Air Scoops

[IvanLZ]

Originally Posted by double_j

Ugh. I thought I hated the M Sport fake grills already but just noticed today that there's a small gap on the outside edge of those plastic pieces to let air through to the tire well.

It's even worse than I thought - not only are those huge fake solid plastic grills totally cheesy looking but the gap on the outside make it look like they don't fit properly!

These may have become my #1 hated car design feature, just barely above fake exhaust tips (like the ones where you can see the round tail pipe extending through a fake rectangular exhaust tip).

I noticed the gap since my luxury line has it and i was wondering if the M-sport has it and my guess was right. It probably has to do with aerodynamics.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by IvanLZ

I noticed the gap since my luxury line has it and i was wondering if the M-sport has it and my guess was right. It probably has to do with aerodynamics.

It is intended feature for air flow.

[double_j]

Originally Posted by IvanLZ

I noticed the gap since my luxury line has it and i was wondering if the M-sport has it and my guess was right. It probably has to do with aerodynamics.

It forces air through the wheel well. Probably for aerodynamics and/or to cool the brakes. If you look at the back of the wheel well, there's a matching slit to funnel the air out.

At least the gaps are integrated into the look of the luxury line bumper. They look like a rigged together after thought on the m-sport.

[X5M50D]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

You don't want to do full open, because the top half hides the bumper reinforcement beam.

Oh and the reason they are closed on the 35i and 35d, is because nothing behind it.
On the M50d, there are oil coolers on each side.
While 50i, have oil cooler on the passenger side.

Not sure exactly what you are referring to on the M50d but mine seems to have one open grill on the right and solid grill on the left. Photo attached.
The other thing that spoils the front IMHO is the radar box beneath the number plate. This should be hidden away

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by X5M50D

Not sure exactly what you are referring to on the M50d but mine seems to have one open grill on the right and solid grill on the left. Photo attached.
The other thing that spoils the front IMHO is the radar box beneath the number plate. This should be hidden away

It's been 4 years since I did the research, so I guess it is US Driver side open on the M50d and US Passenger side open on the 50i.

[stewy604]

Looks like the M50D shows both being available.

Open Left - 51118064633
Open Right - 51118064634

Closed Left - 51118064635
Closed Right - 51118064636

When I did mine, I did open for both...added the trim pieces as well, which are left - 51118056867 & right - 51118056868. Hope this helps.

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Originally Posted by X5M50D

Not sure exactly what you are referring to on the M50d but mine seems to have one open grill on the right and solid grill on the left. Photo attached.
The other thing that spoils the front IMHO is the radar box beneath the number plate. This should be hidden away

I think you get both open when adding the towbar (hitch) which comes with 'uprated cooling'. Seems like overkill to me.

The radar box it THE reason I never spec'd ACC on my 335 or X5 - it looks ridiculous and very lazy design. MB manage to hide it in the badge, even if it is the wrong badge!