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      08-22-2017, 12:16 AM   #1
Kailec
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Laws on Reflectors

Hey all, are reflectors mandatory in Canada? Or more specifically Ontario? Going to be changing up my bumper soon and wondering what my options are for reflectors? Can I just get ones that are the body paint colour, essentially deleting them?
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      08-22-2017, 09:26 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kailec View Post
Hey all, are reflectors mandatory in Canada? Or more specifically Ontario? Going to be changing up my bumper soon and wondering what my options are for reflectors? Can I just get ones that are the body paint colour, essentially deleting them?
I deleted mine and have been driving for 6 months no problem.
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      08-22-2017, 04:39 PM   #3
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Don't worry about it, tons of my friends deleted it, me as well. Never heard of any problem so far.
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      08-28-2017, 09:59 AM   #4
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Haven't honestly checked, outside of checking out other vehicles, non-modified on their bumpers to see what's factory installed on theirs (non-BMW's) and have noticed it's hit or miss on some factory makes whether or not they even have reflectors installed into their bumpers.

That's to say, I've seen plenty makes and models out there on the road, factory-wise with no reflectors on their front/rear bumpers so I just went ahead and installed my painted ones.
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      08-28-2017, 03:38 PM   #5
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Thanks all! Much appreciated since I just got my new bumpers today and would like to drive without reflectors.
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      08-28-2017, 04:51 PM   #6
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I mean, the best and most accurate way of knowing is checking your provincial regulations, however I'm pretty certain if you see other makes on the road, stock, with no reflectors in their bumpers, you should be fine.

Police have more important things to do, but then again... You have headlights and brake lights...you're good.
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      08-29-2017, 10:46 PM   #7
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Ive deleted reflectors front and rear and it's been a while. There's not that many officer who knows the law about relfectors. They usually bother about the height of my car and camber...
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      08-30-2017, 12:09 PM   #8
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If I may go off on a small tangent, how did you all manage to remove the front reflectors on the F3X models? I tried heating mine up with a hairdryer and it just wouldn't budge. I even tried prying with a flat head screwdriver and it looked like my bumper was going to get a dent from the inside so I stopped.
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      08-30-2017, 02:27 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by norules View Post
If I may go off on a small tangent, how did you all manage to remove the front reflectors on the F3X models? I tried heating mine up with a hairdryer and it just wouldn't budge. I even tried prying with a flat head screwdriver and it looked like my bumper was going to get a dent from the inside so I stopped.
Well, about all I can tell you is: Keep doing what you were doing. It's a bitch, no lie. Especially on mine as I didn't even swap them out until 5 years after it was manufactured (bought it on a lease return), so you can imagine how hard that 3M foamy crap was.

Just keep applying heat to the outer edges from the outside of the bumper along the reflector and it'll come out eventually. It was a right pain in the ass for me when I took mine out so I feel for ya, lol. When they did come off, I had to scrap the inner bumper to get rid of all that torn sticky foam so I could apply the new reflectors cleanly for a smooth inner surface.

Brand new ones would be much easier I'd have to assume as the glue wouldn't have adhered/dried to the bumper as much.
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      08-30-2017, 03:20 PM   #10
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Thanks for sharing, I feel a little more hopeful now. Do you remember how long you had to heat it for? I must've heated it for a good 5 minutes and it wasn't doing anything!

Back on topic a bit, I quickly skimmed the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and I didn't see anything about reflectors (only the number of lights and what colour they can be). I have friends who run no reflectors or clear reflectors for 10+ years without any issues ever.

I believe it is a requirement somewhere, but for simplicity in manufacturing, they make it all the same regardless of which market they sell it. When you see a make/model without a reflector on the front bumper, it is usually because it's built into the headlight unit; e.g. the G35 has it on the bumper, but the G37/Q60 integrated it into the headlight.
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      08-30-2017, 03:29 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by norules View Post
Thanks for sharing, I feel a little more hopeful now. Do you remember how long you had to heat it for? I must've heated it for a good 5 minutes and it wasn't doing anything!

Back on topic a bit, I quickly skimmed the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and I didn't see anything about reflectors (only the number of lights and what colour they can be). I have friends who run no reflectors or clear reflectors for 10+ years without any issues ever.

I believe it is a requirement somewhere, but for simplicity in manufacturing, they make it all the same regardless of which market they sell it. When you see a make/model without a reflector on the front bumper, it is usually because it's built into the headlight unit; e.g. the G35 has it on the bumper, but the G37/Q60 integrated it into the headlight.
Hours!!!

Ok, it only seemed like that, but in reality about the same time. I think the experience was traumatizing (because those uToob vids sure do make it look easy as shit, huh? LOL) as I'm pretty sure I blocked most of the process from my memory after seeing them finally in place and feeling euphoric afterwards.

Pretty sure I said to myself, 'Fuck this!' and ended up with using a pry tool (Hell, even vice grips would work) on the inner bumper to grab and pull the reflector in one hand and my gf's hair drier in the other. I do recall her laughing at the ridiculous visual she must've been witnessing at the time.
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      08-30-2017, 08:18 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by norules View Post
Thanks for sharing, I feel a little more hopeful now. Do you remember how long you had to heat it for? I must've heated it for a good 5 minutes and it wasn't doing anything!

Back on topic a bit, I quickly skimmed the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and I didn't see anything about reflectors (only the number of lights and what colour they can be). I have friends who run no reflectors or clear reflectors for 10+ years without any issues ever.

I believe it is a requirement somewhere, but for simplicity in manufacturing, they make it all the same regardless of which market they sell it. When you see a make/model without a reflector on the front bumper, it is usually because it's built into the headlight unit; e.g. the G35 has it on the bumper, but the G37/Q60 integrated it into the headlight.
I found that if you do exactly what you were doing - about 3-5 mins all around the edges, i.e. where the glue is - then spend about 1 minute on one of the corners, that was the trick for me. You give that 1 corner a good push and once it gives, the rest follows pretty easily. After that, a few minutes peeling off whatever glue is left on the inside and you're good to go. Good Luck!
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      08-30-2017, 10:30 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JackAdams View Post
I found that if you do exactly what you were doing - about 3-5 mins all around the edges, i.e. where the glue is - then spend about 1 minute on one of the corners, that was the trick for me. You give that 1 corner a good push and once it gives, the rest follows pretty easily. After that, a few minutes peeling off whatever glue is left on the inside and you're good to go. Good Luck!
I haven't removed mine since I'm going to be installing an M3 style front bumper soon, but I saw this video before when I was considering just swapping out the reflectors:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfexvQRaP-c

See if that helps.
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      09-11-2017, 10:50 AM   #14
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Never seen anyone with issues deleting reflectors. Cops here usually won't pick on current model BMWs as long they seemingly look factory.
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      09-12-2017, 09:21 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by norules View Post
If I may go off on a small tangent, how did you all manage to remove the front reflectors on the F3X models? I tried heating mine up with a hairdryer and it just wouldn't budge. I even tried prying with a flat head screwdriver and it looked like my bumper was going to get a dent from the inside so I stopped.
I used a heatgun, more heat and less fan than a hair dryer but I'm sure a hairdryer can achieve the same results.

You have to keep heating it up in a rectangular motion around the shape of the reflector. Then start to peel off from one corner and slowly pull it off. Keep doing this in heat, pull, heat pull, heat pull, you will eventually get it.

EDIT: while you pull from the inside, use other hand to push from the outside.
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