[Ekoz]

Guys i have a 316i that appears to have a rat infestation. I have attached pictures of what appears to be rat poop. I can’t seem to find out what’s the engine part called. It is found at the bottom left of the engine bay, could you help me out?

You can also see the wires have been “mauled” is it extremely dangerous? I have an appointment with my local dealership next week.

[dmaxdmax]

The wires look intact. Your car is still running okay?

They make a liquid electrical 'tape' that you could put on the wires where the insulation is gone and I think you'd be fine.

Moth balls supposedly keep rodents away...maybe you could sprinkle some around your garage or put some in a container nearby where this all happened?

[Ekoz]

Originally Posted by dmaxdmax

The wires look intact. Your car is still running okay?

They make a liquid electrical 'tape' that you could put on the wires where the insulation is gone and I think you'd be fine.

Moth balls supposedly keep rodents away...maybe you could sprinkle some around your garage or put some in a container nearby where this all happened?

Well i have got an RPA Sensor failure and i can’t check my tyre pressure in the Idrive menru.
Thanks, I shall try using moth balls!

[Chihuahua]

Go to the grocery store, get some of the hottest hot sauce you can find. dilute it with water in a spray bottle, lightly mist your engine compartment and anywhere else you are seeing signs of rat infestation. If you don't deter them, they WILL come back again and again and again. Traps won't do it.

Yes, bare wiring can be dangerous. Honda produces a capsaicin laced electrical tape to repair wiring that was damaged by rodents, you might want to grab a roll and insulate those wires.

good luck, I have seen this many times over the years. It's not uncommon.

[J00PTv]

man, I have been worried about leaving my car in a Chicago garage (my own home garage) due to the ally and them ally rats!

[im_an_alien]

Peppermint extract....soak cotton balls with the stuff and place around the garage. Smells good and rodents hate it. If storing vehicle put some around engine bay, trunk etc and they will stay away

[Billfitz]

If you're in a garage use rat bait. That gives them something to much on other than your car, and gets rid of them. Since they're carriers of fleas that in turn carry disease you don't want them around anyway.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

Go to the grocery store, get some of the hottest hot sauce you can find. dilute it with water in a spray bottle, lightly mist your engine compartment and anywhere else you are seeing signs of rat infestation. If you don't deter them, they WILL come back again and again and again. Traps won't do it.

Yes, bare wiring can be dangerous. Honda produces a capsaicin laced electrical tape to repair wiring that was damaged by rodents, you might want to grab a roll and insulate those wires.

good luck, I have seen this many times over the years. It's not uncommon.

Hot sauce doesn't work. Setup some rat traps to catch them. There are several options on mousetrap Monday's YouTube channel.

[Solidjake]

The wires on that connector to the bottom are chaffed a bit. Cover them up.

[Dreamvillainz]

bro wtf!! good luck

[dmaxdmax]

Originally Posted by Ekoz

Well i have got an RPA Sensor failure and i can’t check my tyre pressure in the Idrive menru.
Thanks, I shall try using moth balls!

I can't help you with either, other than to copy this so everyone doesn't focus on the rats. But, you might want to start another thread on these issues which may or may not have anything to do with your rats.

But they may? If you haven't yet, I'd look really closely around to see if there are droppings elsewhere. I honestly don't know if that's their nest or just their outhouse. If you don't have an LED flashlight of at least 100 lumens, you should get one...it's amazing how you can see things you'd never see with just ordinary room light.

Oh, maybe also put up a threatening sign with a picture of a rat with a red circle/slash through it. They're very smart; maybe that'll get through.

[Billfitz]

That's definitely rat shit, and they do eat insulation on wires. So do mice, but those turds are too big to be mouse crap.

[Pauloxxi]

I used this brand to catch a mice in my garage. They make product for rats as well. It took only one hour to get the bastard. Based on your findings, you more or less know where the rat(s) circulate, so put the traps with bait around there.
If you don't get this rat soon, I would remove your car from this garage, otherwise you Will get more damage.
After that, consider a detailed review in your garage and try eliminating any source of food for them.
That's what I follow on mine. So far so good.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

Hot sauce doesn't work. Setup some rat traps to catch them. There are several options on mousetrap Monday's YouTube channel.

It most certainly does, it's why Honda produced the tape that they did.

Traps will kill them, but once one rat leaves an odor trail behind they will keep coming, and coming, and coming, and they will reproduce faster than you can kill them. Ask me how I know.

[Momir13]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

It most certainly does, it's why Honda produced the tape that they did.

Traps will kill them, but once one rat leaves an odor trail behind they will keep coming, and coming, and coming, and they will reproduce faster than you can kill them. Ask me how I know.

I'll bite, how do you know?

[Gen13 F36]

Time to get a Cat

And drive your car everyday. Cat love it and rat hate it.

[floridaorange]

Moth balls will keep everything away - including you - pursue any other options.

[Billfitz]

Moth balls supposedly keep critters out of gardens too. They don't. The only thing I've found that keeps squirrels, raccoons and possums out of my garden is a .22 caliber attitude adjustment.

[bimmer456]

If it runs and drives just vacuum up the turds and sell it for cash at CarMax.

[dougstand]

In the 2nd year I owned my 435i, rats got to the engine cover wiring harness and ate a lot of it while I was away for awhile. Car worked enough to get it to BMW. Had to r/r 4 wiring harness parts, ignition coil and a rear cover. Total = $3K. All but $100 paid for by $100-deductable comprehensive with AAA insurance. Depending on whether the car is garaged, homeowner's insurance may also cover it. Rats terminated.

[Gen13 F36]

Originally Posted by dougstand

In the 2nd year I owned my 435i, rats got to the engine cover wiring harness and ate a lot of it while I was away for awhile. Car worked enough to get it to BMW. Had to r/r 4 wiring harness parts, ignition coil and a rear cover. Total = $3K. All but $100 paid for by $100-deductable comprehensive with AAA insurance. Depending on whether the car is garaged, homeowner's insurance may also cover it. Rats terminated.

We got that you can claim it on your comprehensive coverage on your insurance. But rats mark there territory, so they might come back to the car no matter how fix and clean the car... that why people suggesting selling the car. You need to completely eliminate the rat infestion in your house/garage.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by Gen13 F36

We got that you can claim it on your comprehensive coverage on your insurance. But rats mark there territory, so they might come back to the car no matter how fix and clean the car... that why people suggesting selling the car. You need to completely eliminate the rat infestion in your house/garage.

Use one of those trash can roller type traps with water at the bottom you'll catch a dozen or so in a day or two.