[SAMIAM]

I've always had a grocery gripper in the trunk (center top or top, off to one side). The F10 hook on the left is just not enough for groceries. Unfortunately, the Grocery Gripper does not claim to be compatible with the F10, and in any case the instructions are not updated. So I thought I'd buy one and give it a shot. It was a success. Here's how it can be done.

Note: This is an M5, but I don't imagine it is any different from the other F10s. I could only get the stand-off posts to line up well on the right side of the car, so I suggest putting it there.

Parts required:

82-26-0-153-360 Grocery Gripper
82-11-0-306-046 Installation Bracket

You can use the E60 template, sort of. Flip it upside down for the right side, and then shift it around a bit as you'll see in the photos, for proper alignment. Here I trimmed the template and also cut out the holes so I could see through.


The green tape here roughly marks the edge of the standoff-pillars. This was so I could mock it up before I drilled, to make sure I was comfortable with it.



Taped in place.


This shows you the location I found to be the best placement. You have to make sure the standoff pillars will all be on the flat surface. Here is a closeup of the placement relative to the trunk light. Notice the indent/rivet/weld, relative to the template. That's a good marker. Make sure you feel solid flat panel under all the drill locations.


Mocked it up here, using the previous tape marks. Not quite load-bearing.




Now the drilling. I recommend you put the back seats down, and lay in the trunk on your back.

1. Put a drop cloth in your trunk, or you will be vacuuming up metal bits forever.

2. Remove everything, verify the hole locations and put some masking tape over the metal spots where you will be drilling. It's just a good idea and will capture some of the metal shavings. Put the template up and verify you see the tape through the holes.

3. Get a very small diameter drill, and drop it deep into your drill chuck, so you have maybe an eighth inch of bit sticking out. This will stop you from going too deep. Drill the pilot holes.

4. Next take the drill bit in your hand and insert it into the holes and probe around to make sure there's clear space in there (just to be sure), and how deep the space is. Two of them had quite a lot of depth, one was only an inch. When you drill the 5/16" holes you don't want to be punching through aggressively, who knows what you can kill in there, so take your time, or use a short bit.





Now assemble.










It appears here to not follow the curve of the trunk lip, but it should be parallel to the trunk light, which is the right way to do it, in my opinion.

[wrickem]

Great write up but too bad you didn't search first and see how much better the one from VW/Audi is (and much easier to install). I installed the one you used in my first E92 and that big stupid plastic thing was always in the way and never held onto bags well. For my next e92 and my F10, I went with the fold away Audi one. But good write up for a bad product


http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87352

[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by wrickem

Great write up but too bad you didn't search first and see how much better the one from VW/Audi is (and much easier to install). I installed the one you used in my first E92 and that big stupid plastic thing was always in the way and never held onto bags well. For my next e92 and my F10, I went with the fold away Audi one. But good write up for a bad product


http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87352

An Audi product in a a BMW? Oh the horror! Looks like a decent option though. I think I prefer a completely fixed unit though.

[wrickem]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

An Audi product in a a BMW? Oh the horror! Looks like a decent option though. I think I prefer a completely fixed unit though.

It took a while for me to get over that too, but I figured it was better than going completely aftermarket since the fixed one was always in my way when I was shoving stuff in the trunk.

It's always good to have choices though so we get exactly what we want. And you really posted a GREAT DIY. Hopefully they will move a copy into the permanent DIY forum (unless it's there already).

[robbieracer]

This is great! I like the vw/audi version. Just ordered two off Ebay.