of the door.

Car companies consider the presence of water inside the door to be a normal, albeit temporary, event. It is not viable to keep water out, so the car companies accept that premise but they make sure that the water is able to drain quickly. This is one reason to occasionally use a flat screwdriver or similar tool to poke (carefully, without scratching the paint) at these drain holes in your BMW or Mini to make sure they are open. Clogged drains are rare, but when they happen, water can build up and can slosh around at the bottom of the door -- not good.

Even though water inside the door is normal as a very temporary situation, it is vital that none of it contacts the door trim panel or other mechanical or electrical parts. That is why the flexible large seal inside the door, just outboard of the door main trim panel, is so important. Yes, it functions as a sound dampener, but it also an important water barrier. Not just vapor -- actual water, such as might pour in during a rainstorm or a visit to a car wash.

As to the purpose of the holes sealed by the blind plugs? They are useful during vehicle assembly and/or service.

Variations

The E90 door uses two different blind plugs, both for a 20mm hole and boh seemingly sharing the same part number. These plugs are used on many other model series too. Functionally, they appear to be interchangeable.

One variation, used typically at the bottom of the metal door shell, has a shiny finish, a ridge around the back, a dimple in the center of the back area, and a slight wave to the edge on the inside. The other variation, used in the E90 at the rear edge of the metal door shell, has a dull finish, a flat back except for a dimple in the middle, a clean edge on the inside, and the part number shown on the part itself.

Quality

The set of parts we are offering here is a used but genuine Mini set of parts. It was most likely original equipment (OE) installed at the factory when the car was manufactured. The company who supplied this part is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

Finally ...

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