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      03-03-2014, 10:59 AM   #111
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It was not super easy but not impossible. Some suggestions to make removal easier. After removing the screws and pulling the plastic, I used some silicone spray on the tabs to make them release a litter easier. I also wore a long sleeve shirt and wore gloves. The gloves worked great. They gave me better grip and make removing tabs easier. The long sleve protected me from scratches. Took me about 45 mins realisticlly to get job done. Oh and OEM grill came out without any broken tabs.
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      03-18-2014, 12:11 AM   #112
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Hey guys just installed my new grill, then i noticed that the hood is now misaligned by about 1 or 2 millimeters. I also noticed that while i was gently getting my hand through the gap to get to the grill clips, the whole bumper and light assembly was also flexing. The BMW dealership said that i may have voided my warranty by simply replacing my grill... Should i worry about water leakage or electrical water leakage? Any advice guys? it was a simple job and i was very careful and i didnt break anything. I tried literally 30 times to try to realign the hood with the emblem scoop
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      03-18-2014, 07:00 PM   #113
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Removed the 8 screws but my bumper won't come out. I managed to pull the bumper out of the 4 metal clips but I can't even fit my hand behind the grill. What am I doing wrong??
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      03-18-2014, 08:42 PM   #114
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Originally Posted by Dan_335i View Post
Removed the 8 screws but my bumper won't come out. I managed to pull the bumper out of the 4 metal clips but I can't even fit my hand behind the grill. What am I doing wrong??
Interesting. I just did this and I didn't take out any screws on the top. I was able to squeeze my hand in the second slot near the outside, & with my fingers pull on the tabs enough to get them to release. Took a while, and some cussing, but I got it done.
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      03-19-2014, 01:27 PM   #115
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Interesting. I just did this and I didn't take out any screws on the top. I was able to squeeze my hand in the second slot near the outside, & with my fingers pull on the tabs enough to get them to release. Took a while, and some cussing, but I got it done.
Which kidney did u take off first? And which tab did u unclick first? I tried unclipping by sticking my hand in the kidney but I pull on the tab it won't unclip.
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      03-24-2014, 06:42 PM   #116
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This post came in handy today. Thanks
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      03-31-2014, 08:41 PM   #117
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Great DIY Thanks! Took me about 45 mins as well cause I was a little to hesitant at first to pull the bumper forward but eventually grew a pair. So much easier on my previous E90.
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      04-06-2014, 08:18 AM   #118
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Damn. Couldn't do it. Chickened out. Couldn't pull the bumper far enough forward. I'll try the no-tools method next and yank it out from the front if I can get my fat fingers through the slats.
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      04-09-2014, 07:17 PM   #119
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Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i View Post
Damn. Couldn't do it. Chickened out. Couldn't pull the bumper far enough forward. I'll try the no-tools method next and yank it out from the front if I can get my fat fingers through the slats.

I did the stainless steel pedal DIY before this one, which was annoying as hell. Impatient as I was by then, I tried then to do the grill with some finesse and it did not work at first. Had to take a shortcut. I broke a few slats off the chrome grill to get my fat hands in there and popped it off from the inside. Ultimately, I think this is much easier than stretching the front bumper, especially if you wont need the chrome ones again.


The new ones snapped right into place. A few scratches and that's all.


.
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      04-13-2014, 09:49 PM   #120
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i View Post
I did the stainless steel pedal DIY before this one, which was annoying as hell. Impatient as I was by then, I tried then to do the grill with some finesse and it did not work at first. Had to take a shortcut. I broke a few slats off the chrome grill to get my fat hands in there and popped it off from the inside. Ultimately, I think this is much easier than stretching the front bumper, especially if you wont need the chrome ones again.


The new ones snapped right into place. A few scratches and that's all.


.
haha i may have to end up doing what u did. in the first post it says u pull the bumper forward enough to fit a arm in there. mine doesnt yank that far forward. i tried pulling as hard as i can. is this what happened to u?


u started with the right grille which clips did u unclip first?

Last edited by Dan_335i; 04-13-2014 at 10:12 PM..
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      04-14-2014, 02:23 PM   #121
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Originally Posted by Dan_335i View Post
haha i may have to end up doing what u did. in the first post it says u pull the bumper forward enough to fit a arm in there. mine doesnt yank that far forward. i tried pulling as hard as i can. is this what happened to u?


u started with the right grille which clips did u unclip first?

Pretty much. I started with the side clip first and then worked my way around counter clockwise. I wasn't able to pull the bumper that much forward either.
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      04-14-2014, 04:13 PM   #122
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i View Post
Pretty much. I started with the side clip first and then worked my way around counter clockwise. I wasn't able to pull the bumper that much forward either.
Did u just rip the kidney grille black things out or did u use a tool to cut them?
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      04-14-2014, 05:24 PM   #123
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i View Post
I did the stainless steel pedal DIY before this one, which was annoying as hell. Impatient as I was by then, I tried then to do the grill with some finesse and it did not work at first. Had to take a shortcut. I broke a few slats off the chrome grill to get my fat hands in there and popped it off from the inside. Ultimately, I think this is much easier than stretching the front bumper, especially if you wont need the chrome ones again.


The new ones snapped right into place. A few scratches and that's all.


.
Wow! I'm glad in the UK we get grilles with 8 fins from factory so we can easily get our hands through the grill to remove with no cuts or unbolting the bumper!
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      04-14-2014, 06:54 PM   #124
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Did u just rip the kidney grille black things out or did u use a tool to cut them?
They're not that sturdy. If you grab 2 or 3 of them and squeeze firmly, they just snap. No cutting tools. Just my frustrated bloodied fingers and some willpower.
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      04-18-2014, 11:07 PM   #125
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OK, I wanna change my grills. Somebody here said they can just be pulled out with some courage and determination. Well has anyone thought of tying a rope through one of the gills and tie the other end to say a fire hydrant and just back up the car? Would that work?
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      04-20-2014, 10:58 AM   #126
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Gonna install new grills, reflectors, keyhole cover, and clutch stop this afternoon. No way in hell am I going to remove the rubber weather stripping and unbolt the bumper of a 3 day old car just for some grills. LOL
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      04-22-2014, 08:48 PM   #127
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OK, I took a very good look at how the grills are attached to the bumper, and I have an idea. I am tinkling of using a thick rope or cable or cables attached to a steel bar and wrap it around the tab through the slats and just pull on the cables.

Now pulling on the cables would exert force on the center part of the tab which is what grabs the inside of the bumper edge and push it down, and the pull should pull the tab loose.

I think there is a good chance it would work.

My second idea would be to simply cut all the slats, reach inside, and press the center of the tab to loosen the grill. The center of the tab is not hard to press down.
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      04-26-2014, 01:25 PM   #128
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robgutie328i
It was not super easy but not impossible. Some suggestions to make removal easier. After removing the screws and pulling the plastic, I used some silicone spray on the tabs to make them release a litter easier. I also wore a long sleeve shirt and wore gloves. The gloves worked great. They gave me better grip and make removing tabs easier. The long sleve protected me from scratches. Took me about 45 mins realisticlly to get job done. Oh and OEM grill came out without any broken tabs.
Took me 15 minutes start to finish front part of good was very flexible (almost too much I felt). My garage is quite hot. I think I actually could have yanked them out with the good closed.
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      04-28-2014, 12:43 AM   #129
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I didn't think I would like it so much. Now that it is installed, definitely glad I went ahead and made the change.

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      04-30-2014, 02:27 AM   #130
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Pulling out the grill is easy if you work from the side and pull hard and move the end tab a little. It took me 3 times of trying to pull hard enough to do it. Once the end was loose I just pulled with downward pressure and wiggled each tab out. Once I had one out I just put my hand behind and pulled tab back on a few tabs and had it out in 1 min. Much easier than taking out the bumper. Great first upgrade, now on to rims next.
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      08-07-2014, 02:29 PM   #131
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Thanks to the OP for the DIY - it's excellent. I chose to go the 'reach through the grill' option and not take the bumper off, but having a sense from the photos of where tabs and things were located really helped. I definitely scraped up my knuckles worming my way in, but it did come off and no broken tabs! I started on the top and used a spare piece of metal (door hanging hook?) which had a folded end of metal that I could use to reach in and bend a tab back while I worked on the next one. Like most of the threads said, I too started at one end and then moved across (the top). They are reachable that's for sure, but pulling the tabs up don't necessarily release the hold its got (you're really trying to press that tab in the center in) but by pulling up they do wriggle free. Initially, I did try the "firm but forceful yank" but mine did not budge.

Either way, not a daunting task and very possible even for the newest of DIYers.
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      08-12-2014, 11:50 AM   #132
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Thanks for the OP on this DIY. When I opened my hood I had no idea how I was going to get to the tabs. Squeezed the crap out of my arm but it was worth it.
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