Help! Bought a Z4 like this, any ideas what was here and what these cut cables mean?

[toddrick]

Thanks for these pictures Mike
So it seems that there are 4 exits total, one at the bottom, 2 at the top, closed, and one other tube leading somewhere, where is it leading to?

Yes from Mike's photos it looks as though it's only the convoluted plastic tube you are missing?
The other two have had the ends opened though?

Yes indeed, they had their endings opened on mine, still closed on Mike’s

 

[toddrick]

I found part of the firewall removed and some cut cables

Looks like the kind of damage Pine Martens cause. They are very prevalent in mainland Europe, Canada and northern parts of the US. We had similar damage to the insulation on underside of a 2 Series bonnet when we were living in Luxembourg.

This makes sense, I am not far from Luxembourg
I didn’t know this was a common problem, very curious to find out what this missing pieces impact, as the car drives as normal and no lights whatsoever

 

[toddrick]

Also thanks everyone for the help so far
Super helpful!

 

[DMike]

Took a closer look and one additional accessory worth mentioning, I have a Defa’s 240 V heater installed for winter use. In addition to the block heater it has one mains socket inside the cabin for a cabin heater (e.g. Defa’s Termini). That mains cabling goes through that same rubber grommet, being the upper cable in my images. Perhaps OP’s car has once had one installed and removed? Defa’s set has an exterior mains plug which is typically installed under the number plate and the cabin mains outlet under the glove box, but the exact location is up to the installer.

 

[DMike]

I found part of the firewall removed and some cut cables

Looks like the kind of damage Pine Martens cause. They are very prevalent in mainland Europe, Canada and northern parts of the US. We had similar damage to the insulation on underside of a 2 Series bonnet when we were living in Luxembourg.

This makes sense, I am not far from Luxembourg
I didn’t know this was a common problem, very curious to find out what this missing pieces impact, as the car drives as normal and no lights whatsoever

Pieces coming together, no cabling missing, just the ends of the rubber grommet and some firewall noise insulation.