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E86 alternate front grille types

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
Nash3vans
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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by Nash3vans » Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:44 am

I modified a set. Ended up looking like this
51A4885A-50BA-47E5-99E6-4075E368D9C2.png
51A4885A-50BA-47E5-99E6-4075E368D9C2.png (1.28 MiB) Viewed 1005 times
2005 merlot 2.5 auto.313s.e46 m3 front brakes.Strut brace,poly bush’s front, m front bumper,modified grilles,bc racing coilovers,facelift lights all round,modified rear bumper,s/wheel retrimmed, Merc slk seats. scorpion exhaust, many interior mods.

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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by ph001 » Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:31 am

I'm still looking for a gloss black with chrome surround solution. Doesn't seem to be available without painting the oem ones. The Z4M ones etc are matt black.
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19" CSL's | Eibach Springs | Aeroskirts | Z4M front bumper | Clear brake light | ZHP | RCH+| Stubby

2004 E46 M3 coupe manual - gone but not forgotten.

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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by Z4C_er » Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:34 am

ph001 wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:31 am I'm still looking for a gloss black with chrome surround solution. Doesn't seem to be available without painting the oem ones. The Z4M ones etc are matt black.
Yes, popping out the OEM ones for a respray would be quite easy. You could achieve a great finish with some care.
2006.5 E86 Z4C si SE Phoenix Yellow

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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by Z4C_er » Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:34 am

Nash3vans wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:44 am I modified a set. Ended up looking like this 51A4885A-50BA-47E5-99E6-4075E368D9C2.png
That's nice. Did you remove every second slat from an aftermarket set?
2006.5 E86 Z4C si SE Phoenix Yellow

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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by Z4C_er » Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:35 am

Z4C_er wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:34 am
Nash3vans wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:44 am I modified a set. Ended up looking like this 51A4885A-50BA-47E5-99E6-4075E368D9C2.png
That's nice. Did you remove every second slat from an aftermarket Salberk set?
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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by Nash3vans » Mon Jun 24, 2019 10:26 am

Thanks. Yeh every other salt removed, bit of rubbing down and they came out ok. Nothing out there different so I had to have a go. I was thinking of getting a set of the m5/3 later grilles and butchering em but changed my mind.
2005 merlot 2.5 auto.313s.e46 m3 front brakes.Strut brace,poly bush’s front, m front bumper,modified grilles,bc racing coilovers,facelift lights all round,modified rear bumper,s/wheel retrimmed, Merc slk seats. scorpion exhaust, many interior mods.

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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by Angelus666 » Thu Oct 10, 2019 4:44 pm

Nash3vans wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:44 am I modified a set. Ended up looking like this 51A4885A-50BA-47E5-99E6-4075E368D9C2.png
Can we more pics of your car? Looks lovely from that one.... :thumbsup:

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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by Z4C_er » Tue Jun 30, 2020 4:31 pm

So just to resurrect an old thread, I received a set of 4-series grilles in the post yesterday, and surprisingly, they seem to suit the Z4 grille size and shape well. Now I need to get to them with a dremel. But first, I have to make a plaster mold so they hold their position, otherwise they will move all over the place.
grille.jpg
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grille3.jpg
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grille2.jpg
grille2.jpg (199.56 KiB) Viewed 711 times
I'll update as I progress.
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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by Z4C_er » Thu Aug 27, 2020 9:53 pm

So the last couple of days have had me intermittently attacking the 4 series grille with a 'dremel' (OK, a LIDL equivalent) to get it to fit into the Z4 surround. Today I was successful and have glued the parts together using araldite as a placeholder bond before I attack it with JB-Weld and leave it overnight to set. Tomorrow I'll trim the back so I can fit it into the bumper aperture. I found that by trimming the frame of the 4 series to sleeve into the Z4 frame meant I could bond the slats by filling the cavity of the slats with araldite against the frame. See the picture for explanation.
grille4.jpg
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grille5.jpg
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grille6.jpg
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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by ph001 » Thu Aug 27, 2020 11:27 pm

Can’t wait to see these on the car. Good job :thumbsup:
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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by Z4C_er » Fri Aug 28, 2020 9:40 am

1st try. Needs some trimming. Also, should I keep the black?
grille9.jpg
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grille10.jpg
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grille11.jpg
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And a photoshop of-sorts:
grille12.jpg
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Last edited by Z4C_er on Fri Aug 28, 2020 10:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by enuff_zed » Fri Aug 28, 2020 10:02 am

They look nice. Not so angular as the ones at the beginning of this thread. A bit of a curve suits the car better.
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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by kis » Fri Aug 28, 2020 12:41 pm

These look quite good. I like the double slat look...

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BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by Penelope » Fri Aug 28, 2020 1:27 pm

The ZunSport Mesh Grilles are certainly well made and fit perfectly. They were on my car when I bought it but since removed as I am pretty conventional when it comes to tastes...prefer the grey/black coupes and the CSL look but some people like Sepang Brown or Baby Sick Yellow. It would be boring if they all looked like carbon copies and those that can pull it off should be saluted for being different. There's another post on here about the ZunSport and as mentioned in that mine are available for sale. Mint condition open to offers. Cheers
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E86 alternate front grille types

Post by kis » Fri Aug 28, 2020 2:00 pm

Z4C_er wrote: Tue Jun 30, 2020 4:31 pm I received a set of 4-series grilles
What version? F32?
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

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