Part identification
 

Can someone tell me what is that part below the green arrow? Not the air filter housing that it's pointing to but the curved, hard-plastic hosing that looks like it's coming from the radiator? (I couldn't get my Mac to create a circle or anothe arrow) I noticed mine is seperated and there is a gap instead of it being sealed like in the photo.

I tried to close the gap but couldn't get it to stay sealed. I couldn't tell if it needed a clamp or just snapped shut and didn't want to go too far and force or break something without advice.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1169563962.jpg

It is a snorkel to pull fresh air instead of hot air from the engine bay. If you want to keep it pull out the air box and figure out what it is binding on.

Or look up debaffling the air box and take it out as well as the baffle/horn that reduces air flow.

Could this be what has been making the car hesitate upon acceleration?

NO THIS WONT CAUSE A HESITATION

I don't see how it would cause a hesitation either, but sucking in hot engine air instead of cool outside air is robbing you of horse power.

There is an M3 snorkel that was standard on Euro models that you can install that would add additional cold air from one of the brake ducts. I almost made this mod, before deciding on a cold air intake & heat shield. Here is a link to the Euro M3 snorkel mod.

M3 Euro Snorkel

If you don't wanna mess with that, or go the cold air intake route, I'd just buy a new snorkel. The part just snaps in & is fairly cheap @ $25. Here is a link to the Pelican part order guide, part number 13711730756.

Snorkel

Jeron, I don't understand your explaination & suggestion. Did you mean fresh air instead OF hot air? What do you mean "if I want to keep it" and "figure out what it is binding on"? Also, I don't know where I'm supposed to be looking up "debaffling the airbox", in another forum?

I'm sorry for so many questions but I'm just not sure what you're advising me to do or how to do it.

Dude, pull the airbox off first, then see why the snorkel doesn't snap into the box orifice. Taking off airbox off should be real easy.

Yes I meant "instead of" not "instead or". I fixed it.

Sometimes it takes some effort to get the snorkel back in place correctly.

I was suggesting removing the snorkel completely and debaffling the air box. No snorkel and no baffle will give you more engine noise and better air flow. You could remove the air box baffle and leave the snorkel in place or fabricate a snorkel of your own that is less restrictive than the snorkel.

I have the euro snorkel but I never installed it because it didn't look like it would improve things much. I currently run no snorkel and no baffle with a stock air box. I put drop in a K&N filter on race days.

As far as advice on your original question, I would pull the air box out. It requires loosening two 10mm nuts and it popping two metal clips at the MAF tube. Then you need to reposition the snorkel properly and reinstall the airbox.

Here is a thread about removing hte baffle but I doubt your baffle looks exactly like this one.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=189790

Here is what your removed baffle will look like if your car is the same as the one in the pic.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E36-AIR-BOX-TURBULENCE-ELIMINATOR-BAFFLE_W0QQitemZ320045613033QQihZ011QQcategoryZ386 34QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks, Guys.