Install grilles

jaboyd · 12-30-2015, 08:56 PM

I've read the install instructions but found that it was more difficult/took longer than I'd thought.

First of all this set of instructions for an F30 http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=701830 was helpful but the 2series front bumper/valance is different and makes it more challenging.

The M235 does not allow access to the 2 side clips nor the 2 lower clips hiding the grilles in place. Basically the first part of the F30 instruction is pretty close and you'll follow that same procedure for releasing the upper 3 clips.

As you release the upper clips pull toward on the grille and then insert a soft plastic tool (trim tool works fine) on each side to keep the grille from snapping back into place. At this point the 4 remaining clips can only be removed with some type of tool that will allow you to depress tabs/clips by going thru the grille and pushing the tab inward. I ended up fashioning a tool by using an old 3" paint roller holder that has a single arm. I used the new grille to determine the correct shape for reaching thru the grille while pulling forward on the grille itself.

The process went very quick on the upper 3 tabs but then it became much more challenging. After the upper tabs I ended up releasing the inner most side tab first, then the outer tab, lastly the 2 lower tabs. BE PATIENT and it will come out. Once the first one is out just reach inside and release tabs on the other side.

OrangePeanut · 12-30-2015, 11:14 PM

you should be able to reach the 2 side clips and the lower clips. Just have to pull the bumper a bit farther back, it's actually quite flexible. Maybe it depends how big your arms are?

BPC · 02-06-2016, 09:43 PM

did this install today. was harder than i thought it would be - but once you figure it out - it gets easy quickly.

this post - coupled with the others out there and the youtube videos - was very helpful

after about 15 minutes of frustration and being on the verge of cutting the old grilles out - i finally got it and was able to remove the grilles (intact) in short order

BPC · 02-07-2016, 04:14 PM

Here is finished product

Adam135 · 02-07-2016, 08:12 PM

Can't decide if i prefer single or double slat

tbc417 · 02-08-2016, 11:56 AM

i used a mirror on a stick and some boot pulls, wasn't bad at all. If you don't care about the current grill you can always just cut away a couple of the slots.

LimeRockM235 · 02-09-2016, 01:20 PM

Saw a customer at my dealership literally just rip his out the stock crome ones and pop in the black ones like it was no thing. i stood there in horror while his friend was laughing.

robman23 · 02-09-2016, 02:57 PM

I did mine a couple of months ago. If you look at the ones you are going to install, it is pretty easy to understand how they are attached to the car. I would recommend a thick long sleeved shirt tho. My forearms where gashed up a bit. On ripping them from the front - a friend had her M3 grilles ripped off from the front. I don't think it is worth the risk of damaging the front plastic.
PS - I went with the double slats.

bryan_G01 · 02-17-2016, 01:05 PM

Easiest way to change grills if you don't plan on saving the OEM's.

Take a dremel tool, saw off 2 blades from the grill.

Use your hand to reach inside and lift the small clips up. Pull grill off.

Once you have one off, reach inside and pull the tabs up and grill off on the other side.

Take new grills, line up, push in.

This will take you all of 5 minutes.

leeadam · 05-09-2016, 10:36 AM

i literally pulled front bumper forward after unscrewing top shoved my hand in and did clips with my fingers, then it just popped out, the trick is to pull on grill as you pop one clip so it doesnt snap back in place, after this the others come easy, all this done in dark too with torch as i didnt wanna wait till morning.

P7X · 05-09-2016, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeadam

i literally pulled front bumper forward after unscrewing top shoved my hand in and did clips with my fingers, then it just popped out, the trick is to pull on grill as you pop one clip so it doesnt snap back in place, after this the others come easy,

This ^^^

jeffery_stearns · 06-06-2016, 07:56 PM

Took me about ten minutes with the following item pictured on the ground.

Mywifes335 · 06-07-2016, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffery_stearns

Took me about ten minutes with the following item pictured on the ground.

Wait, so you sacrificed the old grilles?

Finally got my OEM black grilles on the way....

jeffery_stearns · 06-07-2016, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mywifes335

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffery_stearns

Took me about ten minutes with the following item pictured on the ground.

Wait, so you sacrificed the old grilles?

Finally got my OEM black grilles on the way....

Roger, didn't plan on keeping them.

Anthony235 · 06-07-2016, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeadam

i literally pulled front bumper forward after unscrewing top shoved my hand in and did clips with my fingers, then it just popped out, the trick is to pull on grill as you pop one clip so it doesnt snap back in place, after this the others come easy, all this done in dark too with torch as i didnt wanna wait till morning.

This ^

Took me 10 minutes.

kdog26372 · 06-08-2016, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony235

This ^

Took me 10 minutes.

I 3rd this method. Takes less than 10 minutes as long as you have normal sized hands it is easy as can be.

Anthony235 · 06-08-2016, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdog26372

I 3rd this method. Takes less than 10 minutes as long as you have normal sized hands it is easy as can be.

Yes, I have girly hands

Important: Once you take one side out do NOT put in the new one. Take the 2nd old one out first. You can use the now empty hole to reach in and do the 2nd one super easy.

Mywifes335 · 06-08-2016, 03:59 PM

Mine should arrive today... Can't wait.

reala · 06-08-2016, 04:23 PM

Anybody installed the three m stripes on the grill? Can recommend some specific product?

ssimonvii · 06-09-2016, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reala

Anybody installed the three m stripes on the grill? Can recommend some specific product?

Also interested

Grentz · 06-09-2016, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeadam

i literally pulled front bumper forward after unscrewing top shoved my hand in and did clips with my fingers, then it just popped out, the trick is to pull on grill as you pop one clip so it doesnt snap back in place, after this the others come easy, all this done in dark too with torch as i didnt wanna wait till morning.

Yep, super simple. Biggest pain was putting the gasket back on where the hood meets the front. (not a big deal either) As said, once you get one side just do the other side by reaching in.

Grentz · 06-09-2016, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reala

Anybody installed the three m stripes on the grill? Can recommend some specific product?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssimonvii

Also interested

I don't have pics right now, but I put on these M Style gloss black with the M stripes. Good quality, colors look good. I wanted a little bit of color on the front since my car is BSM.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331740138160

12-30-2015, 08:56 PM	#1
jaboyd Private First Class 39 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i black/black Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	Install grilles - M235 I've read the install instructions but found that it was more difficult/took longer than I'd thought. First of all this set of instructions for an F30 http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=701830 was helpful but the 2series front bumper/valance is different and makes it more challenging. The M235 does not allow access to the 2 side clips nor the 2 lower clips hiding the grilles in place. Basically the first part of the F30 instruction is pretty close and you'll follow that same procedure for releasing the upper 3 clips. As you release the upper clips pull toward on the grille and then insert a soft plastic tool (trim tool works fine) on each side to keep the grille from snapping back into place. At this point the 4 remaining clips can only be removed with some type of tool that will allow you to depress tabs/clips by going thru the grille and pushing the tab inward. I ended up fashioning a tool by using an old 3" paint roller holder that has a single arm. I used the new grille to determine the correct shape for reaching thru the grille while pulling forward on the grille itself. The process went very quick on the upper 3 tabs but then it became much more challenging. After the upper tabs I ended up releasing the inner most side tab first, then the outer tab, lastly the 2 lower tabs. BE PATIENT and it will come out. Once the first one is out just reach inside and release tabs on the other side.
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12-30-2015, 11:14 PM	#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]	you should be able to reach the 2 side clips and the lower clips. Just have to pull the bumper a bit farther back, it's actually quite flexible. Maybe it depends how big your arms are?
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02-06-2016, 09:43 PM	#3
BPC Private First Class 46 Rep 122 Posts Drives: 2016 M235i Convertible Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Columbia SC iTrader: (0)	did this install today. was harder than i thought it would be - but once you figure it out - it gets easy quickly. this post - coupled with the others out there and the youtube videos - was very helpful after about 15 minutes of frustration and being on the verge of cutting the old grilles out - i finally got it and was able to remove the grilles (intact) in short order
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-07-2016, 04:14 PM	#4
BPC Private First Class 46 Rep 122 Posts Drives: 2016 M235i Convertible Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Columbia SC iTrader: (0)	Here is finished product Attached Images
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02-07-2016, 08:12 PM	#5
Adam135 Captain 75 Rep 961 Posts Drives: 2014 435i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (2)	Can't decide if i prefer single or double slat
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02-08-2016, 11:56 AM	#6
tbc417 Private First Class 11 Rep 116 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	i used a mirror on a stick and some boot pulls, wasn't bad at all. If you don't care about the current grill you can always just cut away a couple of the slots.
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02-09-2016, 01:20 PM	#7
LimeRockM235 Private First Class 57 Rep 174 Posts Drives: M235i Xdrive Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (0)	Saw a customer at my dealership literally just rip his out the stock crome ones and pop in the black ones like it was no thing. i stood there in horror while his friend was laughing.
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02-09-2016, 02:57 PM	#8
robman23 Private 34 Rep 73 Posts Drives: M235 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	I did mine a couple of months ago. If you look at the ones you are going to install, it is pretty easy to understand how they are attached to the car. I would recommend a thick long sleeved shirt tho. My forearms where gashed up a bit. On ripping them from the front - a friend had her M3 grilles ripped off from the front. I don't think it is worth the risk of damaging the front plastic. PS - I went with the double slats.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-17-2016, 01:05 PM	#9
bryan_G01 Lieutenant Colonel 1165 Rep 1,931 Posts Drives: like i stole it... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Easiest way to change grills if you don't plan on saving the OEM's. Take a dremel tool, saw off 2 blades from the grill. Use your hand to reach inside and lift the small clips up. Pull grill off. Once you have one off, reach inside and pull the tabs up and grill off on the other side. Take new grills, line up, push in. This will take you all of 5 minutes. __________________ www.nybmwcca.org Current Cars: 1995 M3 Coupe Manual Alpine White 1997 M3 Sedan Auto Cosmo Black Metallic 2018 x3 m40 Auto Grey Metallic
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05-09-2016, 10:36 AM	#10
leeadam Major 468 Rep 1,151 Posts Drives: F90 M5 Comp (Evolve Tune) Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Buckinghamshire, England iTrader: (0)	i literally pulled front bumper forward after unscrewing top shoved my hand in and did clips with my fingers, then it just popped out, the trick is to pull on grill as you pop one clip so it doesnt snap back in place, after this the others come easy, all this done in dark too with torch as i didnt wanna wait till morning. Attached Images
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06-06-2016, 07:56 PM	#12
jeffery_stearns Private First Class 35 Rep 139 Posts Drives: Mineral White BMW M235i, X5 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Lacey, WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW m235i [0.00] 2015 BMW X5 [0.00]	Twin Slat Grill Took me about ten minutes with the following item pictured on the ground. Attached Images
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06-08-2016, 04:23 PM	#19
reala Private First Class 24 Rep 106 Posts Drives: 16' MG M235i xDrive Join Date: May 2016 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	Anybody installed the three m stripes on the grill? Can recommend some specific product?
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