35D painted reflectors.

[NeoChaser]

Hi guys,

I m considering painted reflectors for my 35d. Just wondering if fellow diesel owners have done the install? Our petrol brothers have it easy just by removing the front vents. There is absolutely no room on the drive side for us diesel owners. I am guessing I might have to remove the bumper (+ i have the side camera modules as well that i have to worry about).

Thanks in advance.

[Living]

Originally Posted by NeoChaser

Hi guys,

I m considering painted reflectors for my 35d. Just wondering if fellow diesel owners have done the install? Our petrol brothers have it easy just by removing the front vents. There is absolutely no room on the drive side for us diesel owners. I am guessing I might have to remove the bumper (+ i have the side camera modules as well that i have to worry about).

Thanks in advance.

I have the same problem, did you found a solution?

Let me know

[NeoChaser]

Not yet

[Living]

Keep me in the loop, i have the painted reflectors here and wait for the X5 delivery this week.

Did you thought about to remove the mash grit square panel in the wheel house?

[Raptor04]

I did this a few months ago. I think the driver's side had a little more than the passenger side and was easier to start with. Basically, I removed the lower mesh part and then loosened up the lower front bumper and skid plate. Once this was done, I was able to pull the bumper out enough to fit my hand underneath the fender. This worked on the driver's side.

On the passenger side, there was even less room and I couldn't fit my hand back there. So I had to gracefullly use something to leverage the reflector into place. I used a flat edge screwdriver covered in tape to push the reflector up into the hole (so not to scratch the paint) and managed to slide it into place. Was a pain, but doable with some effort.

[Orientexpress]

Installed painted reflectors a while ago for my 2011 AW X5 Diesel LCI. It isn't so bad once you know what you have to do.

I used the instructions to remove the front bumper here on post # 7

http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...t=black+grille

Disconnect your fog lights and PDC when the bumper is loose and then you can totally remove the bumper to install the reflectors.

As for cameras I'm sure there is a harness which you must remove along with the fog lights to get them off.

Good luck!

[Living]

Is there any chance to access by removing just the wheel housing?

This is maybe faster and not as difficult as to remove the front bumper?!

[BLK_08E90]

Originally Posted by Living

Is there any chance to access by removing just the wheel housing?

This is maybe faster and not as difficult as to remove the front bumper?!

I just did mine a couple of weeks ago on my x35d and didn't have to take the bumper off. I just went through the wheel well. removed the bolts on the bottom and side, used a hair dryer to heat up the adhesive and pushed it in. Now to put back, went through the front (just turn the marker side ways and it will fit) I had enough room to stick my hand on the side wheel well and push it from the inside. Took me about an 45 min for both side.

[Living]

Thanks for the advice!
Could you post some picture where i can see which bolts you removed and where you went with your hands?

I guess you did not removed any plastic rivet's?

Thanks for the info!

[BLK_08E90]

Originally Posted by Living

Thanks for the advice!
Could you post some picture where i can see which bolts you removed and where you went with your hands?

I guess you did not removed any plastic rivet's?

Thanks for the info!

I'll take some pictures tonight..I didn't have to take any plastic rivets, just the two bottom screws

[StayRight]

I just ordered my painted reflectors from IND on Monday. I have an '11 d. Will let you know how it goes

[Living]

Cool, lets see some pictures....

Like to see which two screws you have to remove and how much space I to reach in.

I guess it's possible with taking parts of the car.

Thx

[BLK_08E90]

here are some pictures of the bolts I took off on the driver side to give me some room. I managed to squeeze my hand between the body and liner ( see first pic with red markings). So basically I took off the bolts on the side and bottom driverside liners. Sorry for the crappy Cell Phone pictures

[NeoChaser]

oh much thanks for the photos, was the camera module easy to remove?

[m3the01]

So i finished this yesterday,

Let me give u some points of advice to make those attempting this on a diesel lives easier,
1) do not attempt to go through the side vents, waste of time. U cant position the heat source very easily and the drivers side is near impossible. Some suggested to go through the side and squeeze ur hand between the fender flare and bumper. No way, not worth the time.
2)simply remove the front bumper, stupid easy. Takes about 10 minutes and u have clear access to everything. This actually took me 3 hours of total time as i did the passenger side through the front vent opening and had difficulty getting my relatively small hair dryer in there positioned well.


If you remove the bumper it literally will take no more then 30 minutes for the entire job,

For instructions on the front bumper removal see this post,
http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...t=black+grille

Remember for the fender flares there is a little tab the clips in. U need to release this. U can do this easily once the inner and lower 8mm bolts are removed. Just slide ur hand up and press in on the tab and it released from the fender flare.

cheers,

[zhp2m3]

Going to finally give this a try today. Anyone else have to remove the front bumper to install the painted reflectors?