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2009 bumper looked unfinished

Specific discussion about the E89 2009 Z4 (sDrive35is, sDrive35i, sDrive30i, sDrive23i)
flybobbie
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2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by flybobbie » Mon Jun 15, 2015 8:27 pm

Always thought the front looked a bit odd on Orion Silver, like there were bits missing in the styling.
First mod was to spray grill silver, to give back the 'teeth'.
Then there seemed too much black and the lower spoiler looked detached from the rest of the car.
And now sprayed up the lower intakes silver and the joining bits orion silver.

Image

Wasn't sure what it might look like, but now pleased with result.

RoyS
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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by RoyS » Mon Jun 15, 2015 9:35 pm

100% better IMO, it makes it look like there is a lot more detail in there rather it blending all into one especially the lower intake.

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jimbo1958
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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by jimbo1958 » Mon Jun 15, 2015 9:45 pm

Fantastic work......love it. :thumbsup:
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Swiftly
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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by Swiftly » Mon Jun 15, 2015 9:50 pm

What a difference, looks great :thumbsup:
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Angie4m
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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by Angie4m » Mon Jun 15, 2015 9:58 pm

Nice touches. You probably could have swapped the grill with someone who has a 35is and maybe doesn't like the grill on theirs.

It would be interesting to know how it fairs as there is a 6 series near me where the guy has painted the grill black and its chipping like nobody's business back to the original silver underneath.
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techathy
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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by techathy » Mon Jun 15, 2015 9:58 pm

Taking the orion silver down to the bottom works and removed that detached look. The silver grills & lower intake surrounds look fussy to my eye. But it's not my car, it's yours & if you like it job done. :thumbsup:
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flybobbie
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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by flybobbie » Mon Jun 15, 2015 10:02 pm

techathy wrote:Taking the orion silver down to the bottom works and removed that detached look. The silver grills & lower intake surrounds look fussy to my eye. But it's not my car, it's yours & if you like it job done. :thumbsup:
True, if the grill was black would have kept the lowers black also.

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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by srhutch » Mon Jun 15, 2015 10:14 pm

Looks good :thumbsup:
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Steve109
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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by Steve109 » Tue Jun 16, 2015 6:34 am

Like it :thumbsup:
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Bing
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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by Bing » Tue Jun 16, 2015 6:47 am

That's some great work there - it looks 100% better :thumbsup:
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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by Maniac » Tue Jun 16, 2015 9:13 am

I always noted that one change they made from the original drawings was to make the two small black inserts in the lower intake black when the drawings were body colour. It changed that lower intake to a huge black mouth rather than the original three part drawing of that area. As my car is black its not an issue but on cars that are light in colour, painting those two small plastic inserts the body colour looks much better and back to the original drawing of the car.

Image

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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by imported » Tue Jun 16, 2015 1:21 pm

flybobbie wrote:Always thought the front looked a bit odd on Orion Silver, like there were bits missing in the styling.
First mod was to spray grill silver, to give back the 'teeth'.
Then there seemed too much black and the lower spoiler looked detached from the rest of the car.
And now sprayed up the lower intakes silver and the joining bits orion silver.

Image

Wasn't sure what it might look like, but now pleased with result.
How did you remove the front kidney grills and what torx head do you need? Do you think it's something that can be done without instructions (I know about the rubber seal at the top you move and then 4 torx?)?
At the moment mine are chrome surround with black slats, I want to vinyl wrap the surrounds gloss black as it's the last bit of chrome on my car.

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Angie4m
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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by Angie4m » Tue Jun 16, 2015 4:57 pm

Maniac wrote:I always noted that one change they made from the original drawings was to make the two small black inserts in the lower intake black when the drawings were body colour. It changed that lower intake to a huge black mouth rather than the original three part drawing of that area. As my car is black its not an issue but on cars that are light in colour, painting those two small plastic inserts the body colour looks much better and back to the original drawing of the car.

Image
That's just like the M Sport Bumper on the 35is but it does look much better
Deep Sea Blue sDrive35is - I LOVE IT! Best car I've ever owned :) - Gone
RRS V8 Supercharged - Gone
Abarth 595 Competizione - Gone
Yas Marina Blue M4 Coupe - Gone

Current:
Protonic Blue i8
Amethyst 997
F56 JCW Challenge (19 of 52)

Still Shy and retiring

flybobbie
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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by flybobbie » Tue Jun 16, 2015 6:33 pm

Well it was when i revisited the artists drawing that made me look again at the front of my car.
The original sketches look great, yet they went for a more, half done look. I wonder why?
Even the later sport bumper looks a bit chunky.

The grill area should dominate the front and the lower intakes should be more subtle.

Not quite what the car turned out.

The grill I removed some time ago. From memory you remove the air intake above radiator, then the grills just push out.
May have needed the use of a blunt knife to the lever some parts.

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Re: 2009 bumper looked unfinished

Post by Visionist » Thu Jun 18, 2015 9:14 am

That looks classy... might just have to get this done :thumbsup:
2011 35i "Il Cammello" - Orion Metallic / Pure White Design - Almost Fully Loaded

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