DIY changing front grills

[Chris S]

A short write on how to change the grills since I couldnt find one when I needed one.

1.
First off take off the cover by unscrewing the 4 metal screws and then the 2 plastic screws.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=811&pictureid=3252

and the results should look like this

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=811&pictureid=3256
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=811&pictureid=3257

2. You should be able to look behind the grills to see where its being held in by plastic clips (A).
To remove the grills you will need to loosen clips which holds the chrome bit of the grill to the black part (B) with a screw driver.
You just need to loosen it so its not tight and not all the way off. You only need to doit to about half and the grill should become loose and come out.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=811&pictureid=3270

3. Once its out it should look like the following:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=811&pictureid=3254

All thats required is to push the new grills on place... no need to loosen any clips, just push them into the slots.

4. Put the cover back on and screws back in.

NOTE:

a) Make sure you disconnect the air hose... dont know exactly what its for but needs to be disconnected... and should happen when you try to pull the cover off... REMEMBER to reconnect it when your finished.

b) The front of the cover slots in first when you are putting it back in and hitting it to get it back will only break it so dont do it.

c) Plastic screws may not be reusable. So be prepared to either have them missing when you reassemble or have substitutes or replacements ready. :thumbup:

Think I covered it all. Comments welcome

[Chris S]

BTW the B clips looks a little different on stock... the ones shown are the chromes I pulled out.

[BMR_LVR]

Thanks for the write up. Quick question..... the first pic shows blacked out grills. The second shows chromed grills. Which replaced which? :dunno:

[cmy_bimmer]

Thanks for the write up. Quick question..... the first pic shows blacked out grills. The second shows chromed grills. Which replaced which? :dunno:

GOOD EYE :wow:

[Chris S]

Thanks for the write up. Quick question..... the first pic shows blacked out grills. The second shows chromed grills. Which replaced which? :dunno:

Took the chromes out and replaced them with the black ones. Just didnt take photos of the chromes before I started. Same concept tho regardless of what color

[BMR_LVR]

Took the chromes out and replaced them with the black ones. Just didnt take photos of the chromes before I started. Same concept tho regardless of what color

Yep. Thought so. You like the blacked out grills MUCH better don't you ? :bigpimp:

[Chris S]

Yep. Thought so. You like the blacked out grills MUCH better don't you ? :bigpimp:

LoL yea i do... no idea why they people selling the car put the chromes and the one piece headlights in in the first place.

[olcarluvr]

LoL yea i do... no idea why they people selling the car put the chromes and the one piece headlights in in the first place.

I think most buyers of these cars like to think that the car hasn't been altered much, for two reasons:

1. New owners, like yourself, likes to make the car your own. Part of the fun of that is actually doing the work. A fairly stock car is like a blank canvas, and maybe more desirable.

2. Typically, alterations on sporty cars like black out parts, replaced corner lights, tweaked exhaust, etc. are an indication of a young owner. To old farts like me, a young previous owner is a bad sign, and a car to be avoided. Because us old farts know that ALL young owners grind the gears, abuse the clutch, corner on two wheels, do donuts, exceed the redline at any chance, stain the seats, and are hell bent on turning cars into scrap way before its time. My sons did it, and I did it too (long ago ;-).
So keep the stock parts. They may help you get a few hundred more when you go to sell (and have your grandpa stand by the car with a polish rag in his hand, with the radio tuned to a violin solo)
Larry (partly pulling your leg) Nice DIY write-up, by the way!

[BMR_LVR]

I think most buyers of these cars like to think that the car hasn't been altered much, for two reasons:

1. New owners, like yourself, likes to make the car your own. Part of the fun of that is actually doing the work. A fairly stock car is like a blank canvas, and maybe more desirable.

2. Typically, alterations on sporty cars like black out parts, replaced corner lights, tweaked exhaust, etc. are an indication of a young owner. To old farts like me, a young previous owner is a bad sign, and a car to be avoided. Because us old farts know that ALL young owners grind the gears, abuse the clutch, corner on two wheels, do donuts, exceed the redline at any chance, stain the seats, and are hell bent on turning cars into scrap way before its time. My sons did it, and I did it too (long ago ;-).
So keep the stock parts. They may help you get a few hundred more when you go to sell (and have your grandpa stand by the car with a polish rag in his hand, with the radio tuned to a violin solo)
Larry (partly pulling your leg) Nice DIY write-up, by the way!

Hey Larry, I'm an old fart but still young at heart ;) :bigpimp:

[Chris S]

LoL.. im not too old but I like my car mostly stock :p

[olcarluvr]

Hey Larry, I'm an old fart but still young at heart ;) :bigpimp:

Me, too! That's why I check in here once in awhile; It's great to see all this yootful energy at work having fun with their rides. But I admit I do have a thing for older cars that are bone stock. Some day I'll get over it. I still anguish over the fact that my '96 has an upgraded metal thermostat housing. I may downgrade to plastic if I have to get into that area for something else someday (Older people, on the other hand, should be modified). After a few more years, I'll have the only decent stock 328is around, and guys will be leaving notes on the windshield trying to get me to part with it. But I'll be parked in front of the house, license revoked, in the driver's seat with the radio on, waiting for the taxi to drive me in to the doc's for the annual tune-up. ;-) All in fun!
Larry

[BMR_LVR]

Me, too! That's why I check in here once in awhile; It's great to see all this yootful energy at work having fun with their rides. But I admit I do have a thing for older cars that are bone stock. Some day I'll get over it. I still anguish over the fact that my '96 has an upgraded metal thermostat housing. I may downgrade to plastic if I have to get into that area for something else someday (Older people, on the other hand, should be modified). After a few more years, I'll have the only decent stock 328is around, and guys will be leaving notes on the windshield trying to get me to part with it. But I'll be parked in front of the house, license revoked, in the driver's seat with the radio on, waiting for the taxi to drive me in to the doc's for the annual tune-up. ;-) All in fun!
Larry

Yep. My 95 325is is bone, and I mean bone, stock. Ive driven it now for about 90K miles and the only major thing I've had to do is put in a fuel pump. Keeping it stock lets you get many more miles/$. :)

[cmy_bimmer]

I think most buyers of these cars like to think that the car hasn't been altered much, for two reasons:

1. New owners, like yourself, likes to make the car your own. Part of the fun of that is actually doing the work. A fairly stock car is like a blank canvas, and maybe more desirable.

2. Typically, alterations on sporty cars like black out parts, replaced corner lights, tweaked exhaust, etc. are an indication of a young owner. To old farts like me, a young previous owner is a bad sign, and a car to be avoided. Because us old farts know that ALL young owners grind the gears, abuse the clutch, corner on two wheels, do donuts, exceed the redline at any chance, stain the seats, and are hell bent on turning cars into scrap way before its time. My sons did it, and I did it too (long ago ;-).
So keep the stock parts. They may help you get a few hundred more when you go to sell (and have your grandpa stand by the car with a polish rag in his hand, with the radio tuned to a violin solo)
Larry (partly pulling your leg) Nice DIY write-up, by the way!


haha, thats true. EXCEPT i only did that with my first car/truck. i had an 88 s10 that i burnt tires with EVERY corner and had ALL my fun with that truck. i even lowered that thing to the ground which compared to my current bimmer was lower!! but once i got my car, the bmw is a lot more hesitent to spin the wheels so i stopped trying and i only power slided a couple of times until i realized that i dont want anything else i need to break, ya dig. so im glad i took out my youthful joy riding on my mini truck with 18" OZ rims that woulda fit on my bimmer that i sold with the truck :mad: :tsk: . i didnt realize until i got the bimmer that i shuda kept the rims.

anyway, nice DIY :thumbup: