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      09-22-2017, 03:42 PM   #1
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Anyone know how to remove T piece insert in front bumper trim?

Update: if you remove T piece yourself - be advised that one side might not go back as easily and you might lose it while driving if it un-clips.


I want to paint it black and it seems like it's removable, but I don't want to brake anything, would be much easier to paint that piece separately. Maybe someone had experience removing it?
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Last edited by DuSh; 12-06-2018 at 11:03 PM..
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      09-23-2017, 06:54 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DuSh View Post
I want to paint it black and it seems like it's removable, but I don't want to brake anything, would be much easier to paint that piece separately. Maybe someone had experience removing it?
Been looking for the EXACT same solution bro. So far, nothing. I am debating taping around it and just spraying it. It's plastic so a high grit sandpaper should work to make the surface more "sticky" to paint.

I did find this one picture of a painted one that basically show clips on the back. That tells me this piece needs to simply be popped out with a trim tool. See picture.

Wanna try it and post your first DIY?
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      09-23-2017, 08:17 AM   #3
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Thanks Krom! I'll try it next weekend and post my results. On the other hand if it won't come out easy - your idea to tape it around, sand it and paint it - is not bad at all - maybe that's easier way after-all!
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      09-25-2017, 12:30 PM   #4
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I just did this yesterday.

I just did it yesterday and plastidipped them. I used a butter knife with tape on it. 1st you pull the piece towards the center of the car. That releases the head of the T part. Then its as simple as pulling it away from the car via the tabs that I slightly slid the butter knife in to release them. (Very Slightly) and that was it. They popped out easily and without any broken clips or tabs. The butter knife may seem unconventional but it worked like a charm. It even did a better job than my Flathead screwdriver for the grille clips when i was removing it.
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      09-25-2017, 01:14 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKKNIGHTFAMHAULER View Post
I just did it yesterday and plastidipped them. I used a butter knife with tape on it. 1st you pull the piece towards the center of the car. That releases the head of the T part. Then its as simple as pulling it away from the car via the tabs that I slightly slid the butter knife in to release them. (Very Slightly) and that was it. They popped out easily and without any broken clips or tabs. The butter knife may seem unconventional but it worked like a charm. It even did a better job than my Flathead screwdriver for the grille clips when i was removing it.
Awesome! You are the man! I'm going to try it out during the weekend
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      09-25-2017, 04:39 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DuSh View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKKNIGHTFAMHAULER View Post
I just did it yesterday and plastidipped them. I used a butter knife with tape on it. 1st you pull the piece towards the center of the car. That releases the head of the T part. Then its as simple as pulling it away from the car via the tabs that I slightly slid the butter knife in to release them. (Very Slightly) and that was it. They popped out easily and without any broken clips or tabs. The butter knife may seem unconventional but it worked like a charm. It even did a better job than my Flathead screwdriver for the grille clips when i was removing it.
Awesome! You are the man! I'm going to try it out during the weekend
Slacker! You were supposed to do it yesterday!
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      09-27-2017, 12:39 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kr0m3assass1n View Post
Slacker! You were supposed to do it yesterday!
So inspired by a DARKKNIGHTFAMHAULER I decided to give it a try and it turns out it's very easy once you get the hold of it

Took me 10 sec to remove second piece, and around 2 minutes for first one. Took a video, but it's shaky, I had to do it with one hand. I'll upload it later
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      09-27-2017, 07:25 PM   #8
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https://streamable.com/06lmi
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      09-27-2017, 07:28 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DuSh View Post


Now time to put up some pics once they're blacked and back on!
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      09-27-2017, 09:53 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DuSh View Post
Thanks for this. Although mine were plastidipped before, I am gonna take them out to do a better job. Were you able to put these back on without much trouble?
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      09-27-2017, 10:06 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sahiljain22 View Post
Thanks for this. Although mine were plastidipped before, I am gonna take them out to do a better job. Were you able to put these back on without much trouble?
Putting in ideally requires to push 2 tabs on the T head (I circled them on attached picture) using your finger from behind - which I was able to easily do on one side (where I have open mesh grill), but on the other side mesh is closed for some reason and I'm still going to think how to put it in so it will click
Right now it's holding in, but I didn't hear click - so I'm guessing I need to somehow do it

P.S I used plastidip on my previous e90 328i on front bumper grill and trim and I found out that after 2-3 weeks it's all started to look weathered with pitted dots and started peeling. So I abandoned plastidip after that. This time I just bought a $10 gloss black paint (universal can) and a clear coat can. Used a $4 sandpaper and it took me easy 1.5 hours in bathroom to paint these T trim pieces. I used a plastic garbage bag on the floor to avoid overspray and I did 3 coats of black and 1 coat of clear. 10-15 minutes in between coats. Looks good and matches black trim on the x5
Will post pics as soon as I'm done with it
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      09-28-2017, 02:01 PM   #12
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Nice. Mines look okay for now but I'm going to get someone to paint them along with the Chrome Window trim and maybe the running boards if I decide to keep them. Then it's off to the de-badging stage. Keep modding my fellow X5ers.
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      09-28-2017, 08:49 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKKNIGHTFAMHAULER View Post
Nice. Mines look okay for now but I'm going to get someone to paint them along with the Chrome Window trim and maybe the running boards if I decide to keep them. Then it's off to the de-badging stage. Keep modding my fellow X5ers.
I was debating wrapping my window trim but I think painting is a better & more durable option.

You going for matte or gloss black? On the "no Line" model, the window pillars are matte?
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      10-01-2017, 12:45 AM   #14
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here is my revised plastidipped front.

to put it in, i had to take it out fully and put the broad end in first, then put the narrow in and give it a light tap.
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Last edited by sj22; 10-01-2017 at 01:09 AM..
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      10-04-2017, 08:39 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sahiljain22 View Post
here is my revised plastidipped front.

to put it in, i had to take it out fully and put the broad end in first, then put the narrow in and give it a light tap.
Oh wow, that looks great. If only this was a stock option. 99% of us would already have it.

Nice job.

Now waiting for DuSh to post his pic with the gloss black paint. Hurry up already!
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      10-04-2017, 10:18 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kr0m3assass1n View Post
Oh wow, that looks great. If only this was a stock option. 99% of us would already have it.

Nice job.

Now waiting for DuSh to post his pic with the gloss black paint. Hurry up already!
I will post it, but I'm right now in the middle of a very busy week and I still need to put my right T-piece in properly (for some reason my left trim has a mesh and I was able to install T-piece back without issues, but my right trim has no mesh, but a closed panel and I can't quite reach to the back of T-piece to put it in place properly). I will soon, but probably it's going to be next week
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      10-06-2017, 02:02 PM   #17
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Painted Gloss Black

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kr0m3assass1n View Post
I was debating wrapping my window trim but I think painting is a better & more durable option.

You going for matte or gloss black? On the "no Line" model, the window pillars are matte?
I want Glossy Black. So it could blend in. I don't really like a the paint black plastic. So I wanted add the paint m sport fender flares too.
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      10-11-2017, 12:09 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DuSh View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kr0m3assass1n View Post
Oh wow, that looks great. If only this was a stock option. 99% of us would already have it.

Nice job.

Now waiting for DuSh to post his pic with the gloss black paint. Hurry up already!
I will post it, but I'm right now in the middle of a very busy week and I still need to put my right T-piece in properly (for some reason my left trim has a mesh and I was able to install T-piece back without issues, but my right trim has no mesh, but a closed panel and I can't quite reach to the back of T-piece to put it in place properly). I will soon, but probably it's going to be next week
No post yet?

Anyway, I got inspired by you guys and picked up some gloss black & clear coat for my ride. Will post pictures once I finish it.

Just waiting for this damn rain to go away.
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      10-11-2017, 07:07 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kr0m3assass1n View Post
No post yet?

Anyway, I got inspired by you guys and picked up some gloss black & clear coat for my ride. Will post pictures once I finish it.

Just waiting for this damn rain to go away.
Just posted in the photo thread: http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...75600&page=228
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      01-07-2018, 05:36 PM   #20
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I took out the t piece to paint but I’m having trouble getting it to snap back in place. Any tips? Do I need to take off the wheel arch and access it from behind?
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      01-07-2018, 06:39 PM   #21
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Quote:
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I took out the t piece to paint but I’m having trouble getting it to snap back in place. Any tips? Do I need to take off the wheel arch and access it from behind?
See my post #11 in this thread - I put 1 piece easily and it clicked. However, second one on the driver side has closed mesh and I can't put my finger to really push it to click. I managed to somehow insert it securely and haven't had problem since then, but it's tricky I agree
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      03-07-2018, 01:12 AM   #22
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I am rebooting this thread because my trim piece popped out and fell somewhere this weekend. I am guessing it didn't really click back into place when I put it back a few months ago. If you took it out and put yours back, please double check and epoxy it if needed. These are close to $75-100 to replace OEM - found out the hard way.
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