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      02-26-2014, 02:54 PM   #1
BMWZ4RIDER
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Modified my F Grill to M Sport Gloss Black

I have made yet another aesthetic change to my front bumper grill sets.
1. 1st version- Removed the Front grills and painted the silver slats gloss black and left the chrome ring OEM.
2. 2nd version- Removed the lower L and R right silver plastic grill covers and wrapped them in CF black vinyl.
3. 3rd Version- Removed the lower grill cross bars in the L and R lower grills and the black plastic separator and painted them Space Gray Metallic with clear coat, my body color.
4. 4th Revision ( final for now). Removed the F grills, removed the slats and dry and wet sanded the chrome ring to a satin finish. Spray painted high gloss black the ring and slats to match and make a M Series Sport Grill in High Gloss Black.

Due to the extreme cold weather, I am ANXIOUSLY waiting for a warm up to install them as the plastic tabs on the car are cold and possibly brittle and I fear they could break.

Installed pictures to follow.

See the project progression over the last 15 months of owner ship:
Attached Images
                            
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      02-26-2014, 03:25 PM   #2
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hi OP thanks for sharing that. Looks like a solid couple of hours work!

I personally thought the original one with the black slats and chrome outer looked pretty sharp.

By the way, I saw in the close up of the passenger side front lower grill that it is entirely blocked off. I am traveling right now so I can't go to my car and check but I am almost certain that part of the lower grill in my car is an open grill, and that you can see the oil cooler when you look at the bumper head on.

Do you know if your car has the oil cooler? I know there was some discussion on the community before were some were wondering if all cars came with this part, and it would be interesting if yours doesn't to please post up the build date....
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      02-26-2014, 03:36 PM   #3
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My 09 was built in June 09.
The oil cooler is located in the bottom middle.
You can see the bottom of it in this picture.
That is a separate cooler mounted in front of the Radiator.
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      02-26-2014, 04:12 PM   #4
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I'm looking to change my lower grill appearance also. What is the proper way to remove the small side grills to avoid breakage?
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      02-26-2014, 05:48 PM   #5
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BMWZ4 RIDER, that's not your oil cooler. that's your intercooler. the oil cooler is behind the right lower grill.
Only M sport cars (I believe) come with oil coolers, so that may be why your grill isn't perforated.
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      02-26-2014, 06:30 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob20124 View Post
I'm looking to change my lower grill appearance also. What is the proper way to remove the small side grills to avoid breakage?
You really need to remove the bumper cover to remove the lower grills side and center. The gripping tabs are part of the bumper cover. The grills themselfs have rectangular slots (to mate to the bumper cover) and are installed from the back side. 7 tabs per side grill 12 tabs for the center grill. You may be able to remove the grills if you remove the bottom pan and the front part of the wheel liners. However, the center lower cover and right grill have plastic damns around them to route the air into the radiator/intercooler and oil cooler respectively. This will make removing the grills difficult at best without removing the bumper cover. If you don't have an oil cooler it will be easier.
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      02-26-2014, 06:40 PM   #7
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HerrK, Thanks for the feed back. I was hoping I did not need to pull the bumper cover
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      02-27-2014, 08:46 AM   #8
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I removed the lower outside grills set by removing the 2 screws on the wheel fender liner and then the under body cladding. After it was removed, I could push my hand inside the bumper housing. It was a tight fit BUT I was able to push on the release tabs 1 at a time for releasing the outside grill sets.

I too have experimented with the lower center air vent grill and by removing the under body cladding again, I was able to push my hand inside to the center to reach the tabs. It was very tight and uncomfortable BUT beats taking off the bumper cover.
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      02-27-2014, 06:03 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jparnes1 View Post
BMWZ4 RIDER, that's not your oil cooler. that's your intercooler. the oil cooler is behind the right lower grill.
Only M sport cars (I believe) come with oil coolers, so that may be why your grill isn't perforated.
My car has the base (not M) sport package and has the oil cooler
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      03-10-2014, 03:31 PM   #10
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Weather warmed up this weekend. I got to install the newly modded Gloss Black grills.
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      03-10-2014, 05:17 PM   #11
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OP, I like the look of the black grills

reminds me of the OEM part (I am guessing that is the look you were going for?)

https://www.getbmwparts.com/partloca...catalogid=4462
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      03-11-2014, 03:58 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknaz View Post
OP, I like the look of the black grills

reminds me of the OEM part (I am guessing that is the look you were going for?)

https://www.getbmwparts.com/partloca...catalogid=4462
OEM was the look.

I contemplated matt black vs. gloss black. In the end the gloss works for me.
I am going to remove and spray gloss black the lower middle and outer grills the same gloss black.
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      04-12-2014, 07:33 AM   #13
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Update

Since I Gloss Blacked out my Grill I was not happy with the matt black lower grills. The color combos just looked off to me. So I disassembled
the lower center and lower left and right grill inserts
and grills and completed the following up grade:
1. Center Grill and Lower Left and Right matt black grills- s
anded and painted the same gloss black as the kidnet grills
2. lower left and right inserts- removed the CF wrap and
painted them the body color wit OEM Space Gray Metallic.
3. Alreadt painted the Space Gray betwen the center
and lower left and right grills
Now everything matchs very nicely.
Pictures are in progressing od project completion and assembly
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      07-29-2014, 03:15 PM   #14
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How to remove the Lower Front Grills- See my pictures
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      04-05-2015, 07:15 AM   #15
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For ttune FYI
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      04-05-2015, 02:12 PM   #16
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great post. thanks!
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