i had fitment issues until I changed out the absorbers with the correct M ones. They are only $18 a piece from Garry, why not get it done right then

 

Good Idea. Even at twice that price it would still be worth getting the correct foam absorbers. Cutting out the places on the foam where the brackets go is easy enough, but I bet that the M Tech absorbers have a slightly different contour to them that fits the M Tech bumper better than the standard bumper absorber. For this reason it would be better to get the M Tech foams. I wonder if BMW includes these in the newer M Kits. Mine didn't come with them so I had to modify the oem ones for the standard bumper, but that was almost three years ago......maybe the newer ones come with them.

 

Thanks for the advice S4. I will definitely get them.

And they did leave out the foam absorbers completely. For some reason, the front bumper could not fit correctly with them. I did have them try the washer method, but there is still a significant gap. Hopefully, the right absorbers will fix that.

Thanks

 

chang: here are the parts you need

51117896591 18.75

51117896592 18.75

While I cant say the bumper was "Easier" to put on, once I got it all fitted up and the sides clipped in, there werent any fittment issues. If you did the intsall yourself, you can understand that there are a number of areas under the bumper, and at the fender which need to be installed just right for the lines to match up. In your Pm, you said that your installer didnt use any of the absorbers? If thats the case, then def get the M ones and reinstall the front. With the right absorbers, when you tap the front bumper cover, there is no gap between it and the absorber. This is the way it should be for slow speed impacts, as well as taking "some" shock in a higher speed crash. the absorbers can help avoid tweaked engine rail mounts when the front aluminum reinfocement bar/carrier, gets smashed in (which is does). gluck on the fix.

 

unfortunately, the recent mtech kits still do not include the right "M" absorbers

 

It sounds like I definitely should nt leave out the absorbers.

So, they're not available? Seems like I'm SOL. I could try to see if the shop will mod the OEM absorbers, but they seem very reluctant to do so.

Thanks for all your help!!

 

no, they are still available, they are just not included in the kit.

I just got mine a couple weeks ago. Call Garry to order them (gromani@bmwofnewport.com), and he will get them shipped out within 2-3 days.

 

Awesome! Thanks. One last quick question. If I got the 4 plastic fender lines for the kit, should that and the absorbers eliminate most of the fitment issues?

Thanks again!!

 

i didnt get any new fender liners with my kit, so I followed the cutting directions. Its not bad and fitment is good now, so I didnt bother getting the M liners. If you already have the m liners, you should get a good fitting. it takes time and a little experimentation on angles, pressure, etc to get the right fit. make sure the bumper cover clips bolted to the fender are on tight as well. I noticed those black brackets can come loose over time, which results in the bumper cover not fitting tight on the fender.

 

Ok. Thanks man for all your help. I hope this will resolve most of the issues.

Hate looking at a 50k car and seeing gaps.