Replacing Kidney Grills (easy?)

BoostedBimmer · 01-22-2009, 03:24 PM

Thinking about switching out the stock ones with blacked-out ones. How difficult is it to take out the grill? Does the whole front fascia have to come off or loosened up?? Looked at my car couln't see a easy way they would come out.

Thanks

SV Concepts II · 01-22-2009, 03:28 PM

Quite simple actually. Just be gentle on the tabs.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47059

ACZakka325i · 01-22-2009, 03:30 PM

on a scale of 1-5. 1 being the easiest and 5 being the hardest.

This is a 1.

!Xoible · 01-22-2009, 03:39 PM

it's a 0 on that 1-5 scale

modbargains · 01-22-2009, 03:40 PM

-5

mye90 · 01-23-2009, 12:21 AM

i can do it with my eyes closed!

spectrumphoto · 01-23-2009, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Mantis

it's a 0 on that 1-5 scale

Unless you have an e90 then it is about a 6...

moog55 · 01-23-2009, 01:58 AM

10 minute job. 1 on the scale, maybe 0

montreal red · 01-23-2009, 08:41 AM

well it is easy in theory but i actually had a very hard time pushing down on the tabs when i was trying to take the stock grills off... my thumb felt numb after from pushing down on the tabs so darn hard.

Labrada_Exoticz · 01-23-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montreal red

well it is easy in theory but i actually had a very hard time pushing down on the tabs when i was trying to take the stock grills off... my thumb felt numb after from pushing down on the tabs so darn hard.

+1

JC919 · 01-23-2009, 10:36 AM

There are a number of threads on this, just gotta surf through for a while. I put mine on yesterday and despite the fact that I have huge fingers, it couldn't have been easier.

!Xoible · 01-23-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spectrumphoto

Unless you have an e90 then it is about a 6...

not the new E90's

pepper · 01-23-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montreal red

well it is easy in theory but i actually had a very hard time pushing down on the tabs when i was trying to take the stock grills off... my thumb felt numb after from pushing down on the tabs so darn hard.

yeah, people are acting like its a negative 100. bullshit.

if you have big hands it will be harder
if you don't keep the grill straight it will be harder to push the last tab out
having to find the right bit
as this guy mentioned. sometimes you have bad luck and one or two tabs will be super hard to push

its a easy mod compared to alot of mods, but with eyes closed ... ....

mye90 · 01-23-2009, 09:12 PM

it's depends on how experienced you are with your car... first timer with right tool it will take you about 20-30 min...

E92-Lighting · 01-30-2009, 07:44 PM

very easy

Kev · 01-30-2009, 07:48 PM

Pretty easy, if you have a plastic wedge tool to push on the tabs. It'll save your thumb and fingers a lot of grief.

spyderco10 · 02-05-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montreal red

well it is easy in theory but i actually had a very hard time pushing down on the tabs when i was trying to take the stock grills off... my thumb felt numb after from pushing down on the tabs so darn hard.

+1, there was one tab on the outside driver's side that just would not pop through the hole. Had to use a curved torx wrench to compress it enough to pop in the hole. Finally after what seemed like forever I got it.

These things are never as easy as they seem.

montreal red · 02-05-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyderco10

+1, there was one tab on the outside driver's side that just would not pop through the hole. Had to use a curved torx wrench to compress it enough to pop in the hole. Finally after what seemed like forever I got it.

These things are never as easy as they seem.

yea i should have used a plastic wedge tool or something like someone else mentioned here... i didnt have one handy so i just used my thumb and there was always one tab on each side that was a bitch to push down... i actually thought the e90 grills were much easier to do.

jojogoya88 · 02-07-2009, 05:00 PM

Just received carbon fiber grilles in the mail today. THought i would wash the car and then pop in the new ones....oh boy

For about 15-20 min i couldnt get one tab in to pop out. I understand what you have to do, but they just wont budge. Plus i stopped because it was getting dark out, il just try tomorrow morning.

oh and my fingers fell off while doing this, what a bitch.

Fentanyl · 02-07-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montreal red

well it is easy in theory but i actually had a very hard time pushing down on the tabs when i was trying to take the stock grills off... my thumb felt numb after from pushing down on the tabs so darn hard.

+1

Having a long flat head screw driver is a good idea to get to the tabs in the back.

in867 · 02-10-2009, 09:47 AM

Did anyone have trouble with tightening down the 4 hex screws after the install? I couldn't get the drivers side outside screw to bite into the clip. Just kept turning and turning no matter what angle I used.

wolftrouble · 02-10-2009, 11:42 AM

Not too hard, but not stupid-easy either. I have big hands that got scratched up pretty good, since the back of the grills are unfinished and sharp.

Make sure you get the tabs IN the slots. The slots are small enough that you could (and I did) wedge one of the tabs outside the slot, bending the slot a bit. Nothing broke, but it did require re-seating (more cut-up fingers, argh)

Be careful about the two middle clips (at the very least) that the torx screws go into. They're just loosely slid into place, and I bumped one and knocked it off, to drop into the bumper. Took some fishing with a magnet to get it out (more cut fingers wtf!).

Overall though, easiest mod I've done, save for the blood.

01-22-2009, 03:24 PM	#1
BoostedBimmer Enlisted Member 9 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 07 Montego E92 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Replacing Kidney Grills (easy?) Thinking about switching out the stock ones with blacked-out ones. How difficult is it to take out the grill? Does the whole front fascia have to come off or loosened up?? Looked at my car couln't see a easy way they would come out. Thanks
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01-22-2009, 03:28 PM	#2
SV Concepts II 269 Rep 6,093 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 1460 White Oaks Rd. Suite F Campbell, CA 95008 iTrader: (7)	Quite simple actually. Just be gentle on the tabs. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47059
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01-22-2009, 03:30 PM	#3
ACZakka325i Colonel 277 Rep 2,008 Posts Drives: 2 stroke Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CT iTrader: (2)	on a scale of 1-5. 1 being the easiest and 5 being the hardest. This is a 1. __________________ (Waitlist): #1 M2CSL (Current): 2016 F15 X5 3.5xdrive - 2010 997.2 C4S Coupe (Past): 2016 F30 340xi M-Sport -2013 535i xdrive 2008 E92 M3 - 2006 E90 325i 2002 E46 325xi - 1991 E30 325i
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01-22-2009, 03:39 PM	#4
!Xoible Banned 832 Rep 46,029 Posts Drives: .... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: . iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 M3 [4.00] 2007 335i [9.00] 2008 528i [8.00] 2006 Infiniti - G35 ... [8.00]	it's a 0 on that 1-5 scale
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01-22-2009, 03:40 PM	#5
modbargains Brigadier General 170 Rep 3,160 Posts Drives: 08 E90 335i & 01 Toyota Avalon Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: La Habra, CA iTrader: (5)	-5
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01-23-2009, 12:21 AM	#6
mye90 Private First Class 8 Rep 151 Posts Drives: E90 330I Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	i can do it with my eyes closed!
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01-23-2009, 01:58 AM	#8
moog55 Major 55 Rep 1,113 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	10 minute job. 1 on the scale, maybe 0
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01-23-2009, 08:41 AM	#9
montreal red chris 278 Rep 12,144 Posts Drives: White Boat Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (31)	well it is easy in theory but i actually had a very hard time pushing down on the tabs when i was trying to take the stock grills off... my thumb felt numb after from pushing down on the tabs so darn hard. __________________ Current: 2013 F10 M5 & 2016 Mini JCW 2013 GLK350 (gone), 997.1 GT3RS (gone), 2009 WRX STI (gone), e92 M3 (gone)
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01-23-2009, 10:36 AM	#11
JC919 Lieutenant Colonel 72 Rep 1,804 Posts Drives: CSL Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland iTrader: (0)	There are a number of threads on this, just gotta surf through for a while. I put mine on yesterday and despite the fact that I have huge fingers, it couldn't have been easier.
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01-23-2009, 09:12 PM	#14
mye90 Private First Class 8 Rep 151 Posts Drives: E90 330I Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	it's depends on how experienced you are with your car... first timer with right tool it will take you about 20-30 min...
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01-30-2009, 07:44 PM	#15
E92-Lighting 858 Rep 35,253 Posts Drives: Next Generation LED Lighting Join Date: May 2008 Location: Walnut iTrader: (324)	very easy
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01-30-2009, 07:48 PM	#16
Kev Critical Care Anesthesiologist 481 Rep 8,828 Posts Drives: SMB F83 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (24) Garage List 2009 Porsche 911 Ca ... [9.50]	Pretty easy, if you have a plastic wedge tool to push on the tabs. It'll save your thumb and fingers a lot of grief. __________________ kev { divinum est sedate dolorem } "your friendly neighborhood critical care anesthesiologist"
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02-07-2009, 05:00 PM	#19
jojogoya88 Second Lieutenant 32 Rep 262 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 IB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LI, Ny iTrader: (1)	Just received carbon fiber grilles in the mail today. THought i would wash the car and then pop in the new ones....oh boy For about 15-20 min i couldnt get one tab in to pop out. I understand what you have to do, but they just wont budge. Plus i stopped because it was getting dark out, il just try tomorrow morning. oh and my fingers fell off while doing this, what a bitch. __________________ 2008 E90 M3 - Interlagos Blue (stock for now)
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02-10-2009, 09:47 AM	#21
in867 Lateral G 33 Rep 128 Posts Drives: 24 X5 M60i; 20 M2CS Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: STL iTrader: (0)	Did anyone have trouble with tightening down the 4 hex screws after the install? I couldn't get the drivers side outside screw to bite into the clip. Just kept turning and turning no matter what angle I used.
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02-10-2009, 11:42 AM	#22
wolftrouble Private First Class 16 Rep 148 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Sedan Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	Not too hard, but not stupid-easy either. I have big hands that got scratched up pretty good, since the back of the grills are unfinished and sharp. Make sure you get the tabs IN the slots. The slots are small enough that you could (and I did) wedge one of the tabs outside the slot, bending the slot a bit. Nothing broke, but it did require re-seating (more cut-up fingers, argh) Be careful about the two middle clips (at the very least) that the torx screws go into. They're just loosely slid into place, and I bumped one and knocked it off, to drop into the bumper. Took some fishing with a magnet to get it out (more cut fingers wtf!). Overall though, easiest mod I've done, save for the blood.
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