The 30 sec per side Grille replacement DIY

Rick Hunter · 10-12-2015, 10:36 AM

Yes... There's too many DIY grille replacement threads out there, but hopefully this will be the only one you'll need to do this in under a minute. YES... UNDER A MINUTE.

The grilles are held in by ~8 tabs, which are hard to get at. Each tab has a center that needs to be pushed in enough to loosen it from the bumper.

Enter the tools:

It doesn't matter what size hex you're using so long as it fits through the tab slot:

Heck... you don't even need a hex... just find something around the house that'll fit through the slot.

A mild twist in the correct direction (along with a slight pull of the grille) and the tab gets released from the bumper. Repeat for the remaining tabs.

PLEASE please don't spend the hour dismantling the top of your bumper!

Enjoy.

Professor///M · 10-12-2015, 01:53 PM

If this works, you are a god. PS create your own product and sell it to the vendors. Make some $$$

Z4C_luvver · 10-12-2015, 01:57 PM

These are the sort of posts that make the forums special. Thanks for that; I'm just about to do mine, and having done it before on my 5 series, not looking forward to it again.

Worry no more!

BTW, wow, you didn't waste time changing over your grilles judging by the date on the sticker!!

mdai245 · 10-12-2015, 07:21 PM

Video please?

Rick Hunter · 10-12-2015, 10:23 PM

Video?? R U SRS?

4er_Luvver, The answer is... 3 days

Braddontroy · 10-14-2015, 02:26 AM

...reads this after doing it the hard way 😞. But for next time...!

E30toF30 · 10-14-2015, 02:35 AM

Video of this in action pls!

cmplaya · 10-15-2015, 09:46 AM

just in time...should be doing this over the weekend

FOAD · 10-31-2015, 06:15 PM

Did this work easily for anyone?

mdai245 · 10-31-2015, 09:58 PM

Not working for me. post vid ?

rfcoolz · 11-02-2015, 08:47 AM

Not quite sure how to do this. A video would be really nice!

itrocks4u · 11-04-2015, 02:33 AM

Didn't work for me.

desmat · 11-08-2015, 03:55 PM

subscribed

cmplaya · 11-08-2015, 05:07 PM

i had trouble using tools and ended up using just my fingers and got first side out in about 10 minutes and second sidein 1 minute

Rick Hunter · 11-08-2015, 10:34 PM

I'm sorry I do not have a video documenting how I did it a few weeks ago. Honestly, I don't think there needs to be one.

Make sure you start at the top and sides, then move on to the bottom. Once the one grille is out, you can reach your arm through the gaping hole to access the other grille.

If people are still having a lot of trouble with this, then perhaps I can do a video (or if someone else with success chime in on this).

ahero4eternity · 11-08-2015, 11:13 PM

Just ordered a 3rd set of grilles for my f30, lol. I'll try it this way next.

cmplaya · 11-09-2015, 06:44 AM

maybe its just me but i had trouble getting metal tool into right spot and was afraid of scratching. i ended up just feeling with fingers for the tab, release it, then keep pulling gently on the grill while working on the next one to prevent the tab from just going back into place.

PelotonToPodium · 03-02-2016, 06:11 PM

thanks and post a video if you can! I spent 30+ minutes scratching myself up last time trying to get those DANG tabs off. I'm also terrible at DIY, so there's that

hollandog · 03-04-2016, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmplaya

maybe its just me but i had trouble getting metal tool into right spot and was afraid of scratching. i ended up just feeling with fingers for the tab, release it, then keep pulling gently on the grill while working on the next one to prevent the tab from just going back into place.

I'm having trouble with the tabs. Had hard time releasing with my fingers. Broke one of the blade in the process.

Have trouble with the tools as well... will try again tomorrow.

It's harder than it sounds.

sjacie040 · 03-05-2016, 11:29 AM

30 seconds might be a little optimistic but I could manage within 15 minutes

Thanks for the advice!

ShawnOST · 03-13-2016, 10:18 PM

Very nice. Of course I stumbled onto this after replacing my grilles the other way...

While that wasn't bad (about 10 minutes total), this looks much faster.

m_michael · 08-31-2018, 11:28 PM

Absolutely brilliant! Took me minutes to pull the grills using this tool. Dealer quoted me $450 in labor, about 2 hours!! Apparently they pull the entire bumper.

10-12-2015, 10:36 AM	#1
Rick Hunter Skull Squadron Leader 307 Rep 2,031 Posts Drives: '07 M Coupé & '16 435xi GCoupé Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Emerald City iTrader: (20)	The 30 sec per side Grille replacement DIY Yes... There's too many DIY grille replacement threads out there, but hopefully this will be the only one you'll need to do this in under a minute. YES... UNDER A MINUTE. The grilles are held in by ~8 tabs, which are hard to get at. Each tab has a center that needs to be pushed in enough to loosen it from the bumper. Enter the tools: It doesn't matter what size hex you're using so long as it fits through the tab slot: Heck... you don't even need a hex... just find something around the house that'll fit through the slot. A mild twist in the correct direction (along with a slight pull of the grille) and the tab gets released from the bumper. Repeat for the remaining tabs. PLEASE please don't spend the hour dismantling the top of your bumper! Enjoy. __________________
	Appreciate 10 Saito1.50 Trevorstein150.00 Pauloxxi339.00 Tweet Quote

10-12-2015, 01:53 PM	#2
Professor///M Brigadier General 819 Rep 3,341 Posts Drives: 2022 M3, 2022 X5 40i; Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northeast iTrader: (5) Garage List 2022 BMW M3 Comp. [0.00] 2016 BMW X5 35i [10.00]	If this works, you are a god. PS create your own product and sell it to the vendors. Make some $$$
	Appreciate 1 Quote

10-12-2015, 01:57 PM	#3
Z4C_luvver First Lieutenant 67 Rep 322 Posts Drives: Phoenix Yellow Z4C Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Wiltshire iTrader: (0)	These are the sort of posts that make the forums special. Thanks for that; I'm just about to do mine, and having done it before on my 5 series, not looking forward to it again. Worry no more! BTW, wow, you didn't waste time changing over your grilles judging by the date on the sticker!!
	Appreciate 2 Pauloxxi339.00 Quote

10-12-2015, 07:21 PM	#4
mdai245 First Lieutenant 104 Rep 340 Posts Drives: 440i XDrive Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	Video please?
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10-12-2015, 10:23 PM	#5
Rick Hunter Skull Squadron Leader 307 Rep 2,031 Posts Drives: '07 M Coupé & '16 435xi GCoupé Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Emerald City iTrader: (20)	Video?? R U SRS? 4er_Luvver, The answer is... 3 days __________________
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10-14-2015, 02:26 AM	#6
Braddontroy Private First Class 20 Rep 110 Posts Drives: BMW 328i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Canberra, ACT iTrader: (0)	...reads this after doing it the hard way 😞. But for next time...!
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10-14-2015, 02:35 AM	#7
E30toF30 Captain 122 Rep 749 Posts Drives: 2016 528i Executive Edition Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (1) Garage List 2002 BMW M3 [0.00] 2014 BMW X5 35d [0.00] 2016 BMW 528i xDrive [0.00]	Video of this in action pls!
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10-15-2015, 09:46 AM	#8
cmplaya Captain 212 Rep 774 Posts Drives: B58 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: NYC / Instagram: @cmplaya/@nyc340i iTrader: (0)	just in time...should be doing this over the weekend
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10-31-2015, 06:15 PM	#9
FOAD Private First Class 38 Rep 140 Posts Drives: F31 330d Msport MG Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Middle England iTrader: (0)	Did this work easily for anyone?
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10-31-2015, 09:58 PM	#10
mdai245 First Lieutenant 104 Rep 340 Posts Drives: 440i XDrive Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	Not working for me. post vid ?
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11-02-2015, 08:47 AM	#11
rfcoolz Private First Class 39 Rep 183 Posts Drives: 2014 F30 328i xDrive Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Philadelphia, PA iTrader: (0)	Not quite sure how to do this. A video would be really nice!
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11-04-2015, 02:33 AM	#12
itrocks4u Colonel 615 Rep 2,418 Posts Drives: F80, F36, E90 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (3)	Didn't work for me.
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11-08-2015, 03:55 PM	#13
desmat First Lieutenant 37 Rep 311 Posts Drives: F31 M Sport Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 F31 M Sport [0.00]	subscribed
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11-08-2015, 05:07 PM	#14
cmplaya Captain 212 Rep 774 Posts Drives: B58 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: NYC / Instagram: @cmplaya/@nyc340i iTrader: (0)	i had trouble using tools and ended up using just my fingers and got first side out in about 10 minutes and second sidein 1 minute
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11-08-2015, 10:34 PM	#15
Rick Hunter Skull Squadron Leader 307 Rep 2,031 Posts Drives: '07 M Coupé & '16 435xi GCoupé Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Emerald City iTrader: (20)	I'm sorry I do not have a video documenting how I did it a few weeks ago. Honestly, I don't think there needs to be one. Make sure you start at the top and sides, then move on to the bottom. Once the one grille is out, you can reach your arm through the gaping hole to access the other grille. If people are still having a lot of trouble with this, then perhaps I can do a video (or if someone else with success chime in on this). __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-08-2015, 11:13 PM	#16
ahero4eternity Major 452 Rep 1,425 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: usa iTrader: (4)	Just ordered a 3rd set of grilles for my f30, lol. I'll try it this way next.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-09-2015, 06:44 AM	#17
cmplaya Captain 212 Rep 774 Posts Drives: B58 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: NYC / Instagram: @cmplaya/@nyc340i iTrader: (0)	maybe its just me but i had trouble getting metal tool into right spot and was afraid of scratching. i ended up just feeling with fingers for the tab, release it, then keep pulling gently on the grill while working on the next one to prevent the tab from just going back into place.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-02-2016, 06:11 PM	#18
PelotonToPodium Private First Class 59 Rep 121 Posts Drives: 335i M-Sport - GSM/Loaded Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1)	thanks and post a video if you can! I spent 30+ minutes scratching myself up last time trying to get those DANG tabs off. I'm also terrible at DIY, so there's that
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-05-2016, 11:29 AM	#20
sjacie040 New Member 9 Rep 26 Posts Drives: X3 2019 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	30 seconds might be a little optimistic but I could manage within 15 minutes Thanks for the advice!
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03-13-2016, 10:18 PM	#21
ShawnOST Private First Class 95 Rep 129 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 Competition Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Texas iTrader: (1)	Very nice. Of course I stumbled onto this after replacing my grilles the other way... While that wasn't bad (about 10 minutes total), this looks much faster.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-31-2018, 11:28 PM	#22
m_michael Private 20 Rep 63 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW F80 M3 Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Absolutely brilliant! Took me minutes to pull the grills using this tool. Dealer quoted me $450 in labor, about 2 hours!! Apparently they pull the entire bumper.
	Appreciate 1 Rick Hunter306.50 Quote