Throttle body Spacer

[oldtimer]

several weeks ago I decided to eliminate the garbage under the intake manifold come to my surprise that all of those fancy hard rubber tubing are just, fancy fittings to re-direct airflow for the ICV and vent the fumes from the valve cover to the throttle body.  I also took the advice from someone here and bypass the water flow from the  engine through the spacer and back to the transfer tube from the water pump housing.  anyway instead of plugging them like I have seen done I simple loop the two inlet and outlet together.

the question is:  Now that the water flow is no longer taking place through the spacer between the throttle body and the intake manifold.  Can that spacer be eliminated or does it serve another function?

[Wise Old Dog]

Serves no other function. Cleans up the engine a little when you remove it. The studs will stick out more and look out of place unless you cut or replace them with shorter ones.

[Frankie]

Some have just thrown away that heater plate that you are referring to.

[oldtimer]

Maybe I should have asked this at the my initial thread.  Has anyone replace the "aluminum" gasket with a regular gasket.  I have plenty of gasket material I was thinking of just duplicating those gasket vice the aluminum one's.  Any thoughts on that.

[D. Clay]

Maybe I should have asked this at the my initial thread.  Has anyone replace the "aluminum" gasket with a regular gasket.  I have plenty of gasket material I was thinking of just duplicating those gasket vice the aluminum one's.  Any thoughts on that.

Don't see any problem. I cut the studs shorter when I eliminated the heater plate. realoem lists the shorter studs for the non-US version on the 318is.
Here's a link to pic showing the in and out sides of the cannister purge valve:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AF93&mospid=47305&btnr=13_0205&hg=13&fg=15

[gearheadE30]

You don't even have to cut the studs; mine fits fine no problem with both plates removed.