Advice please: Retrofit M Sport Bumper to 2009 E89 35i

[nathannjay]

Hi guys,

I'm hoping to retrofit the M sport bumpers to my 2009 E89 35i, to me the M Sport bodywork looks 100x better!!

I don't think the M Sport option was available when my car was built, so I was wondering if a retrofit was possible to my 2009 model and if the same fittings are used on the standard and M-sport bumpers?

I've seen damaged M sport bumpers on eBay which are in dire need of a respray / repair, but a bumper that doesn't need any work doing would be ideal. Do you guys know where I'd be able to find one at a decent price? (The colour I'm after is sapphire black btw)

Cheers!!

Nathan

 

[Johnbmwz4]

Hi mine is a 2009 non m sport with the m sport bumpers fitted so they do fit but I do believe the fixings are slightly different after reading a couple of threads on here. Attached are a couple of photos.

 

[nathannjay]

Hi mine is a 2009 non m sport with the m sport bumpers fitted so they do fit but I do believe the fixings are slightly different after reading a couple of threads on here. Attached are a couple of photos.

It's great to hear that it can be done!! Cheers. Love the colour of your Z but I don't see it often. What's the colour called? Where did you get your bumpers by the way?

Nathan

 

[benv6]

Hi Mine is a non M-Sport with a sport bumper as well (Saphire Black) - Previous owner changed it.

 

[Kugaman1]

Hi mine is a 2009 non m sport with the m sport bumpers fitted so they do fit but I do believe the fixings are slightly different after reading a couple of threads on here. Attached are a couple of photos.

Hi John,

Did you upgrade the drls to led or are they lci lights?

If you upgraded, can you tell me what type you used as they look like factory.
Cheers

Andy

 

[Freebster]

Yes it can be done as I changed my '09 last weekend. There are 3 new parts you will need - centre duct is different so you will need a new one suitable for your particular engine. Also the vertical side ducts that sit on either side of the centre duct will need changing to M-sport versions. These are so that they duct cooling air correctly from behind the different profiled bumper.

Other than a couple of new plastic clips needed for the vertical (lateral) side ducts, all the original bolts can be reused. There are quite a few of these bolts that need to come off since you'll need to remove the under tray and front sections of the wheel arch liner. I think I counted about 40 bolts mostly all of the same type that needed to be removed.

Part numbers for the vertical side ducts are
Left: 51747903729
Right: 51747903730

Centre duct for the 30i is 51747903728 but check realOEM for your particular engine. The 23i and 35i are both different.

It is not a difficult job, it's just time consuming due to the number of bolts that need to be removed. Also, the washer nozzles are tricky to remove so I ended up draining the washer bottle at the same time and transferring the parts separate from the car. Parking sensors come off easily too, if you have these.

Car looks so much better with the front M-sport bumper. I'm in 2 minds about doing the rear bumper as I'm not convinced the M-sport bumper looks any better. Perhaps the 35is bumper looks the best but I haven't got the dual exit exhaust on the 30i.

Chris

 

[Johnbmwz4]

The car was already fitted with the bumpers when I bought the it and the lights were too so I don't know what they have done to get the white light but it does look good.

 

[Johnbmwz4]

The colour is Havana brown by the way which you will either love or hate. Luckily for me I like it.

 

[Matt Scarbro]

The colour is Havana brown by the way which you will either love or hate. Luckily for me I like it.

Do you have any more pictures of your car John?
I have a Havana car too and am sorely tempted to do the front bumper swap, looks lovely in the picture above!