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      05-14-2016, 06:24 PM   #1
moke
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Grill Installation for non-mechanic types

Today, we finally succeeded in installing new black grills on our M235i.

After reading numerous posts on how easy is it and posts saying things like "It took me 5 minutes!" my wife and I were starting to get a complex.

So this post is for those that aren't mechanically inclined.

It took three different sessions before the first grill finally came off. The first two were about 20 - 30 minute episodes struggling with a assortment of tools, dentist mirrors and picks and and more than one mental back and forth on whether I could squeeze my entire hand and wrist in between one of the slats.

The smart angel on my shoulder and the idea of the fire department cutting my grill to get my hand out stopped me from going in that direction.

Things I learned:

1. If you plan on sticking tools between the grills, tape some twine to the end of the tool. If you drop it, it goes right down to the bottom lattice and you will be sad. I dropped a folding hand mirror down there and somehow managed to fish a some twine down through the grill and tie it and pull it back up. This was not much fun.

2. For the removal, I ended up spending about $8.00 on the radiator hose puller. Really study your new grill. You can see where the pointy part of the puller needs to go. After a few tries you can tell when its properly in place.

3. I started on the right side facing the car and the upper right tab. I did this all by feel, as I could not see anything in there with or without the dental mirror.

4. You'll know right away when the tab is depressed as the grill will only slightly start to come out. Make sure you don't let go and let it click back into place.

5. Once it comes out a bit, use a trim tool or something similar and wedge that in between the grill and the bumper.

6. I then went to the middle top tab. Using the same technique, I was able to depress the tab, pull and little more and move the trim tool to the middle.

7. for the last tab, instead of depressing the tab with the radiator hose puller head on, I came from one slat to the right. (middle). For some reason, it was really easy and with the pressure applied by the trim tool, the grill moved forward even more.

8. At this point I was able to use my hand for the rest of the tabs and remove the grill entirely.

9. I'm sure you've read this in other posts. *Before* you put the new grill in, stick your arm in there and remove the second grill with ease.


Well, that was long, but I hope this helps someone else. Good luck and I'm adding posts of the tools and a video showing installation success.

Moke











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      05-14-2016, 06:44 PM   #2
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They are a PITA for sure. I just dropped the top portion of the bumper (the biggest challenge was getting to the RT/LT bumper brackets under the headlamps) pulled it forward and replaced them.

All in all took about 45 minutes so the moral of the story is there is really no easy way to do it - unless of course you order it as a port installed option.
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      05-14-2016, 06:46 PM   #3
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dremel tool, reach in, pop out, pop in.

If you need to put the oems back on, you can buy a pair for 10$ off ebay.
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      05-14-2016, 08:05 PM   #4
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I'm sure glad I got my grills port installed! It did look like the dog thought the install was a piece of cake.
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      05-15-2016, 12:44 AM   #5
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is it the same process as the f30s? ill be doing mine soon. did you buy oem black grills or third party? nice job btw and great car!
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      05-15-2016, 05:48 AM   #6
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Great write up. I knew this would be a PITA so I got the dealership to do me a favour before picking up the M235. They wanted an hour labour ($150) which they agreed to do it n/c.
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      05-15-2016, 11:07 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swoo View Post
is it the same process as the f30s? ill be doing mine soon. did you buy oem black grills or third party? nice job btw and great car!
I would look at the tabs. If they're the same tabs I would imagine you could use the same procedure.

I bought oem grills. And thanks for the compliment and good luck with yours!
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      05-15-2016, 03:21 PM   #8
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Love the dog. IMHO. You have to go with black
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      05-15-2016, 07:50 PM   #9
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Thanks for this! I would have been searching for this exact thread in a few days, as I am about to order my own black replacements.

I went out and felt around in there and found the tabs by looking at a picture of a grill and checking those general locations. While I can reach them with my fingers, I can see where a tool will be needed to depress the tab. I thought about the Dremel method but I would prefer to keep the stock grills unblemished.
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      05-16-2016, 08:55 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swoo
is it the same process as the f30s? ill be doing mine soon. did you buy oem black grills or third party? nice job btw and great car!
Same process.

Easier if you have skinny arms. The bumper bends quite a lot
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      05-16-2016, 08:56 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swoo
is it the same process as the f30s? ill be doing mine soon. did you buy oem black grills or third party? nice job btw and great car!
Same process.

Wear gloves!

Remove the weather strip
Remove the torx bolts
Bend the bumper outwards
Reach in and depress the clips (I found out it's easier to start from the bottom)
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      05-16-2016, 09:42 AM   #12
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Uh Oh! Black interior + Tan and White Puppy!!

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      05-16-2016, 09:51 AM   #13
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nice doggie. i must admit i just undid top of bumper rammed my arm in as far as poss and undid each catch while pulling grill forward with other hand. all done in 15 min in dark with iphone flashlight lol ..was tricky i admit
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      07-02-2016, 03:08 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moke View Post
2. For the removal, I ended up spending about $8.00 on the radiator hose puller. Really study your new grill. You can see where the pointy part of the puller needs to go. After a few tries you can tell when its properly in place.
Which radiator hose puller did you order if you don't mind me asking. Just got my new grills in and I tried about an hour without any tools without any successful. A real PITA.

Thanks!
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      07-02-2016, 04:22 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psi_blades View Post
Which radiator hose puller did you order if you don't mind me asking. Just got my new grills in and I tried about an hour without any tools without any successful. A real PITA.

Thanks!
Hi. It doesn't have a name on it. It just says: CHINA.

I just walked into the auto parts store and grabbed one off the wall. The end was pointy, and that helped.

Good luck.
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      07-02-2016, 05:46 PM   #16
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Cool, thanks. Will drop by the store and give this a try tonight. Fingers crossed.
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      07-06-2016, 05:03 PM   #17
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So I did the undo the top of the bumper and reach down method. Worked pretty well for me. Took about an hour on my car the first time. Second time was a friends car and was done in 15 mins. I asked the dealership how they do it and they said they just put on work gloves and rip it straight out of the front of the car. I asked if that breaks the tabs and he kind of looked at me with an "of course, stupid" look.
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