Anyone know how to take the F15 X5 Kidney Grilles out (DIY)?

[avi8tir]

Already have it all buttoned up so hopefully this will help a bit....

First, remove the weather stripping.... pops right off and right back on when done.


Next remove these 5 torx screws - this will allow you to pull the top of the bumper forward enough to access the top clips with a flathead screwdriver. do the top 2 first... this will release the top a bit.... then do the sides.... make sure to keep it pulled out or it will pop back in. Once the top and sides are done, you can reach behind and underneath to release the bottom 2 clips with your fingers.


Here are the clips... you need to push on the center part which will allow it to release



The replacements pop right in. put the torx screws back and pop the weather stripping back on.

[Baboum68]

Thanks a lot! looks quite easy. how easy is it to pull the bumper and put it back properly?

[avi8tir]

Originally Posted by Baboum68

Thanks a lot! looks quite easy. how easy is it to pull the bumper and put it back properly?

Easy. The plastic bumper is fairly flexible so don't hesitate to give it a good tug to gain access to the back of the grilles. There are posts that it fits over in 3 spots so it's simple to get it back into place.

[LSM]

Seems easy enough but I saw the service manager do it, the bumper didnt line up took forever to make right...

[deadbuck]

You can look it up through google and find a how to video that shows you step by step. I did mine 3 weeks ago and forgot or I would tell you. I know you need to unscrew the top of the bumper to access the clips. Good Luck!

[Baboum68]

What kidneys are these? Looks like a mix of titanium and m performance?

[LSM]

Originally Posted by Baboum68

What kidneys are these? Looks like a mix of titanium and m performance?

He painted the outside of the standard grill black and left the inside untouched..Its stock M sport grill otherwise

[bluelodge400]

Avi8tir,
Thank you for this write up.
Also, NICE Daytona!!!

Originally Posted by avi8tir

Already have it all buttoned up so hopefully this will help a bit....

First, remove the weather stripping.... pops right off and right back on when done.

Next remove these 5 torx screws - this will allow you to pull the top of the bumper forward enough to access the top clips with a flathead screwdriver. do the top 2 first... this will release the top a bit.... then do the sides.... make sure to keep it pulled out or it will pop back in. Once the top and sides are done, you can reach behind and underneath to release the bottom 2 clips with your fingers.

Here are the clips... you need to push on the center part which will allow it to release

The replacements pop right in. put the torx screws back and pop the weather stripping back on.

[ljxrayman]

Originally Posted by avi8tir

Already have it all buttoned up so hopefully this will help a bit....

First, remove the weather stripping.... pops right off and right back on when done.


Next remove these 5 torx screws - this will allow you to pull the top of the bumper forward enough to access the top clips with a flathead screwdriver. do the top 2 first... this will release the top a bit.... then do the sides.... make sure to keep it pulled out or it will pop back in. Once the top and sides are done, you can reach behind and underneath to release the bottom 2 clips with your fingers.


Here are the clips... you need to push on the center part which will allow it to release



The replacements pop right in. put the torx screws back and pop the weather stripping back on.

Bullshit!!!
Beware DIY F15 owners, there are actuall 3 CLIPS at the bottom on each side!! I almost broke the clip because I "assume" there were only 2 clips after this reply.

[ljxrayman]

There are 7 clips on each side of the kidney grille, 2 top, 2 side, 3 bottom.

Tools you will need:
1. Long skinny flat head screw driver
2. Size 30 - Torx Screw Driver

Step 1: Pop the hood

Step 2: Peel off the Rubber Strip to uncover the 5 Torx Screws

Step 3: Unscrew the 5 Torx screws

Step 4: Lift up the 3 white bumper holders and pull the bumper outward about 1 inch

Step 5: Take off the round-rectangular black air intake cover on the left side to access the back of the kidney grilles.

Note: It is MUCH EASIER to start with the left side grille.

Step 6: Use the flat head screw driver to stick out the two clips at the top of the grille, make sure you use one hand to hold the screw driver while the other hand holding the chrome part and trying to pull it outward.

Note: Make use of the rectangular hole at the middle of the two grilles to get access to the 2 inner side clips.

Step 7: Stick the flat head screw driver into the "rectangular" hole to stick out the inner side clip,

Caution: Use another hand to pull out the grille while you doing this step, otherwise the grille might pop back in.

Step 8: Unclip the outer side clip using the screw driver.

Step 9: (HARD) Use you finger to feel the bottom 3 clips and pop them out, use another hand to pull the grill out at the same time.

Step 10: Do the same steps for the other side.

[E30toF30]

Originally Posted by avi8tir

Already have it all buttoned up so hopefully this will help a bit....

First, remove the weather stripping.... pops right off and right back on when done.


Next remove these 5 torx screws - this will allow you to pull the top of the bumper forward enough to access the top clips with a flathead screwdriver. do the top 2 first... this will release the top a bit.... then do the sides.... make sure to keep it pulled out or it will pop back in. Once the top and sides are done, you can reach behind and underneath to release the bottom 2 clips with your fingers.


Here are the clips... you need to push on the center part which will allow it to release



The replacements pop right in. put the torx screws back and pop the weather stripping back on.

Just wanted to say thanks for these tips. This along with ljx*****n's reminder of 3 clips under earth made this a super easy diy. I'm unsure why others spent hours trying to do this only to give up and pay a dealer to do it. I was worried about this DIY but it ended up going pretty smoothly. My "after" picture of the car below was taken 16 minutes after I took a before picture prior to starting.

For the record, I ended using some pry tools that I use for prying interior trim pieces to press the tab down on the top clips. And then just pulled on the bumper skin and stuck my hand in to press the side and bottom clips.

Painted reflectors from RGSport are in the mail and going on next! Thats a DIY i'm really worried about! Sound's like its going to be much harder than the painted reflector DIY on my F30 and F10

[Kr0m3assass1n]

Originally Posted by E30toF30

Just wanted to say thanks for these tips. This along with ljx*****n's reminder of 3 clips under earth made this a super easy diy. I'm unsure why others spent hours trying to do this only to give up and pay a dealer to do it. I was worried about this DIY but it ended up going pretty smoothly. My "after" picture of the car below was taken 16 minutes after I took a before picture prior to starting.

For the record, I ended using some pry tools that I use for prying interior trim pieces to press the tab down on the top clips. And then just pulled on the bumper skin and stuck my hand in to press the side and bottom clips.

Painted reflectors from RGSport are in the mail and going on next! Thats a DIY i'm really worried about! Sound's like its going to be much harder than the painted reflector DIY on my F30 and F10

HUGE thank you all to the posters on this thread. I'm an F15 newbie but I have to say that the collective knowledge and support from this incredible forum has encouraged me to do several updates to both my (F10/ F15) cars that I ordinarily would never attempt. I had been debating back and forth to get the grill swap done on by x35i at the dealership and I even looked on Y**Tube to no avail but with the pics from ljx*****n and all the other helpful tips I decided to take this on myself today.

I did have the biggest problem determining where to position the flathead screwdriver to unseat each clip but once I did, it took all of 15 mins to do both sides.
This is the order of clips I attempted (L for left side while facing the car, R for right):
1. L Top edge # 1 & 2
2. L Left edge #1 (This also allowed me to pry the chrome out far enough to access the other remaining clips below)
3. L Right edge #1 (using the rectangular hole at the top in the middle of both grills)
4. Once the top, left and right sides were done, I was able to gently wiggle and pry out the bottom clips out, i.e. didn't have to unseat any of the bottom clips and there was zero damage to the bumper or my old grill).
5. Repeat Steps 1, 2 and 3 and 4 for the R side.

The biggest helpful hint was to keep one hand on the chrome part of the grill and keep it pulled gently outward so that as soon as each clip is unseated, you immediately know you're good to go to the next one because they do tend to seat back if you're not paying attention.


Lastly, I am happy to assist anyone else in undertaking this by themselves! If anyone requires assistance in the DC/MD/VA area for their f15/f10, PM me and I am more than happy to meet to help you.

Cheers!

[beachcomberx5]

I paid the stealership $100.?

Money and time well spent since I bought the grills on sale and used eBay bucks.

[neverdone]

Originally Posted by Kr0m3assass1n

HUGE thank you all to the posters on this thread. I'm an F15 newbie but I have to say that the collective knowledge and support from this incredible forum has encouraged me to do several updates to both my (F10/ F15) cars that I ordinarily would never attempt. I had been debating back and forth to get the grill swap done on by x35i at the dealership and I even looked on Y**Tube to no avail but with the pics from ljx*****n and all the other helpful tips I decided to take this on myself today.

I did have the biggest problem determining where to position the flathead screwdriver to unseat each clip but once I did, it took all of 15 mins to do both sides.
This is the order of clips I attempted (L for left side while facing the car, R for right):
1. L Top edge # 1 & 2
2. L Left edge #1 (This also allowed me to pry the chrome out far enough to access the other remaining clips below)
3. L Right edge #1 (using the rectangular hole at the top in the middle of both grills)
4. Once the top, left and right sides were done, I was able to gently wiggle and pry out the bottom clips out, i.e. didn't have to unseat any of the bottom clips and there was zero damage to the bumper or my old grill).
5. Repeat Steps 1, 2 and 3 and 4 for the R side.

The biggest helpful hint was to keep one hand on the chrome part of the grill and keep it pulled gently outward so that as soon as each clip is unseated, you immediately know you're good to go to the next one because they do tend to seat back if you're not paying attention.


Lastly, I am happy to assist anyone else in undertaking this by themselves! If anyone requires assistance in the DC/MD/VA area for their f15/f10, PM me and I am more than happy to meet to help you.

Cheers!

can confirm the easiest way is to pull 7 screws. 5 torx and 2 socket screws. flat head for the top 2 and 2 sides and then reach your arm down and feel the bottom 3.

once you feel the bottom 3 they easily push out, but it did take a little while to mess around with it for the first one....

MAKE SURE YOU TAKE BOTH OUT BEFORE PUTTING ONE BACK IN!



edit: I still don't know how the fuck to post pics lol of someone could fix those and tell me what I did wrong, that would be great.