front black grills

[Boltz]

Step_change I want go the other way and go from black mirrors to silver....so you have silver and I have black perhaps we could look at a swap!!!!!

 

[ihadablackdog]

I have an alpine white e89 and decided to change the grills for the silver 35i grills.

I like the black ones, but felt these are just a little different cos everyone does the gloss black.

 

[step_change]

QQ guys.
I had a look at my car and at the bottom of the grills behind them at the back there is some very dense grey foam material. Whats that al about? Do you guys have that on yours?

 

[Silverstar]

That dense foam you are talking about is below the grills behind the bumper right? I think it's part of the bumper protection / assembly. As far as I can remember there isn't anything directly behind the grill.

 

[step_change]

That dense foam you are talking about is below the grills behind the bumper right? I think it's part of the bumper protection / assembly. As far as I can remember there isn't anything directly behind the grill.

Yes that's right. The bottom of the grills just touches it.

 

[Silverstar]

That dense foam you are talking about is below the grills behind the bumper right? I think it's part of the bumper protection / assembly. As far as I can remember there isn't anything directly behind the grill.

Yes that's right. The bottom of the grills just touches it.

Yep that's part of the bumper protection, officially called shock absorber. Part number 2 on realoem:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=LM52-EUR-06-2009-E89-BMW-Z4_30i&diagId=51_7175

 

[warmasice]

Removing the grills is driving me insane. Am I pushing the tabs in towards the centre of each grill or towards the outside? Anyone got any pointers?!

 

[Smartbear]

Removing the grills is driving me insane. Am I pushing the tabs in towards the centre of each grill or towards the outside? Anyone got any pointers?!

Can you not tell by looking at the replacements? :?
Rob

 

[warmasice]

Removing the grills is driving me insane. Am I pushing the tabs in towards the centre of each grill or towards the outside? Anyone got any pointers?!

Can you not tell by looking at the replacements? :?
Rob

Tried that Rob. Been at it an hour and only unhooked two tabs.

 

[Smartbear]

Removing the grills is driving me insane. Am I pushing the tabs in towards the centre of each grill or towards the outside? Anyone got any pointers?!

Can you not tell by looking at the replacements? :?
Rob

Tried that Rob. Been at it an hour and only unhooked two tabs.

It’s tight for room behind the grills, I’m assuming you’ve removed the panel under the bonnet which allows you to skin your knuckles on the radiator?

 

[warmasice]

Hi Rob, yeps, panel was removed. Managed to get them removed.. eventually. Only took me 2 hours.

 

[Smartbear]

Hi Rob, yeps, panel was removed. Managed to get them removed.. eventually. Only took me 2 hours.

Labour of love, it’s worth the pain & anguish if it improves the looks
Rob

 

[Busterboo]

I’m assuming you’ve removed the panel under the bonnet which allows you to skin your knuckles on the radiator?

 

[jllyons10]

Installed these black grills today. OEM. Gloss black on perimeter and splines are flat black. Nice.

 

[MACK]

I'm torn between the Gloss/Satin Black grilles on my Alpine White like this;



or to go for the Chrome/Aluminium ones from 35i/is like this;



I've been undecided for weeks now, first world lockdown problems! :?

Although I do think I'm finally swaying towards the black now!

 

[enzed4]

I'm torn between the Gloss/Satin Black grilles on my Alpine White like this;

FK5E6313 - Version 2.jpg

or to go for the Chrome/Aluminium ones from 35i/is like this;

image[2].jpeg

I've been undecided for weeks now, first world lockdown problems! :?

Although I do think I'm finally swaying towards the black now!

Definitely black - gives the front of the car a more uniform look with a white car. You can see it kind of matches the silver wheels if you put the chrome/aluminium ones on but then it looks out of place when just looking at the front.

 

[Silverstar]

I am not into the black and white look so I would say the 35is grill on a white car.

 

[obelix54]

Has anyone tried spraying the grills themselves ? The chrome surround is looking a bit tatty on mine.

 

[Timmyboybunter]

Has anyone tried spraying the grills themselves ? The chrome surround is looking a bit tatty on mine.

Yup

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I did on my E86 but stone chips appeared very rapidly. Apparently Plastidip is more durable but it wasn’t readily available when I did mine. I bought replacement black grills from eBay for £20.