grill removal quick and no grazed knuckles
#11
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 437
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From: Los Angeles
My Ride: E60 M5 Silverstone/black/alum
mods: 20" Vellano wheels, H&R spring, SS x-pipe + SS Race exhaust, hardwired V1
E60 530i - sport package, bluetooth
mods: M-tech full kit, OEM M5 side mirrors, Hella smoked tail light, Formula One Classic tint 50% all around
Originally Posted by olli_535d' post='277952' date='May 4 2006, 06:19 AM
Just swapped my grill for a black one and have been reading up on "how to" removal instructions on here before, but wasn't perfectly happy with what I could find, as a lot of them involved scraped fingers etc..
Well, here is how I did it. You can do it rather easy all by yourself, but for one little part it does help if you have someone giving you a quick hand (like the ugly guy in front of my car on the pic) for a few seconds only.
After taking out the lip (rubber lip on plastic liner) that seems to be the bonnet seal on top of your grills (it just pops out) you can see the top clips of the grills. Prise them down and push towards you, so they are not locked anymore. (3 each side)
Now with a Torx 30 undo the 5 screws that hold your front apron on the top
you can now easily move it forward between 1 and 2 inch, so you can get behind it to release the clips towards the center and also the ones to the outside. There are 3 clips on top, one to the centre, one to the outside and 2 at the bottom of the grill. the two bottom clips now come out easy, too, and the complete grill slides out to the front.
Refix your 5 screws on top of apron, slide and clip in the new grills, put the sealer lip back on and that's it.
Took me 20 minutes.
Well, here is how I did it. You can do it rather easy all by yourself, but for one little part it does help if you have someone giving you a quick hand (like the ugly guy in front of my car on the pic) for a few seconds only.
After taking out the lip (rubber lip on plastic liner) that seems to be the bonnet seal on top of your grills (it just pops out) you can see the top clips of the grills. Prise them down and push towards you, so they are not locked anymore. (3 each side)
Now with a Torx 30 undo the 5 screws that hold your front apron on the top
you can now easily move it forward between 1 and 2 inch, so you can get behind it to release the clips towards the center and also the ones to the outside. There are 3 clips on top, one to the centre, one to the outside and 2 at the bottom of the grill. the two bottom clips now come out easy, too, and the complete grill slides out to the front.
Refix your 5 screws on top of apron, slide and clip in the new grills, put the sealer lip back on and that's it.
Took me 20 minutes.
I am afraid if I pull it off too hard, I'll break the clips. Any suggestion?
#12
Originally Posted by snikt21' post='407323' date='Mar 26 2007, 05:04 PM
i am giving up. I tried to take off the grill and no luck. Did all of the above steps but it's just too hard to pull that damn clip off!
I am afraid if I pull it off too hard, I'll break the clips. Any suggestion?
I am afraid if I pull it off too hard, I'll break the clips. Any suggestion?
#13
looks like your missing a few teeth.
I guess i got lucky mine went smooth. removed the one grill then reached my hand thru the side of the removed one to get the last clips on the remaining grill....good luck.
I guess i got lucky mine went smooth. removed the one grill then reached my hand thru the side of the removed one to get the last clips on the remaining grill....good luck.
#15
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Chula Vista, California USA
My Ride: 525i Premium Package.
Wish list: HR Sports Spring, AC rear/roof spoiler; Breyton's front airdam.
How do you take the rubber lip on plastic liner? Do you need any tools to pull it out? I was kind of afraid to pull harder, it seem pretty tough to get it off.. any suggestion? Thanks in advance..
Originally Posted by olli_535d' post='277952' date='May 5 2006, 01:19 AM
Just swapped my grill for a black one and have been reading up on "how to" removal instructions on here before, but wasn't perfectly happy with what I could find, as a lot of them involved scraped fingers etc..
Well, here is how I did it. You can do it rather easy all by yourself, but for one little part it does help if you have someone giving you a quick hand (like the ugly guy in front of my car on the pic) for a few seconds only.
After taking out the lip (rubber lip on plastic liner) that seems to be the bonnet seal on top of your grills (it just pops out) you can see the top clips of the grills. Prise them down and push towards you, so they are not locked anymore. (3 each side)
Now with a Torx 30 undo the 5 screws that hold your front apron on the top
you can now easily move it forward between 1 and 2 inch, so you can get behind it to release the clips towards the center and also the ones to the outside. There are 3 clips on top, one to the centre, one to the outside and 2 at the bottom of the grill. the two bottom clips now come out easy, too, and the complete grill slides out to the front.
Refix your 5 screws on top of apron, slide and clip in the new grills, put the sealer lip back on and that's it.
Took me 20 minutes.
Well, here is how I did it. You can do it rather easy all by yourself, but for one little part it does help if you have someone giving you a quick hand (like the ugly guy in front of my car on the pic) for a few seconds only.
After taking out the lip (rubber lip on plastic liner) that seems to be the bonnet seal on top of your grills (it just pops out) you can see the top clips of the grills. Prise them down and push towards you, so they are not locked anymore. (3 each side)
Now with a Torx 30 undo the 5 screws that hold your front apron on the top
you can now easily move it forward between 1 and 2 inch, so you can get behind it to release the clips towards the center and also the ones to the outside. There are 3 clips on top, one to the centre, one to the outside and 2 at the bottom of the grill. the two bottom clips now come out easy, too, and the complete grill slides out to the front.
Refix your 5 screws on top of apron, slide and clip in the new grills, put the sealer lip back on and that's it.
Took me 20 minutes.
#16
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 14,646
Likes: 0
From: NY
My Ride: 2008 Silverstone II E60 M5 2012 E70 AW X5 50i Sport w/ LCI Aero Kit and Rocker Panels
Originally Posted by Brodie' post='420856' date='May 3 2007, 09:43 PM
How do you take the rubber lip on plastic liner? Do you need any tools to pull it out? I was kind of afraid to pull harder, it seem pretty tough to get it off.. any suggestion? Thanks in advance..
#17
Contributors
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Chula Vista, California USA
My Ride: 525i Premium Package.
Wish list: HR Sports Spring, AC rear/roof spoiler; Breyton's front airdam.
Originally Posted by cmansbimmer' post='420861' date='May 4 2007, 02:25 PM
It should just slide right off.
#18
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Leicestershire, East Midlands, UK
My Ride: BMW 520d SE, Jaguar X-Type 2.0d SE,
Land Rover Freelaner 2.5 V6
Bought genuine Chrome grilles today from the main dealer and in the excitement couldnt wait to fit them at home using the valuable instructions posted, I foolishly attempted to fit them whilst at work!!!
OUCH!!!!! bloodied fingers and 20 mins of frustration getting the first grille off, then plane sailing
Looks much better now
OUCH!!!!! bloodied fingers and 20 mins of frustration getting the first grille off, then plane sailing
Looks much better now
#19
Members
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Leicestershire, East Midlands, UK
My Ride: BMW 520d SE, Jaguar X-Type 2.0d SE,
Land Rover Freelaner 2.5 V6
My hands still hurt (proably serves me right for not using your instructions)
Here is Before & After pics
BEFORE
AFTER
Well pleased !!
Noticed some genuine chrome grilles on ebay (damn site cheaper than the dealer prices I paid!!!)
Here is Before & After pics
BEFORE
AFTER
Well pleased !!
Noticed some genuine chrome grilles on ebay (damn site cheaper than the dealer prices I paid!!!)