Quick and Dirty Performance Grill Surround DIY

[NiceGuyEddie]

Need to dechrome the front end:

[NiceGuyEddie]

Stick your paws in between the grill slats and push down the tabs. Start with the top and press the clips down. Choke back tears on the bottom ones and compress them upwards. You can use a short flathead screwdriver wrapped with tape to help pry from the back. Take your time and apply consistent pressure all the way around. Once you have one side out, go in from the back of the other side:

[NiceGuyEddie]

Swap the surrounds into the stock grill inserts. Sadly, this was only a one beer job:

[NiceGuyEddie]

Snap them sumbitches back in. Finish beer.

[jballs16]

👍🏼

[S65V8]

QDDIY it is now known as.

[JeffDaKid3]

I swap the grills but now i can't get the hood to close with the weather strip, if i remove it the hood closes does anyone know what it could be or how the weather strip should be

[TooFan328i]

Wow! I saw a couple of DIYs and they showed that the way to do this is to open up the front bumper's screws from the top and remove the weather stripping to get to the grilles. This looks far easier! No need to get into the trouble of opening up the bumper assembly.

[Swancoat]

I use a radiator hose removal tool. I just cut the sharp end off and wrapped some tape on it. These are like $8. Truly no need to remove those top screws.

Like OP says - one you get one off, just reach in with your hand to do the other.

[IM2C]

Found this on f30post.com. 30 sec grille replacement DIY.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1183240

[larryn]

Originally Posted by f80

Found this on f30post.com. 30 sec grille replacement DIY.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1183240

I saw that too, but it seems that the OP is the only one who was successful with hat method. Did you try it?

I am still 3-4 weeks away from redelivery, or else I would try this, since it is only supposed to be a minute to try.

[ronanz]

Originally Posted by f80

Found this on f30post.com. 30 sec grille replacement DIY.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1183240

^^^ This is definitely the way to go...


.

[IM2C]

Originally Posted by larryn

I saw that too, but it seems that the OP is the only one who was successful with hat method. Did you try it?

I am still 3-4 weeks away from redelivery, or else I would try this, since it is only supposed to be a minute to try.

Yep. You need to use your new grills as a reference in order to locate tabs. I started at the outboard side tab and worked my way around the grill. Keep in mind that you need to remove one side only using this method.

[nupak]

Hey thanks as I was planning to do the long way and saw ur post....10 mins tops with sore finger but easy.....thanks bro

[minn19]

Just did this last night and it took 10 minutes. Thanks for the thread and idea. I was going to do it the old traditional way, but this was much quicker and easier.

[TooFan328i]

I tried and wasn't able to make it. It was a bit rainy here today, so I couldn't try for more than 30 mins. Instead of the grilles, I ended up installing the diffuser

[TooFan328i]

Originally Posted by minn19

Just did this last night and it took 10 minutes. Thanks for the thread and idea. I was going to do it the old traditional way, but this was much quicker and easier.

I had difficulty in getting to the bottom ones and the one notch on the left hand side. I started to work on the passenger side, and was able to remove the ones from top and the one on the right side. The bottom ones and the one on the left were not easy to get to. I will try a taped screwdriver next time. Any other tips?

[minn19]

Originally Posted by TooFan328i

I had difficulty in getting to the bottom ones and the one notch on the left hand side. I started to work on the passenger side, and was able to remove the ones from top and the one on the right side. The bottom ones and the one on the left were not easy to get to. I will try a taped screwdriver next time. Any other tips?

Not really, I just kept firm pressure by pulling from the middle of the grill with one hand while messing with the bottom clips with the other. Then they just popped out. I did break one lower female clip on the bumper, but it is held in by plenty of others and isn't going anywhere. Sorry, probably doesn't help much.

[NiceGuyEddie]

Originally Posted by TooFan328i

I had difficulty in getting to the bottom ones and the one notch on the left hand side. I started to work on the passenger side, and was able to remove the ones from top and the one on the right side. The bottom ones and the one on the left were not easy to get to. I will try a taped screwdriver next time. Any other tips?

The screwdriver really helped me. Not much clearance for the bottom ones. You have to press the center section of the clip upwards. Use steady pressure and pull out on the grill at the same time with your other hand. It hurts like a bitch, unfortunately.

[TooFan328i]

Originally Posted by NiceGuyEddie

The screwdriver really helped me. Not much clearance for the bottom ones. You have to press the center section of the clip upwards. Use steady pressure and pull out on the grill at the same time with your other hand. It hurts like a bitch, unfortunately.

Makes sense. That's what I thought might be the only way. Thanks for validating.

[TooFan328i]

Originally Posted by minn19

Not really, I just kept firm pressure by pulling from the middle of the grill with one hand while messing with the bottom clips with the other. Then they just popped out. I did break one lower female clip on the bumper, but it is held in by plenty of others and isn't going anywhere. Sorry, probably doesn't help much.

This does. At least, it tells me that if I am not careful, I can damage the bumper's slots. Thanks bud.

[Xtabi]

I put my grills in back in early November and did not need to disassemble anything in the engine bay either.

Like others said just undo one tab at a time while applying outward pressure with your other hand.

One tip that I have not seen posted before that I will share is to try to do it in warm weather. The warmer the plastic is the easier it will be to move. It was only in the 50s when I did. I did not use a heat gun or anything like that. You could park it in the driveway pointed at the sun to warm it up too.

Good luck!