Removal of Kidney Grill
 

I was wondering if anyone has a video or pictures on how to remove the front kidney grills. I have searched, finding nothing with images that show exactly how to remove them. People talk about credit cards, screw drivers and tabs but none of which show how this is done.

Any light that can be shined on the subject is welcomed. I would like to spray mine black but think getting the plastic ones are a better choice since they don't chip.

accelerate rapidly, then stomp on the brakes. at least thats how mine came off during an autocross.


for real though i believe there are a set of clips that hold them in place

If I can find a spare 10 mins tomorow (England time lol) I will get someone to video me doing it and you dont need any tools but please give me time I 'll promise I will try :cool:

Martin

Park behind a Prius.

Really is very simple
1 open the bonnet
2 remove the 4/5 crosshead screws that hold the plastic cover at the front of the car and remove cover it has two small tabs that keep it in place,so slide it forward.
3 look down between the radiator and front and you will see the back of the grill,use your thumbs to gently pry the grill off i started with the top tabs and worked my way around.
It really is very easy and shouldnt take more that 10 mins.
Cheers
Chris:smile:

Here you are as promised the video this is a cheat way how they do it quick in the BM workshops
but be carefull doing it I'm use to doing it so I dont take any respone if you do any damage so good luck :smile:

http://youtu.be/to7HS0RcmOk

Thanks for the video and time. For some reason I don't think this is the proper way of doing it and see why you would warn me of damage. If I even try to do it that way I would surely either damage the grill or get sliced up. Hopefully I can figure this out.

If you dont feel confedent doining it that way dude I can understand LoL, try the way Chris (KillBilly) has exspailned it this might be safer for you, it dont matter how long it takes to do as long as it gets done without any damaged

good luck
Martin :cool:

Thanks Martin, I am sure you have more experience doing that way. For me it seems pretty hard but nevertheless I am very thankful for your response.

I have PM'ed you a couple of times 3.2TI and dont know if they went through so sorry if I've sent them twice :biggrin:

that's how I've always done it, if you do it enough times it can break enough clips that the grille won't stay in fully but mine didn't actually break until about the 5th or 6th time I did it, I had to keep touching up the paint

Yeah I found that out cos I busted one of the clips doing the vid :frown::biggrin: so next time I'll have to be carefull

Ok, so I was able to remove them finally using a little force and paitience. My solutions was to bend the metal tabs slightly upward. This allowed me to free the top easily and then I just pressed the side clips while pushing from the inside out.

My next question is from experiences of other members, which way did you go with when you replaced your chrome grills with black?

Did you purchase new ones already painted?
-"Where did you buy them, are they good quality and do they chip?"

Or

Did you buy the black plastic ones, not painted?
-"Where did you buy them, are they good quality and do they chip?"

Or

Did you paint them yourself?
-"If so what paint did you use, what were the results, and do they chip easily"


PAPAYA Shake, CUBAN STYLE LOL.....

First off dont try an paint them yourself unless you know a good car paint sprayer cos other wise they will turn out looking crap TBH, and the time it takes to prepair them for painting and actully doing the job and the price its not worth it

Second the best thing is go on ebay the are plenty of black or even carbon style grilles on ther for sale for about 35/40 UK pounds ( I dont know what that is in US dollars) or even some of the BMW specialist do them, these type of grilles are readerly avalable and have been for a very long time, I think even BMW main dealers have started doing them but they will charge mega bucks for theres and I bet they aint no different than the ones on ebay, so look on the ebay, if I see any I will post a link on here but some will be in UK pounds though

:cool: Martin





here as promised links
http://www.motormec.co.uk/grille.html
http://www.genkituning.com/Exterior-...ills-s/157.htm
http://www.eurosportdesign.com/c-8-bmw-exterior.aspx
http://www.thefind.com/cars/info-bmw-grill

I found more on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nk...ts_SM&Make=BMW

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nk...ts_SM&Make=BMW

Really thankful for all the details and links. They sell amazing stuff on those sites, wow makes me wish I had one of those 100K cars. I agree with you on the not painting the grill part as I read that they usually chip fast.

Cost for the grills locally might be cheaper for that part but I will still review all options. I believe ecstuning.com has them but not sure of quality.