Contact Alienware support. I believe the part number is JV98R.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/8i1t6c/does_the_17_r4_have_a_heat_spreader_for_the_m2_ssd/

Also

https://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=23835

Thanks for the help JOcean. I've tried calling Alienware support at 1 (800) 254-3692 but that's where I'm getting the run around. The support people tell me to call sales and the sales people don't know what I'm talking about. I guess I could just keep trying and hopefully get someone that knows how to help me, but I'd like to avoid doing that as it's a huge pain. I was hoping to get a bit more direction here (i.e. call this number, send an email here, etc).

Hi, I replied to your post but it got deleted it looks like for some reason. I've contacted Alienware Support and was given the run around. Do you know if there is anyone specifically I can contact or an address I can send an email to?

The part number you provided does not appear to be correct. That is for a different Alienware model and the part physically looks different too in the Alienware manual.

Hi @Cakedonut,

Send me a private message with the Service Tag so I can review your case. 

Cakedonut,
Hopefully when Alienware-Eimy gets your service tag number via private message, she can shed some light on this.

I just checked your Forum account. I see no record of any of your post being deleted or removed.

The Alienware m15/m17 parts pages do not mention a heatsink or thermal shield for SSD. They only show =
R46DX SSD thermal pad
28J9W SSD bracket

JOcean,
Part number JV98R (heatsink for SSD) is for the following PC =
Alienware 15 R3/R4, 17 R4/R5
Inspiron 7577/G5 15-5587/G7 15-7588

Hi Chris, thanks for checking that. Can you please look at the manual I linked for the Alienware m15 again (https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/alienware-m15-laptop_service-manual_en-us.pdf). This is probably why I'm having a hard time getting this ordered. You said that there are not parts for a heat shield (called a "thermal shield"), but in the manual on page 46 it says one exists and to contact Dell Support to order it.

I still have gotten no where with this. I've been extremely patient with trying to get this heat shield ordered, even before I came onto the forums, but I'm beginning to get frustrated. I'm still within my 30-day return window and am starting to reconsider my purchase. If this experience is any indication of what I can expect from Dell Support in the future, I'm not sure it's something I want to deal with.

Thank you @Alienware-Eimy. I will contact sales and try to order it.

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@Cakedonut wrote:

I bought a new Alienware m15. When I purchased the unit, I only got a 256GB M.2 drive and added my own 1TB M.2 drive after I received the unit. Everything works great, no issues there. I was reading through the manual (https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/alienware-m15-laptop_service-manual_en-us.pdf) to make sure I didn't miss any steps while I was doing the hard drive install and noticed that there is a heat shield that goes over the M.2 slots. Per the manual, this heat shield only comes with units that come installed with the Intel Optane M.2 or a 512GB M.2 or larger but it says that you can contact Dell Support to get the heat shield if your unit did not come with that.

And there is my problem. Every person I've spoken to at Dell Support has no idea what I'm talking about. My ticket has been escalated, I've been told to contact sales. Every person I've spoken with so far cannot help me or does not know how to help me. Can anyone here help me or recommend a next step of action?

For reference, the heat shield I'm referring to is on page 46 of the manual I linked above. Here is snippet from that page: link. And here is a picture of the heat shield: link.

Thank you.

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my 15 R3 didn't come with this, Dell Support tech sent me it through warranty replacement part. You can try emailing Marcos. Dell_AW_NAE1@dell.com My 15 R3 came with a 128GB SSD. He's been able to rectify any issues I've had thus far with my Alienware 15 R3 from a faulty AC Cable, to that part missing.