Paintmatched 1M Sidemarker and Grill Installed - First 1M mods

[biglare]

My 1M is less than a week old, but the first mods were installed within days. I contacted IND to color match my sidemarkers and grills as I have done previously with my M3. The difficulty is that this is a brand new color for BMW and the normal paint suppliers did not supply BMW with this color. IND's paint expert with over 30 years used the toe hook cover to color match the parts. They are about as close to a match as possible and with the different angles of these parts when installed it is very very hard to see any difference at all with the color.

I am very pleased with them and I think the car looks much much better. I hope you like them as much as I do.


Sidemarker installation:

I had the dealer remove the side markers before I arrived to take delivery of the car and ship them to IND, so I believe the technician went in from the back to remove them. Unfortunately, I do not have any photos of that process. I do think that it may be possible to remove them without having to do it from the back, however you may need to replace the small black piece that is behind the side marker and attaches to the fender.

Here are a few pictures of the sidemarkers with the black bracket pieces. You can see how the sidemarker clips into the black bracket.

1.


2. Notice how the sidemarker is clipped into the black bracket. It will need to be installed the same way.


3.


4.


5. The black bracket slides into the fender and snaps into place


6.


7.


8.


9.


10. Plug in the sidemarker and then put the most forward part of the sidemarker into the black piece first and then the other pieces will snap into the black piece.


11.
[IMGhttp://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129/5940815682_a9eab35547_b.jpg[/IMG]


Now lets install the grills. I'm sure there are numerous DIY threads for the grills, so I'll keep it simple.

1. Remove the four torx screws securing the top of the bumper cover


2. Now also loosen the rubber/plastic piece from the sides so you can pull the top of the bumper cover forward.


3. Pull the top of the bumper cover forward and reach behind the grills to help release the clips holding the grills into place. Start with the top two clips and then work to the sides until all of the clips have been released. When removed they will look like this.


4.


5.


6.


7.


8.


9.


10.


11.


12.


13.


14.


15.



Enjoy!

[Mnime]

Looks good!!!

[rogbmw]

Very Nice! If I remember correctly, to remove the side markers, most BMW side markers will need to be pushed forward to disengage the rear clips, then the marker is rotated with the rear out first. The other way some of them undo is to gently pry out the front end, then rotate it out to disengage the rear clip. After looking at the pictures more, I think that this one pushes forward first, but I'd have to see it in person to make sure.

[ES BMW]

I'm normally not a fan of color match kidney surrounds but this looks pretty good!

[rogbmw]

I also like what Dan did by placing black tape at the bottom of the slot for the side air curtain openings. I will probably do that too with a small piece of electrical tape. There are lots of neat tips on the board!

[DiavelM3]

Originally Posted by My E90

I'm normally not a fan of color match kidney surrounds but this looks pretty good!

I'm with ya. It looks ok but I think that there is enough orange on the car. Black accents really enhance the look in my opinion

Thanks for sharing and congrats!

[discoboy1]

do the hood nozzles too...

[ESC OFF]

Nice job! Personally I don't like the way the gaskets are now exaggerated on the sidemarkers.

[rapter]

Slick

[Impervious]

Damn, I'm jealous. That thing looks awesome!

[///M-Rat]

after a year, how has the paint held up?

[JohnCena]

My VO has the gloss black side markers with the oem rear painted VO badge paint is still flawless and brand new .... Prob because I'm crazy with keeping the car clean!

[EINSER M]

nice write up and pics!!

[Dee Pee]

Awesome. It's amazing how a subtle change like that can totally beef up the car's look.

[oman135]

Originally Posted by DiavelM3

I'm with ya. It looks ok but I think that there is enough orange on the car. Black accents really enhance the look in my opinion

Thanks for sharing and congrats!

+1

[firechicken99]

Originally Posted by rogbmw

I also like what Dan did by placing black tape at the bottom of the slot for the side air curtain openings. I will probably do that too with a small piece of electrical tape. There are lots of neat tips on the board!

What??


Anyways +1 they look great. Personally I am a fan of the contrast with making these parts black. Again EITHER is the way it should have come from the factory rather than chrome!

[rogbmw]

Originally Posted by firechicken99

What??


Anyways +1 they look great. Personally I am a fan of the contrast with making these parts black. Again EITHER is the way it should have come from the factory rather than chrome!

What I am talking about was the small car colored piece of plastic on the outside bottom part of the opening on front bumper - at the bottom of the openings for the side curtain slits. My car is AW, so by placing a small piece of black electrical tape on the bottom painted part (it is about an inch high), the opening seems to go all the way down, and not have that small white band at the bottom. Plus, with it being just black electrical tape, all you have to do if you don't like it is pull off the tape!

[firechicken99]

Originally Posted by rogbmw

What I am talking about was the small car colored piece of plastic on the outside bottom part of the opening on front bumper - at the bottom of the openings for the side curtain slits. My car is AW, so by placing a small piece of black electrical tape on the bottom painted part (it is about an inch high), the opening seems to go all the way down, and not have that small white band at the bottom. Plus, with it being just black electrical tape, all you have to do if you don't like it is pull off the tape!

You now have me intrigued.... and I have spare matte black vinyl in my room...