Need Help Popping out Grilles!!

bimmer4life24 · 04-28-2015, 12:28 AM

As you can see in the photo, I'm able to bend the slat with my unique tool but pulling the bracket out is where I am having a problem. The bracket is slightly coming out, however as hard as I pull on the grille, it seems like the other brackets are not allowing it to fully come out.

FWIW I'm starting with the bottom left bracket. Am I starting off with the wrong bracket? Should I try bending 2 slats at the same time then pulling? I'm trying to avoiding pulling out the bumper and cutting the grille. Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks guys!!

OrangePeanut · 04-28-2015, 02:44 AM

Just got mine out yesterday night, posted about it here:

http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...1001113&page=2

I was trying to avoid the bumpers too for reasons stated in my post there, if your reasons are similar i would suggest just go for it. I feel like this way is a bit harder unless you have an extra pair of hands to help, but that's just me. Lot of ppl have gotten it out easily with non-bumper method too.

Cyberdemon · 04-28-2015, 02:14 PM

I pulled the top edge of the bumper off and went from the center clip outward using a really long phillips head screwdriver and a good yank. I mightve busted 1 clip on the original ones to get them out.

abirmaher · 05-01-2015, 04:43 PM

Just did this today with a friend of mine (female, with smaller hands lol). Honestly I could have done it myself though.

Steps I took:
1) remove weather stripping from one side
2) remove 6 torx screws from the top middle where the weather stripping has been peeled back
3) carefully pull forward, eventually you will be able to just barely see the top of the clips if you look at the right angle. You can reach in and pop off those top ones. And the side ones too if you try hard.
4) my friend was able to get her hand in and pop off the bottom clips.
5) once one side was off the other was a cake walk because you can reach in from the hold where the old one was.
6) replace them both, making sure they click in everywhere.

Was much easier than anticipated but a bit stressful.

inktomi · 05-02-2015, 01:10 PM

For sure loosen the bumper. Much easier. The weather strip just pulls up, and then it's only a few bolts to open up the top edge. From there you can work your hands or tools in and press on the tabs.

Not comfortable, but I was able to do it with my giant hands even.

bimmer4life24 · 05-10-2015, 07:07 PM

Finally got them off and got the job DONE. I used the bent fork method. No bumper removal. Just hit the tabs in their sweet spot (used a mirror for help) and pulled each one off.

AWcoupe · 05-20-2015, 08:10 PM

I just knocked this out today in about 20 minutes. Followed abirmaher steps. Having smaller hands is definitely a huge help. Just yanked back the bumper cover, worked the top clips, then the sides and then the bottoms, pulling out the whole time. The inner side clip closest to the center of the bumper was the toughest one for me. Funny thing is that once one was out, I still came in from the top to get the second one out! Reaching through the opening was awkward for me. Just used my hands, no special tools or mirrors used. No cutting slats out of the stock grills. Just yank that puppy back and start popping clips!

alexc93 · 06-10-2015, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abirmaher

Just did this today with a friend of mine (female, with smaller hands lol). Honestly I could have done it myself though.

Steps I took:
1) remove weather stripping from one side
2) remove 6 torx screws from the top middle where the weather stripping has been peeled back
3) carefully pull forward, eventually you will be able to just barely see the top of the clips if you look at the right angle. You can reach in and pop off those top ones. And the side ones too if you try hard.
4) my friend was able to get her hand in and pop off the bottom clips.
5) once one side was off the other was a cake walk because you can reach in from the hold where the old one was.
6) replace them both, making sure they click in everywhere.

Was much easier than anticipated but a bit stressful.

Where did you get the double-slat kidneys from?

abirmaher · 06-10-2015, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexc93

Quote:

Originally Posted by abirmaher

Just did this today with a friend of mine (female, with smaller hands lol). Honestly I could have done it myself though.

Steps I took:
1) remove weather stripping from one side
2) remove 6 torx screws from the top middle where the weather stripping has been peeled back
3) carefully pull forward, eventually you will be able to just barely see the top of the clips if you look at the right angle. You can reach in and pop off those top ones. And the side ones too if you try hard.
4) my friend was able to get her hand in and pop off the bottom clips.
5) once one side was off the other was a cake walk because you can reach in from the hold where the old one was.
6) replace them both, making sure they click in everywhere.

Was much easier than anticipated but a bit stressful.

Where did you get the double-slat kidneys from?

JBSPEED Dual Slat Matte Black & Gloss Black Grills http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1088917

F80_M · 06-10-2015, 04:31 PM

Here another picture of the dual slat grill if you have EBII

alexc93 · 06-18-2015, 10:04 AM

Really liking the dual slat grilles. Already ordered the performance grilles but perhaps later down the road this will be a nice addition!

04-28-2015, 12:28 AM	#1
bimmer4life24 Lieutenant 268 Rep 505 Posts Drives: 2020 M2 Comp Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	Need Help Popping out Grilles!! As you can see in the photo, I'm able to bend the slat with my unique tool but pulling the bracket out is where I am having a problem. The bracket is slightly coming out, however as hard as I pull on the grille, it seems like the other brackets are not allowing it to fully come out. FWIW I'm starting with the bottom left bracket. Am I starting off with the wrong bracket? Should I try bending 2 slats at the same time then pulling? I'm trying to avoiding pulling out the bumper and cutting the grille. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks guys!! Attached Images
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04-28-2015, 02:44 AM	#2
OrangePeanut Private 17 Rep 63 Posts Drives: M235i BSM Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 M235i [0.00]	Just got mine out yesterday night, posted about it here: http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...1001113&page=2 I was trying to avoid the bumpers too for reasons stated in my post there, if your reasons are similar i would suggest just go for it. I feel like this way is a bit harder unless you have an extra pair of hands to help, but that's just me. Lot of ppl have gotten it out easily with non-bumper method too.
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04-28-2015, 02:14 PM	#3
Cyberdemon Brigadier General 1538 Rep 3,331 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 40i, 2018 M3 Comp Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (3)	I pulled the top edge of the bumper off and went from the center clip outward using a really long phillips head screwdriver and a good yank. I mightve busted 1 clip on the original ones to get them out. __________________ Current: '20 X5, '18 M3 ZCP Previous: '11 E90 335i, '11 E90 M3, '16 VW GTI, '15 M235i, '13 335i, '08 TL-S, '00 Corvette
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05-01-2015, 04:43 PM	#4
abirmaher Colonel 841 Rep 2,363 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW M2 & 2024 BMW X1 M35i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL iTrader: (14) Garage List [0.00] 2018 BMW M2 [10.00]	Just did this today with a friend of mine (female, with smaller hands lol). Honestly I could have done it myself though. Steps I took: 1) remove weather stripping from one side 2) remove 6 torx screws from the top middle where the weather stripping has been peeled back 3) carefully pull forward, eventually you will be able to just barely see the top of the clips if you look at the right angle. You can reach in and pop off those top ones. And the side ones too if you try hard. 4) my friend was able to get her hand in and pop off the bottom clips. 5) once one side was off the other was a cake walk because you can reach in from the hold where the old one was. 6) replace them both, making sure they click in everywhere. Was much easier than anticipated but a bit stressful. Attached Images __________________ Follow my builds: The Racecar (2018 M2 - M0010): Build Thread \| @_m0010 The Daily (2024 X1 M35i - X001M35):Build Thread \| @_x001m35 Last edited by abirmaher; 05-01-2015 at 05:26 PM..
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05-02-2015, 01:10 PM	#5
inktomi Private First Class 64 Rep 177 Posts Drives: 2015 EBII M235i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	For sure loosen the bumper. Much easier. The weather strip just pulls up, and then it's only a few bolts to open up the top edge. From there you can work your hands or tools in and press on the tabs. Not comfortable, but I was able to do it with my giant hands even.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-10-2015, 07:07 PM	#6
bimmer4life24 Lieutenant 268 Rep 505 Posts Drives: 2020 M2 Comp Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	Finally got them off and got the job DONE. I used the bent fork method. No bumper removal. Just hit the tabs in their sweet spot (used a mirror for help) and pulled each one off. Attached Images Last edited by bimmer4life24; 05-10-2015 at 10:00 PM..
	Appreciate 1 Quote

05-20-2015, 08:10 PM	#7
AWcoupe Second Lieutenant 166 Rep 201 Posts Drives: 2023 BMW 240i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Bridgeport CT iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW M240 [0.00] 2015 BMW 235xi [0.00]	I just knocked this out today in about 20 minutes. Followed abirmaher steps. Having smaller hands is definitely a huge help. Just yanked back the bumper cover, worked the top clips, then the sides and then the bottoms, pulling out the whole time. The inner side clip closest to the center of the bumper was the toughest one for me. Funny thing is that once one was out, I still came in from the top to get the second one out! Reaching through the opening was awkward for me. Just used my hands, no special tools or mirrors used. No cutting slats out of the stock grills. Just yank that puppy back and start popping clips! Attached Images __________________ 2023 BMW M240i 2015 BMW 235xi Alpine White, Coral Red Dakota.Traded 2009 BMW 328xi Alpine White-Traded
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06-10-2015, 04:31 PM	#10
F80_M Banned 798 Rep 2,494 Posts Drives: 1/1 PSM F80, F36, G11 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Orlando iTrader: (2)	Here another picture of the dual slat grill if you have EBII Attached Images
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06-18-2015, 10:04 AM	#11
alexc93 Colonel 381 Rep 2,384 Posts Drives: na Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: na iTrader: (8)	Really liking the dual slat grilles. Already ordered the performance grilles but perhaps later down the road this will be a nice addition!
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