[The Nerd]

Quick questions for anyone who has had an M Sport front bumper installed aftermarket. I have a Sport Line and am interested in ordering the OEM version of the M Sport front bumper from Turner Motorsports (suprisingly, it's only around $500). Anyway, about how much labor time would this require from a reputable indy shop? Also, I believe it comes un-painted, but the site on Turner's page shows a white bumper (the color I need!) in all of the pictures and says NOTHING about it being unpainted. You'd think it would be mentioned or shown in pics if it was unpainted, no? Anyway....if it is not painted, how much of a pain is it to have painted with OEM Alpine White paint? I don't want to have matching issues or paint that chips off 2 years down the road because it was done "aftermarket". Again, my shop is a BMW indy shop, so they do great work, but I'm worried about the painting aspect.
Finally, are there any other potential issues with replacing the bumper such as the PDC control not running properly afterward or having extra creaks or rattles due to "messing with" the stock parts?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[CharlieVu]

will follow this because I am interested too!

[Technic]

http://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=995080

[bahasad]

Originally Posted by The Nerd

Quick questions for anyone who has had an M Sport front bumper installed aftermarket. I have a Sport Line and am interested in ordering the OEM version of the M Sport front bumper from Turner Motorsports (suprisingly, it's only around $500). Anyway, about how much labor time would this require from a reputable indy shop? Also, I believe it comes un-painted, but the site on Turner's page shows a white bumper (the color I need!) in all of the pictures and says NOTHING about it being unpainted. You'd think it would be mentioned or shown in pics if it was unpainted, no? Anyway....if it is not painted, how much of a pain is it to have painted with OEM Alpine White paint? I don't want to have matching issues or paint that chips off 2 years down the road because it was done "aftermarket". Again, my shop is a BMW indy shop, so they do great work, but I'm worried about the painting aspect.
Finally, are there any other potential issues with replacing the bumper such as the PDC control not running properly afterward or having extra creaks or rattles due to "messing with" the stock parts?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I'm very interested in doing this retrofit as well. All bumpers that I've seen come unpainted which is a shame (I would gladly pay more for a painted version). Ebay ones seem to be around 350, which is probably what I'm going to go for.

There is a DIY on the forum, and people have done it. Seems to be about 10 hours (i'm not sure if that's just install or install + paint). People have paid anywhere from $500-1000 for the job.

As for the quality of the paint, that will all depend on the quality of the shop doing the job. Can be highly variable. I would look for the bodyshop that your local dealer recommends. White shouldn't be too hard to paint (imo).

[smithf80]

They all come primed. Do not waste your money on OEM. The aftermarket ones are just as good, I've seen them in person.

I don't really think it should take anywhere near 10 hours to install bahasad this bumper though and it is probably a great DIY for a Saturday or Sunday. I was able to get the bumper off and back on my E90 in about half an hour, with this conversion you are just switching over some plastic bits.

[335i_4D]

Did the complete conversion, and it was done by my local dealer.
Install took less than 2 business days for front, sides and rear.

It came on primer for either the front aftermarket bumper, and for the sides and rear OE parts.

[The Nerd]

Originally Posted by Technic

http://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=995080

Thanks for the link. As I see, you had this done. Can you answer for the cost of the painting part itself? Did you have a regular body shop do the painting and were you at all worried about the quality of the paintjob (peeling off two years down the road, paint matching, etc, etc)? Also, what about creaks, rattles, or gaps that don't seem OEM?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by The Nerd

Thanks for the link. As I see, you had this done. Can you answer for the cost of the painting part itself? Did you have a regular body shop do the painting and were you at all worried about the quality of the paintjob (peeling off two years down the road, paint matching, etc, etc)? Also, what about creaks, rattles, or gaps that don't seem OEM?

Paint and install was $350. I have been using the same bodyshop for more than 10 years. Fit, color match and finish is OEM.

[Thumper333]

Originally Posted by smithf32

They all come primed. Do not waste your money on OEM. The aftermarket ones are just as good, I've seen them in person.

I don't really think it should take anywhere near 10 hours to install bahasad this bumper though and it is probably a great DIY for a Saturday or Sunday.

Aftermarket quality will depend on the standards of that part. If the aftermarket is half the price of the OEM, probably a crap shoot. If it's 20% or so less, much better chances it'll fit.

10 hours? Book time is 3.4 hours, figure you've never done one before and are reading a DIY while doing it......call it 5 maybe 6 tops. Anyone taking 10 hours needs to stop and let someone else do it, or they are taking a LOT of beer breaks LMAO

Cost to have a shop do it will depend on the cost of labor in your area. Here we are 54/36 and it would cost you roughly $550 for us to paint it and put it on. Some areas are higher or lower rates. I know Bay Area, CA was at 80/45 a few years back, probably much higher now LOL It all depends.

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by Thumper333

Aftermarket quality will depend on the standards of that part. If the aftermarket is half the price of the OEM, probably a crap shoot. If it's 20% or so less, much better chances it'll fit.

10 hours? Book time is 3.4 hours, figure you've never done one before and are reading a DIY while doing it......call it 5 maybe 6 tops. Anyone taking 10 hours needs to stop and let someone else do it, or they are taking a LOT of beer breaks LMAO

Cost to have a shop do it will depend on the cost of labor in your area. Here we are 54/36 and it would cost you roughly $550 for us to paint it and put it on. Some areas are higher or lower rates. I know Bay Area, CA was at 80/45 a few years back, probably much higher now LOL It all depends.

Typically the Taiwan parts are good stuff, I said that the reps are good because it seems that no one has any complaints about fitment so as long as he orders a PP rep then it should be fine.

[bahasad]

Originally Posted by smithf32

They all come primed. Do not waste your money on OEM. The aftermarket ones are just as good, I've seen them in person.

I don't really think it should take anywhere near 10 hours to install bahasad this bumper though and it is probably a great DIY for a Saturday or Sunday. I was able to get the bumper off and back on my E90 in about half an hour, with this conversion you are just switching over some plastic bits.

Originally Posted by Thumper333

Aftermarket quality will depend on the standards of that part. If the aftermarket is half the price of the OEM, probably a crap shoot. If it's 20% or so less, much better chances it'll fit.

10 hours? Book time is 3.4 hours, figure you've never done one before and are reading a DIY while doing it......call it 5 maybe 6 tops. Anyone taking 10 hours needs to stop and let someone else do it, or they are taking a LOT of beer breaks LMAO

Cost to have a shop do it will depend on the cost of labor in your area. Here we are 54/36 and it would cost you roughly $550 for us to paint it and put it on. Some areas are higher or lower rates. I know Bay Area, CA was at 80/45 a few years back, probably much higher now LOL It all depends.

I got that 10 hours number from this thread: http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1046190

I agree, I don't see how it should take that long, even taking off some of the other components besides the bumper itself. I am guessing it is with painting time. I took off my E90 bumper in 30 minutes to swap headlights.

[Prissy]

by going aftermarket front bumper, you'll save $60-&70 on the painted reflectors.

[The Nerd]

Thinking about doing this in the next couple weeks.....one more question. Since I have a Sport Line, will there be any issues with the air inlets, channeling of air, duct work, etc. not matching up correctly since the M Sport bumper is completely different shaped? For example....I heard numerous people comment on the extra "auxiliary cooling fan" in the M Sports (which....on a side note....had problems and caused limp modes). Since the Sport Line doesn't even have one of those fans, won't that cause a mismatch? Are there dangers of improper air channeling in since my car wasn't originally designed as an M Sport?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[bahasad]

little surprise waiting for me:

can't wait to get it painted and installed.

[16PP428]

Originally Posted by Technic

Paint and install was $350. I have been using the same bodyshop for more than 10 years. Fit, color match and finish is OEM.

Hello Technic, hope all is well. looking to do bumper upgrade. Can you send me info of the shop you used? Thank you