Replacing kidney grills

Guys I tried to replace kidney grills by following the link below.

http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42n2572

I was able to take off all the screws and clips but when I tried to pull the bumper forward I feared that I will cause bend in it (M sport bumper). I didn't force it too much and put the screws back.

The dealer is asking $150 in labor which seems excessive to me as most people mention that it takes 15-20 mins total.

Is there any other link or video I can follow. Thanks

http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=422572

Think this is the thread you tried to link?

If so, this works fine. You don't need to pull forward much. Just get it started with the top clip and the rest will start popping out. You can do the bottom clips from inside once you get the top loosened. You'll know what I mean once you start it.

Just pay the dealer. Its only 150.00 and it gets done right. Plus no stress. How much time did you spend on it already?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Bimmer App

I just put on some gloves, grabbed the middle fins and pulled out the top tabs then the bottoms.

I was able to replace them myself a couple of weeks ago in about 20 mins. You can tug harder than you think.

uhh, i did it in like 30 seconds a side. just pulled with a deliberate and constant pressure. omg, 150 dollars.

Yea that's the word I was looking for too, it's ok to pull with force, just make sure it is slow and constant pressure, don't yank fast.

I will beat the dealer and do it for $100

Its really easy. It takes a lot more tuggung than you think. And if you think the dealership is going to be any gentler than you would, you might want to think twice.

There is no special grill removal tool that the dealers use, just put some back into it and pull them bad boys out!

The best advice I read, and could give is that don't worry about putting a "crease" or damaging that front bumper. It is very resilient and can peel back without damage. I actually had to bend and pull it out far enough to reach my hand in and release the top AND bottom clips. I really struggled with it and totally did not agree that it was a 20 minute job. I will say that once I gained the confidence to bend the bumper far enough to reach my hand in, the other side only took a few minutes.

Gloves, or a thin towel stuffed in between the fins when you reach in to pull are a great way to protect your knuckles from losing a lot of skin. It really only takes a minute per side, and a few pounds of pressure. No tools, no unscrewing the bumper.

Steps follow below:

1. Grab vertical slats (fins) near the top with your hands evenly spaced apart on the grille....
2. Wiggle and pull slightly down (towards the ground) and towards you firmly but gently.
3. Drink adult beverage.
4. Repeat step 3

Boom...F10 grille removal complete.

Thanks all of you. I agree, that's what I was scared of, that I may put a crease or dent in the front bumper as it is attached at the bottom and open at the top.
What I understand is that I should pull each side individually by holding each grill from the middle rather than pulling the center of the bumper. Right?
Now I will give it a more manly pull. Project for the weekend.
Thanks for the input again.

The grills should be pulled out one at a time, per BigHungry618's step-by-step above. Both hands are needed on the grill which is being removed and the hands' position will be nearer the left and right edges than near the center. The bumper should not move.

Originally Posted by Houseofpang

I just put on some gloves, grabbed the middle fins and pulled out the top tabs then the bottoms.

I did the exact same thing- took 5 minutes including cleaning grille area - new grilles snap right in- no tools, just careful soft but firm pull/tug.

Originally Posted by Houseofpang

Yea that's the word I was looking for too, it's ok to pull with force, just make sure it is slow and constant pressure, don't yank fast.

Originally Posted by mwposner

The grills should be pulled out one at a time, per BigHungry618's step-by-step above. Both hands are needed on the grill which is being removed and the hands' position will be nearer the left and right edges than near the center. The bumper should not move.

Thanks guys. Just to make sure that I understand it right, I open the screws from the top of front bumper. After they are out, holding the grill I tug out and down, putting the other hand in the space behind the bumper and grill to undo the clips.

OR

I don't need to unscrew the the top of bumper. I just hold each grill with two hand and pull down and out firmly but gently.

1 or 2.

Originally Posted by PittX52011

Thanks guys. Just to make sure that I understand it right, I open the screws from the top of front bumper. After they are out, holding the grill I tug out and down, putting the other hand in the space behind the bumper and grill to undo the clips.

OR

I don't need to unscrew the the top of bumper. I just hold each grill with two hand and pull down and out firmly but gently.

1 or 2.

Correct, your choice. I went with one as i didn't want to risk breaking clips.

I just came home from a drive-by on my Encinitas San Diego BMW dealership. I asked for their expert opinion on how to do the grill removal. The parts and body shop guys met me at my car and they showed me how they do it. They just yank those bad-boys right out. The body shop guy took mine out and put them back in less than a minute just to make his point that it is very easy to do. (he also made a point of telling me what a LOUSY job I did in painting my grill's rings That will teach me to be careful about asking for an expert's advice!)
I did notice that his technique was to pull outwards and downwards with his hands holding the fins a few spaces in from the edges.

I chose option #2.

My advice if you opt to go this route is to look at the new grills and make note of where the tabs would be on the old grill. Then use firm and steady force on each tab area. Taking the top off first then moving to the bottom tabs. Use gloves or a towel to prevent scraping your hands because you will need to put some muscle into it.

I pulled mine out in about 20 seconds each side. Just pull carefully and firmly. It will massively help if it's really hot out and the car is warm as well, they will slide right out. I did it after a 400 mile journey in 90-100 degree heat back in September.

You also don't want to wait a few years to do it, then you will shatter all the tabs (based on E46's I've owned)

Thanks for the help. It just took me less than 5 minutes to replace both grills. Black grills really like nice on CBM.

Originally Posted by mwposner

I just came home from a drive-by on my Encinitas San Diego BMW dealership. I asked for their expert opinion on how to do the grill removal. The parts and body shop guys met me at my car and they showed me how they do it. They just yank those bad-boys right out. The body shop guy took mine out and put them back in less than a minute just to make his point that it is very easy to do. (he also made a point of telling me what a LOUSY job I did in painting my grill's rings That will teach me to be careful about asking for an expert's advice!)
I did notice that his technique was to pull outwards and downwards with his hands holding the fins a few spaces in from the edges.

Nothing a set of OEM Performance Gloss Black kidneys won't fix!

True! Can't wait to get them One picture is the car with flat black grilles and surrounds, which I did not like. the other picture is my DIY attempt at painting the surrounds to be space gray. Within a few days, the chrome was popping through where rocks and small debris had hit the car

With gloss black grilles and surrounds, I am hopeful that a well-done paint job will stick better on the gloss black surrounds than it did on chrome!

I just did this, the yank is the way to go. Like someone said, this is a 30 sec / side DIY.

When I did mine, I was gentle and took about 15 - 20min to get the first grille out. Then when I did the second grille, I unclipped the top tabs (2 minutes) and gave the grille one good/strong yank and it immediately popped out seemlessly!

im shocked that there isnt more theft of these grills if the yank is that easy.