Easy way to remove kidney grills? (or centre grid for M bumper?)

tranquility · 09-29-2016, 04:19 AM

I'm trying to mount my licence plate holder (that will attach to the centre grid of my M bumper).

I'm guess that it may be easier to remove the kidney grills to access the back of the centre grid...instead of directly removing the centre grid? Is there an easy way to remove the grills w/o going through the air intake?

If you guys have a better idea, please let me know.

jparnes1 · 09-29-2016, 08:23 AM

There's many thread here about removing the kidney grills. Do you really want to block all that air flow with your license plate?

tranquility · 09-29-2016, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jparnes1

There's many thread here about removing the kidney grills. Do you really want to block all that air flow with your license plate?

Couldn't find any, can you help?

Doesn't block at all, just the mounting frame that is 2cm in width and is hollowed out so not even that.

rking117 · 10-05-2016, 08:23 AM

the grills are simple to remove. Grab firmly the grill on boths sides with your hands and pull evenly. They pop right off. repeat for other side.

jparnes1 · 10-05-2016, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rking117

the grills are simple to remove. Grab firmly the grill on boths sides with your hands and pull evenly. They pop right off. repeat for other side.

Hmmm. There are tabs that lock the grills in place. I thought you had to release the tabs before you could pull the grill.

tranquility · 10-05-2016, 06:26 PM

No worries, I figured out w/o removing those grills, which would've been a pita.

Mick70 · 10-06-2016, 04:21 AM

OK, so then only for the records:

You could simply pull out the kidneys at one fell swoop (or two). Use one hand to keep the center of the bumper (between the kidneys) in place and the other hand to take out the kidney by reaching through the kidney's bars with your fingers jerkily pulling it out. Wear protective gloves or you will cut your fingers. Be careful that it's warm enough (e.g. with a blow-dryer) so it's not so likely that the locking tabs break as cold temperatures make the plastic brittle.

I regularly replace the stock kidneys with the gloss black "perfomance" kindeys this way and I never had any problems so far, nor did I break even one of the locking tabs.

Best regards
Mick

Ed.: Ah well, as @rking117 said.

09-29-2016, 04:19 AM	#1
tranquility sportscars only 3236 Rep 3,194 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	Easy way to remove kidney grills? (or centre grid for M bumper?) I'm trying to mount my licence plate holder (that will attach to the centre grid of my M bumper). I'm guess that it may be easier to remove the kidney grills to access the back of the centre grid...instead of directly removing the centre grid? Is there an easy way to remove the grills w/o going through the air intake? If you guys have a better idea, please let me know.
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09-29-2016, 08:23 AM	#2
jparnes1 Colonel 241 Rep 2,387 Posts Drives: 2016 340i, 2012 Z4 35i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NY iTrader: (1)	There's many thread here about removing the kidney grills. Do you really want to block all that air flow with your license plate? __________________ 2016 340i XDrive, EBII/black, 6 MT, M Sport, Track Handling, Cold Weather, Tech, Lighting, Driver Assistance Plus. 2012 Z4 35i, ED 2/24/2012, Melbourne Red Metallic, Black Leather, Carbon Trim, 6MT, M Sport, CW, PP, PS, NAV, CA.
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10-05-2016, 08:23 AM	#4
rking117 Lieutenant Colonel 118 Rep 1,668 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i & 320i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	the grills are simple to remove. Grab firmly the grill on boths sides with your hands and pull evenly. They pop right off. repeat for other side. __________________ Enjoying an E89 Z4, F30 320i and Fiat Abarth // E85 Z4 (sold), E82 128i (sold), Fiat Pop 500 (sold)
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10-05-2016, 06:26 PM	#6
tranquility sportscars only 3236 Rep 3,194 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	No worries, I figured out w/o removing those grills, which would've been a pita.
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10-06-2016, 04:21 AM	#7
Mick70 Private First Class 9 Rep 157 Posts Drives: Z4 sdrive35i (before: 23i) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	OK, so then only for the records: You could simply pull out the kidneys at one fell swoop (or two). Use one hand to keep the center of the bumper (between the kidneys) in place and the other hand to take out the kidney by reaching through the kidney's bars with your fingers jerkily pulling it out. Wear protective gloves or you will cut your fingers. Be careful that it's warm enough (e.g. with a blow-dryer) so it's not so likely that the locking tabs break as cold temperatures make the plastic brittle. I regularly replace the stock kidneys with the gloss black "perfomance" kindeys this way and I never had any problems so far, nor did I break even one of the locking tabs. Best regards Mick Ed.: Ah well, as @rking117 said.
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