When did BMW start fitting the "rock guard" to the 440i?

[MitchT]

BMW started fitting a "rock guard" to the F32 440i to prevent stone damage to the intercooler rad. From what I can tell this started during "late 2017" production, but does anyone know exactly when? I've seen an 11 January 2018 registered 440i which has a produciton date of 9 October 2017. I can't look at the car as it's too far away, so I wondered if there was any definite way to tell so I can feel confident buying it online and having it delivered. I have the reg number and VIN in case there's any way to find out from these.

[Collectingbrass]

Can you use the VIN to get the specific build date from a VIN look up tool, then use www.realoem.com to confirm whether a guard was fitted to your specific model at that build date?

[MitchT]

According to that the rock guard goes right back to May 2016 when the LCI model started production, but everything else I've read suggests it was only on cars produced from late 2017, so does the info on realoem mean the rock guard can be bought for cars going back to May 2016 but that it isn't necessarily on cars produced from that date?

[MitchT]

If I click on the part number if gets confusing!

1: Implies that the part was found on cars made from May 2016 to December 2019.

2: Seems to imply a date beginning in December 2017!

[MrBig]

The dates next to the model codes are the production dates for that vehicle. I would agree that they started fitting them in Dec 17 as you say.

[MitchT]

"Part 17118485042 was found on the following vehicles" implies May 2016 to December 2019 though. It's not exactly clear!

[MarkJS]

My car is a 2017 LCI and doesn’t have it fitted.

I wouldn’t let the lack of guard put me off an otherwise perfect spec car. They can be retrofitted according to my local dealer.

[MitchT]

MarkJS said:

They can be retrofitted according to my local dealer.

Wonder what they charge for that? I would have thought it would be easier and cheaper to add a layer of fine mesh behind the grille in the large air intake in the front bumper. My other concern, of course, is that damage might already have been done on a car first registered six years ago if it doesn't have the guard.