E90 black chrome grills and gills DIY

[GIdriver]

Originally Posted by scottEdog1

6) Tape very thin and log flat head screw driver with electrical tape. Now once done insert and begin squeezing the outer most set of clips on the gill light harness which we are replacing working those out first from that outer end of the gill to the front of the car.

TIP: push the screw driver in slightly behind the front edge to grip the light harness and by NOT putting pressure against the outer car body and paint, help grip and pull the harness out by unclipping each set of clips down the line of the harness body from right to left- this on my car was slightly difficult and took 20 mins on the drivers side including breaking the last clip down the line. As you pinch together the harnesses top and bottom clip sets together work the screwdriver to pull hard out ward at the same time.

Another tip: Put double sided tape WITH THE PLASTIC COVER STILL IN PLACE at the edge of the gill housing where it is most likely to recieve the pressure from the screwdiver to prevent paint damage. I didn't on the first gill and scratched the paint a bit. Just my 2 cents.

[Dominic_M]

Lots of peps with great ideas giving the op a hard time. I have an e90 and it is not as easy as some think. Any videos or pics will be great from some of the pros...

[dagolfpro]

Many of my friends who own e92 have tried to help me change my e90 and failed. e92 is much easier to swap out. I still haven't changed mine yet due to this issue.

[faith&firepower]

Originally Posted by Dominic_M

Lots of peps with great ideas giving the op a hard time. I have an e90 and it is not as easy as some think. Any videos or pics will be great from some of the pros...

I used zip ties to get around the back of the marker through the mesh. Popped right out in 5 sec., no damage. Its actually how to remove them if anyone had access to ALLDATA.

[dagolfpro]

Originally Posted by faith&firepower

I used zip ties to get around the back of the marker through the mesh. Popped right out in 5 sec., no damage. Its actually how to remove them if anyone had access to ALLDATA.

Any chance you have pics of where you inserted the zip ties? I never would have thought of this but it totally makes sense.

[faith&firepower]

I did mine about a year ago. I used two, one at the front, one at the rear of the side marker and used equal force as to not snap the tabs.

[faith&firepower]

I did mine about a year ago. I used two, one at the front, one at the rear of the side marker and used equal force as to not snap the tabs.

[faith&firepower]

I did mine about a year ago. I used two, one at the front, one at the rear of the side marker and used equal force as to not snap the tabs.

[faith&firepower]

I did mine about a year ago. I used two, one at the front, one at the rear of the side marker and used equal force as to not snap the tabs.

[faith&firepower]

I did mine about a year ago. I used two, one at the front, one at the rear of the side marker and used equal force as to not snap the tabs.

[faith&firepower]

I did mine about a year ago. I used two, one at the front, one at the rear of the side marker and used equal force as to not snap the tabs.

[faith&firepower]

I did mine about a year ago. I used two, one at the front, one at the rear of the side marker and used equal force as to not snap the tabs.

[Lerxst M3]

Originally Posted by faith&firepower

I did mine about a year ago. I used two, one at the front, one at the rear of the side marker and used equal force as to not snap the tabs.

Holy multiple posts, Batman!

edited to add: But good post. I will be using this method when I change mine out!

[dagolfpro]

Originally Posted by faith&firepower

I did mine about a year ago. I used two, one at the front, one at the rear of the side marker and used equal force as to not snap the tabs.

I tried this, couldn't get the zip tie underneath it. Can you take a picture of where you inserted the zip ties?

[M3ANMACHINE]

Originally Posted by dagolfpro

I tried this, couldn't get the zip tie underneath it. Can you take a picture of where you inserted the zip ties?

through the mesh I believe. I will likely do this soon as my stickers are beat up and need replacing!

[dagolfpro]

Originally Posted by M3ANMACHINE

through the mesh I believe. I will likely do this soon as my stickers are beat up and need replacing!

no worries, i took it to a shop that does them all the time. they took them off in less than 5 minutes for both. they wouldn't show me how they did it though...

[M3ANMACHINE]

Originally Posted by dagolfpro

no worries, i took it to a shop that does them all the time. they took them off in less than 5 minutes for both. they wouldn't show me how they did it though...

lol.. that's rather odd

[dagolfpro]

Originally Posted by M3ANMACHINE

lol.. that's rather odd

They said only shop employees where allowed in the shop area. i didn't bother to ask how they did it when they said that.

[ms2bmw]

Originally Posted by dagolfpro

They said only shop employees where allowed in the shop area. i didn't bother to ask how they did it when they said that.

Which shop is this? May have mine installed by these guys if cost is reasonable.

[dagolfpro]

Originally Posted by ms2bmw

Which shop is this? May have mine installed by these guys if cost is reasonable.

Sonic in Mt. View

Do you have E90 or E92/3. If it's the E92/3, it's a simple, pull it out while applying force. E90, not the same...

[ms2bmw]

Thanks. Have an E90 and it is a pain to pull it out.

[whats77inaname]

I have an E90, and it took me 5 mins to do this, it's not that difficult. I do believe there's another thread about removal for the E90 that I utilized which negated having to lift the car, etc.

Ah, here we go:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229037

From that thread:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...2&postcount=68