X5M/X6M Gloss Black Grille/Gills Wrap - DIY

[JNoSol]

Guys... I'm not a cheap ass by all means, but I can't justify $440 for a set of plastic grilles. After reading a DIY thread, I was inspired to wrap my grille surround.

You can do it yourself too, very easy. Just a bit tedious and patience.

Tools Needed: T-27, ratchet, 2 flat head screw drivers, heat gun, exacto knife, and 2 working thumbs (you can use felt squeegee, optional).

Materials: http://www.amazon.com/3M-GLOSS-Black.../dp/B007EEU58W

Time: 1.5-2.5hrs.

Step 1: Removing the grilles from the car - Move rubber gasket from top of the bumper (don't remove it, just move it so you can access the 5 screws), which covers 5x T-27 screws. Remove the screws. Lift the top of the bumper out of the 3 guides, then pull slightly. Each grilles have 2 taps on top, 2 tabs on side, and 2 tabs on the bottom. Pop the tabs on top and side of each grille first with screw driver. Then access the 2 bottom ones on each grilles by pulling the bumper out from top and reach down. Use your fingers to feel the tabs then pop them out. It may take a couple tries, wear long sleeves or your arms will be scratched up.

Step 2: Separate the chrome from the black pieces. Just observe all tabs, use a crew driver to pop them out. Start with the top and side ones, the bottoms will come out when the top tabs are loosened. Just a tiny bit of force to pry them apart. Try not to break these fragile clips. (you can watch how the M3/M4 guys replace their grille surround, same concept)

Step 3: Wrap - cut a vinyl piece 1-2" larger than the grilles. Once the vinyl is peeled, lay flat with sticky side up on a clean surface. Carefully place the chrome side of the grille surround on the vinyl. Use your fingers and heat gun to work the vinyl on top and outer of the grilles until it's smooth. Next, use the H-shape technique as the vid in the below reference thread. Once you've reached the edge, start trimming using your finger as a guide to have a nice trim (you can't see the trimming work if it's not as pretty.

Step 4: Snaps the grilles slats and surrounds together, then snap the back into the car. Re-install the screws and rubber weather gasket. Total time for me was 1.5hrs.

Step 5: Enjoy your work. Post here if you have questions...

Tips: Work the vinyl with both of your thumbs, 1 inch at a time to ensure it's smooth. Only heat 1 sec at a time. Don't cut until the outside and inside reached the edge with no or little kinks. Watch the vid and tricks in the threads below before starting.

I'll work on the side gilles next time, which requires heating and removing the X5M emblems. Same concept, slightly easier.

I hope you "appreciate" this thread.

Inspired by: http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=986632
Thanks pablobaq

[m34SPD]

Looks great!

[Luca42]

You are so lucky that I don't live closer! I'd be at your house next Saturday with a six pack of your favorite brew (scratch that -- a case) and all the materials!

Great job! Looks good. Thanks for posting.

[r33_RGSport]

@JNoSol , good job!!!

[AwesomeM3]

Great DIY and fantastic write up!

[JNoSol]

I got bored so I did the gills too... Follow other DIY on how to remove and replace the gills. Only difference is you have to separate the chrome piece from the black plastic before wrapping. Use 3M outdoor mounting tapes to replace all tapes, then reverse the install.

FYI: It's a bitch to remove from the fenders. You have to break some of the clips to get them off. Our fenders are ABS plastic, so don't worry about denting it.

Total Job: 2hrs

Wrapping process is the same as the grilles. You'll have to remove all the tape residue and X5M/X6M emblem. Use a heat gun and razer blade to start it, then use a flat head to slowly ply it off (it's aluminum so don't bend it too much). Once wrapped, use a blade to poke holes where the emblems sit to get the bubbles out then head/press. I used a cotton swab to go around the edge of it.

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by Luca42

You are so lucky that I don't live closer! I'd be at your house next Saturday with a six pack of your favorite brew (scratch that -- a case) and all the materials!

Great job! Looks good. Thanks for posting.

LOL, sounds good. Just got done with the gills too, both of my thumbs are sore as well.

P.S. This is a time consuming DIY. Wraps last about 2-3yrs, so if you plan to keep the car longer or don't want to mess with it - buy M Performance parts from r33_RGSport or painted ones from iND.

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by MMG640

Looks great!

Thanks bro. Notice the chrome gills on my 6GC? Too tired to mess with it tonight.

[tastelid]

Looks great, particularly on the gills!

[uae247]

I painted mine at the dealer
$400 for front and sides

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by uae247

I painted mine at the dealer
$400 for front and sides

Interesting.

Painting these would work if a shop strip the chrome plating off the plastic. When you get a rock chip on the M Performance pieces, you see black under the shiny surface and not chrome. Even with good prep work, painting on chrome plated plastic doesn't stick in the long run (it will flake off).

This is why Wrap is more durable on chrome plastic pieces. I believe iND use raw BMW OEM parts that's plastic to paint, not chrome plated.

[carri0n m3]

This is amazing; If I were more handy I would do this!

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by ShErM m3

This is amazing; If I were more handy I would do this!

You can do it. Wrapping is very easy to learn. Just buy extra for mistakes if you're doing it the first time. I thought the harder part of this project was removing the grilles/gills. The wrapping is time consuming, requires patience, but easier than R&R.

More photos...

[m34SPD]

Are you going to wrap the center piece of the bumper black?

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by MMG640

Are you going to wrap the center piece of the bumper black?

I thought about it. I'm not sure how to make a clean cut on the wrap w/o damaging the paint. There's WrapCut and Knifeless, but they don't cut that clean sometimes. I'll leave that alone for now.

[m34SPD]

Originally Posted by JNoSol

I thought about it. I'm not sure how to make a clean cut on the wrap w/o damaging the paint. There's WrapCut and Knifeless, but they don't cut that clean sometimes. I'll leave that alone.

Yeah you would need to use Knifeless tape, but it would look great along with your winter wheels.

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by MMG640

Yeah you would need to use Knifeless tape, but it would look great along with your winter wheels.

LOL. I'll order more 3M 1080 soon.

[Alberta]

Looks good !!

[JNoSol]

Vote - WRAP bumper center gloss black: YES or NO?

[UrbanExtant]

If you're going to wrap the plate bar, wrap it in a black material that matches the finish on the matte plastic air intakes on either side of the front bumper. Otherwise, I think it'll look out of place if done in gloss black.

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by UrbanExtant

If you're going to wrap the plate bar, wrap it in a black material that matches the finish on the matte plastic air intakes on either side of the front bumper. Otherwise, I think it'll look out of place if done in gloss black.

Good suggestion. I might just plastidip then, matte black.

[BrooklynG87]

Nice write-up. Thanks for sharing!