[LACSTER]

Okay so with many pm's asking how to install these grilles I decided to go out today and do the process agian with pics so fellow members can see how easy this is to do. All you need is a Torx-20 screwdriver and about 20 minutes.

First off remove rubber strip in the center on the hood right in front of inside bumber.



Once done you should see two hex bolts underneath.



Now you can start removing the 6 hex bolts using the Torx-20 screwdriver. The 2 in the center is straight forward but the two right on top of each headlight has a cover the needs to be removed first.



There's two clips/locks holding the cover in place. All you need to do is with you fingers just pull the center pin up ( real easy )



Below. Repeat on other side



Once all screws are removed you'll need to pull the center of the front bumper forward to remove chrome grilles. There's nine clips holding it to the bumper. With one hand just pull the grill out on the portion of the grill where you are pushing the clip down with your other hand.







Once both grilles are removed you'll see this.



Now time to install BMW Performance Grilles.



Side by side comparison.



Time to put everything back. The two hex bolts on top of the headlights need to be put on first before the clips/lock pins.



Then place the clip/lock pin in and press down then put lock pin in to secure.





The center piece removed in the beginning need to snap back in.



Now the extra....... Painting silver trim near the fog lights.

All you have to do to remove the mesh is take two fingers and pull forward on each corner to remove the mesh.



Unclip the three parts holding the trim to the mesh.







Paint trim with matte black or gloss spray paint. Your choice. I used matte black then reverse process and install.



Here's the completed look.



Hope this helps all the DIY'er.

Kevin

[Jimefam]

Awesome thanks for this as it's the first thing I'm doing to my car when I get it.

[ibimmer346]

Another alternative for the fins on the lower grills is to get them vinyl wrapped. When I got my car tinted, the tint shop also does vinyl wrapping. I had them wrap the fins in a shiny black vinyl. Looks good so far, and it's reversible. We'll see how the wrapping holds up in the long run, though.

[LACSTER]

Originally Posted by Jimefam

Awesome thanks for this as it's the first thing I'm doing to my car when I get it.

Glad I can help

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

Another alternative for the fins on the lower grills is to get them vinyl wrapped. When I got my car tinted, the tint shop also does vinyl wrapping. I had them wrap the fins in a shiny black vinyl. Looks good so far, and it's reversible. We'll see how the wrapping holds up in the long run, though.

Yep that's another route you can take. I painted mine because the trim pieces are pretty cheap so I can always get new ones. Probably won't need them in the future because I spy an M sport bumper coming

[RC3]

thanks for your photo demonstration

[SCPACKAGING]

As usual Kevin, looks great! Thanks for taking the time to do this.

ibimmer346 - can you post pictures of your wrapped fins?

I am still undecided if I want to go flat black to match the mesh or glossy to match the kidney grills above!

[geneatals]

nice DIY..

on a side note, if one is already having the lower grills wrapped in black vinyl, why not just do the same for the kidney grills as well....

[bavarian19]

Nice! I did this with my E92, and one of the best mods I did!

[antzcrashing]

nice job, looks great. I love my blackout grill too (e46)

[uhn2000]

Awesome!

[BGM]

kind of a shame about the diagonal bits on the radiator..

apart from that, looks great

[Dackelone]

I like IT!!!!!!

[OwnAge]

Sick. Keep it up!! Useful DIY.

[Moko]

look sick with the black grillz

[Oulixes]

Very clear description of the procedure and a good result. Thanks.

[akhter]

this combo works nicely because the leftover white/silver in the headlights matches with the alphine white body.

[Imola.ZHP]

Nice work! Much cleaner!

[Sylon]

Now I know I come from the 1 series community, but we have the same directions for the kidney grill install, and I still dont understand the purpose of removing the rubber seal at the top of the bumper. Its not necessary. Just push down on the grill clips and pull the grill out. Thats how it was on my car, never had to remove any screws or seals.

Just take a flathead screwdriver, press down on the plastic tabs in the clips, pull the grills out. The new ones just snap right in.

[modestforest]

what's the price of the kidneys ?

btw verry nice car !

[LACSTER]

Originally Posted by Sylon

Now I know I come from the 1 series community, but we have the same directions for the kidney grill install, and I still dont understand the purpose of removing the rubber seal at the top of the bumper. Its not necessary. Just push down on the grill clips and pull the grill out. Thats how it was on my car, never had to remove any screws or seals.

Just take a flathead screwdriver, press down on the plastic tabs in the clips, pull the grills out. The new ones just snap right in.

Are you saying to bypass removing the rubber strip and the hex bolt and just use a flat scredriver and pry the grilles out?

Originally Posted by modestforest

what's the price of the kidneys ?

btw verry nice car !

I think they run around $85 each side. I'm not too sure just contact BMW parts dept.

[Sylon]

Originally Posted by LACSTER

Are you saying to bypass removing the rubber strip and the hex bolt and just use a flat scredriver and pry the grilles out?

On our grills, there are no bolts, screws or anything other than clips holding the grills into the bumper (and it doesnt look like yours do either). So why do you need to remove screws and bolts when they don't do anything to hold the pieces in?


So, the tabs that slide into the slots that surround the cavity the grills fit into and the only things you need to pop out. Stick a flathead screwdriver in between the slits in the grill, or a hooked tool, and press down on each tab, gently pulling the grill towards you (to prevent the tabs you just popped out from snapping back in). As you work your way around, the grill piece will eventually pop out.



The directions from BMW on our grill installation also include removing the screws and rubber seal, but as more and more people have done the install on our 1ers, we've figured out that those steps are pointless. Some brave souls just take a firm grip on the grills and just yank them out without damaging the bumper at all.

[gatoman39]

What is that little camera for in this picture. Is it for night vision, never seen that...