[jay79]

Just wanted to see if there were any benefits anyone has seen removing the active grille. I know BMW made it for faster warming, aerodynamics etc. With this engine running so hot as it does, it makes me scratch my head why you would want it to be closed at all minus warming up. So far, it seems to take forever for the engine to cool down. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.
Asking cuz I will be installing front mounted intakes this weekend from N63intake and gotta remove the front bumper to do so. Just have the,"while Im here, I might as well" mentality going on.
I read that one persons ac actually works better now that its always open. Again, just looking for experiences. Thank you!

...and I know it will throw a cel if I just disconnect it. Was planning to pull the pins and remove the right way versus a set of branch cutters or a dremel.

[WretchedRefuse]

I've had the same thought. Are you thinking of doing just the top, or both upper and lower?

As for the CEL, see if you can leave the shutter motor in place and just disconnect the rods that control the shutters. It should sit there happily spinning its motor back and forth, hopefully not throwing a CEL. I hope you won't have the destroy the shutters.

Send photos/videos please, and also let us know how it sounds! I've been wondering how loud those intakes are when mounted in front of the radiator.

The only negatives I can think of are slightly lower fuel economy and maybe slower warming without the shutters.

[Joe-BMW33]

I'm in the minority, mine works and it's under warranty for 15 years if it doesn't. I have no problem with it and I think the look of seeing through to the radiator and internal hardware 24x7 (especially when parked) looks hideous.

[jay79]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I'm in the minority, mine works and it's under warranty for 15 years if it doesn't. I have no problem with it and I think the look of seeing through to the radiator and internal hardware 24x7 (especially when parked) looks hideous.

Thats fair. The looks of it isnt really a factor for me. Ive seen both and tbh, it doesnt matter either way. But if taking them off helps my AC run better????? I am all for it then. South FL gets hot and the ac in these cars feel a little weak and they need to be on full blast to cool the car off.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by jay79

Thats fair. The looks of it isnt really a factor for me. Ive seen both and tbh, it doesnt matter either way. But if taking them off helps my AC run better????? I am all for it then. South FL gets hot and the ac in these cars feel a little weak and they need to be on full blast to cool the car off.

Fair enough as well. I live in the north east.

[Kriz2fer]

Performance is more important to me than people seeing through my grill. M5 don’t have shutters. If it cools the motor do it.

[WretchedRefuse]

Originally Posted by Kriz2fer

Performance is more important to me than people seeing through my grill. M5 don’t have shutters. If it cools the motor do it.

In fact, you can grab M5-style kidney grills to complete the look.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Kriz2fer

Performance is more important to me than people seeing through my grill. M5 don’t have shutters. If it cools the motor do it.

What exactly is the performance gain you speak of? Is it measurable?

[jay79]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

What exactly is the performance gain you speak of? Is it measurable?

I believe he was referring to keeping the engine cooler hence performing better. Just got my intake today from N63intake and he had a similar opinion on the active grilles and highlighted as well that the M's dont have them.
Already replaced the kidney grilles and had the wheels powder coated. Get the bumper and grilles off this weekend.

[RyanM550]

I did this the other day I have RK Tunes front mount intakes and after logging with bm3 my intakes temps were 10-15 deg below ambient … I also put new filters , no need to remove bumper anymore

[Bjames93*]

Nice work!

[Kriz2fer]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

What exactly is the performance gain you speak of? Is it measurable?

Anytime you increase airflow to cool the engine it’s helping. He’s installing front mount intakes. He needs that air going directly to filters. Remember m5 don’t have shutters for a reason.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Kriz2fer

Anytime you increase airflow to cool the engine it’s helping. He’s installing front mount intakes. He needs that air going directly to filters. Remember m5 don’t have shutters for a reason.

Understood, I missed the part about the intakes, I see now why it's a must to remove the active grill.

[AP]

Surely though if the engine needs to cool, the grills WILL be open?
They only close if the engine is warming up or the management system seems it's not above a hot threshold .

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by AP

Surely though if the engine needs to cool, the grills WILL be open?
They only close if the engine is warming up or the management system seems it's not above a hot threshold .

Yeah that is my assumption too and so far, I have not had any issues with the AC or engine temps, so I assume they are functioning as designed. I totally understand the need to keep it wide open all the time for air intake modifications. When these were failing before BMW owned it and extended the warranty to 15 years, people were removing them to avoid failure.

[WretchedRefuse]

Originally Posted by RyanM550

I did this the other day I have RK Tunes front mount intakes and after logging with bm3 my intakes temps were 10-15 deg below ambient … I also put new filters , no need to remove bumper anymore

Nice! How does it sound with the open filters in front of the radiator?

Also, are you able to change the filters by just popping off the kidney grills?

[jay79]

Originally Posted by WretchedRefuse

Nice! How does it sound with the open filters in front of the radiator?

Also, are you able to change the filters by just popping off the kidney grills?

Would assume so. He said no need to remove bumper anymore. Just not sure I would destroy the active grilles tho.

[WretchedRefuse]

Originally Posted by jay79

Would assume so. He said no need to remove bumper anymore. Just not sure I would destroy the active grilles tho.

I believe that the kidney grills attach to the shutter assembly so the only way to get rid of the shutters is to remove them from the assembly. Hopefully that can be done non-destructively.

[RyanM550]

The sound is insane … I can change the filters by just taking the grilles off

[HerkHealer]

Primary function of the active grill is for aerodynamics, but they will open when engine temps get hot. You can also "manually" open them by selecting Max AC.

With those front mounted intakes, I would also remove the entire active grill assy.

[2022M550i]

I love Dr. Pepper.


.

[jay79]

Originally Posted by WretchedRefuse

I believe that the kidney grills attach to the shutter assembly so the only way to get rid of the shutters is to remove them from the assembly. Hopefully that can be done non-destructively.

They are attached and I am not seeing a way to seperate them without cutting them. Sucks.