[NGT2]

Originally Posted by mavic1010

I did get everything done. Still haven't had time to polish it. But I'll put up some pictures tomorrow to show you the complete transformation.

Yes, please do!

I got my black fender vents and rear trim strip yesterday. Planning to install this weekend. I’m a little nervous about pulling the vents off, but I’m going to have some faith and go for it.

[NGT2]

I went ahead and knocked it all out. Vents were super easy. Like 5 minutes total.

The rear was a different and ultimately funny story. I tried it the way laid out earlier in this thread. Removed that underneath cover piece and couldn’t get any clips out at all. For like 45 min. Maybe an hour. Finally gave up and put it back on. Last minute I figured out I could feel the clip furthest to the driver side by reaching past the exhaust tip, with that cover back on. Gave it a couple firm pushes and it popped right out. Never needed a trim tool at all. From there I just slowly popped out each clip by pulling with my fingers. It was ultimately harder to clip the new one back in than to get the old one out, once that first one was out. Crazy.

[NGT2]

I will see how it looks in good light. But I may go ahead and do the 540 emblem in black. The roundel on the trunk may have just enough chrome outline to match the exhaust tips. We shall see.

[mavic1010]

My modifications. OEM: side vents, front trim, rear trim, exhaust tips. 3M piano black window trim.

I switched out the vents to the blue one and then added OEM black kidney grills. I had chrome with the blue which looked good and unique, but decided to just keep black for now.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by mavic1010

My modifications. OEM: side vents, front trim, rear trim, exhaust tips. 3M piano black window trim.

I switched out the vents to the blue one and then added OEM black kidney grills. I had chrome with the blue which looked good and unique, but decided to just keep black for now.

Wow! That really looks good. I am pretty torn on the fog lights. One of my biggest drawbacks is that I do not want to get into removing the bumper. And if I’m not doing the fog lights, I really don’t want to entertain the grill.

Your car looks really good.

[mavic1010]

Thanks. If you are going to keep the car, its worth the trouble to take off the front bumper and do it. I have no regrets. I wish I can do the window trim in actual shadowline. Everytime I wash the car I see the "waviness" in the wrap.

Now onto trying to troubleshoot the rear popping noise and after that hopefully some Blue or Red M-Sport calipers.

[NGT2]

I would like to do the genuine shadowline also, but I just can’t justify it.

Maybe I’ll ask a couple shops what they would charge to remove the bumper and put the black fog light trim on. I’m afraid I’d mess something up with all the sensors and cameras. But I am starting to think it would look really good. The black trim on the dark graphite looks even better than I expected.

[mavic1010]

It's not too bad to do. Taking off the sensors is easy and there are no cameras.

And I agree, finding shadowline at a reasonable price has been difficult. I was able to do it on my F30 for $300. Seems more like $1k with the G30 if you can find it.

Originally Posted by NGT2

I would like to do the genuine shadowline also, but I just can’t justify it.

Maybe I’ll ask a couple shops what they would charge to remove the bumper and put the black fog light trim on. I’m afraid I’d mess something up with all the sensors and cameras. But I am starting to think it would look really good. The black trim on the dark graphite looks even better than I expected.

[juliusedward]

Looks like a good place to share my luxuryline changes

NGT2 and me have been discussing and knows few of these

- Front grill in black + chrome
- Side vents in black
- Black luxuryline and rear badges
- Rear bumper chrome strip done in black ppf
- Exhaust tips painted gloss black
- LCI taillights
- Black gloss rear spoiler

Pending items
- Window trims in black (ordered from ebay not received yet)
Link
- Gloss black M style mirror caps and dynamic led turn signal lights (received but not fitted)

mavic1010 really like your frontend
Will look at changing the grill to all black and fog light trims in black when I'm bored with my current front end. This will also need my active grill flaps painted black. Maybe a spray paint will do

[juliusedward]

Originally Posted by NGT2

I would like to do the genuine shadowline also, but I just can’t justify it.

Maybe I’ll ask a couple shops what they would charge to remove the bumper and put the black fog light trim on. I’m afraid I’d mess something up with all the sensors and cameras. But I am starting to think it would look really good. The black trim on the dark graphite looks even better than I expected.

Taking off the bumper is easy but needs another pair of hands. Did it to replace my left fog light trim which was cracked by the previous owner

[NGT2]

Here is a better set of pictures. Beginning with purchase to now.

Order of operations:

1 - window tint (25%)
2 - 3M gloss wrap on window trim
3 - side vents and rear trim with genuine BMW parts

Other enhancements: painted reflectors from IND and a paint correction and ceramic coating.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by juliusedward

Taking off the bumper is easy but needs another pair of hands. Did it to replace my left fog light trim which was cracked by the previous owner

I’ve got a friend that would help me with it. I just haven’t found a good video or anything on how to do it. I’m sure it’s easier than I think. Everything else has been. I just don’t want to damage some sensor or something.

[juliusedward]

Originally Posted by NGT2

I’ve got a friend that would help me with it. I just haven’t found a good video or anything on how to do it. I’m sure it’s easier than I think. Everything else has been. I just don’t want to damage some sensor or something.

Used this as reference
https://youtu.be/uwfLC_XILM0

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by juliusedward

Used this as reference
https://youtu.be/uwfLC_XILM0

I’ve seen that one. It’s the best one I’ve seen. Just wish it was in English. I could turn on subtitles, I suppose.

[mavic1010]

You are definitely over thinking it. Once all the screws are out, a slight pull and the bumper just pulls off from the clips. The sensor wires and your hands are the only thing holding it up and preventing it from hitting the floor

I used boxes to hold the bumper up while i slowly unclipped and disconnected the wires.

Originally Posted by NGT2

I’ve got a friend that would help me with it. I just haven’t found a good video or anything on how to do it. I’m sure it’s easier than I think. Everything else has been. I just don’t want to damage some sensor or something.

[juliusedward]

NGT2 Installed the gloss black window frames today. It's pretty easy and looks great

I'm thinking of wrapping the door handle strips. They are standing out a bit

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by juliusedward

NGT2 Installed the gloss black window frames today. It's pretty easy and looks great

I'm thinking of wrapping the door handle strips. They are standing out a bit

That looks great!

I went back and forth on the door strips. I ended up doing nothing. Once I got rid of the chrome on the windows and side vents, the door handles became a nice subtle compliment to the wheels.

Some places don’t want to wrap the door handle strip because it’s a high wear area, but someone will do it. IND will do painted door handle replacements to match your car if you want to pay some money. It’s not as expensive as you’d think but still not cheap. You can email them for a quote on it. IND-Distribution