Front plate delete, discoloring leftover

[Tampa330i]

I just put on my first mod, front plate delete. I now notice an oval of black on the honeycomb where it used to be. Was the entire thing this color at one point or the other way around? My guess would be sunlight caused the exposed area to lighten, but I have no idea really. Either way, can this be reversed or is it new honeycomb time? You can't see it in great detail, but it's noticeable:

http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/b5c8480ff6379076c45b9f9a78b1728f077b95d027e93b8697 b7330c74eec7f56g.jpg

[Marcus-SanDiego]

The plate protected part of the plastic from the sun. No doubt about it. Perhaps you can repaint the entire honeycomb grill.

[Tampa330i]

Any special paint needed or will spray paint work? It looks to be black under there and from what I see on all your cars it looks like it should be black. Paint is probably the cheapest fix for this, correct?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I'm thinking you could use the same stuff that I used on my 335 grill. It started out silver.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/marcussandiego/DSCN0058.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/marcussandiego/DSCN0059.jpg

After:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/marcussandiego/IMG_7364.jpg

[danewilson77]

What were the brushes for?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I used them to dab the paint on the mesh.

[Tampa330i]

Yeah that looks really nice. The grill itself doesn't come out of the bumper I take it? Not sure this is something I want to try myself, if it includes taking the whole bumper off.

[Alphatek45]

It pops out of our cars. Not sure about the 335. Braver than me to paint it on the car lol

[Marcus-SanDiego]

On the 335, you have to pull the whole bumper off. I figured that I would give it a try this way first. It worked fine. Just had to be patient and careful. I did it in my father-in-law's drive way.

[MrMaico]

It pops out of our cars. Not sure about the 335. Braver than me to paint it on the car lol

Any info on how exactly to get it out? I'd like to redo mine but it would be alot easier with it off the car. I think what Marcus is saying is he sprayed the paint into the plastic cups and brushed it on that way rather than spraying the grille.

Thanks....Barry

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Any info on how exactly to get it out? I'd like to redo mine but it would be alot easier with it off the car. I think what Marcus is saying is he sprayed the paint into the plastic cups and brushed it on that way rather than spraying the grille.

Thanks....Barry

That's correct. I sprayed the paint into the cups and then applied the paint with a sponge brush. It took a little while, but it came out well.

[Tampa330i]

Alpha - do you know how to get the grille out of the bumper?

[Alphatek45]

I used a pocket knife. At the seams, they spread pretty easy. Then just dig your finger in and pull. It takes more force to get them out and back on than you would think. Obviously you don't want to pry at any points between the trim and the body.

Hope this helps.

[Tampa330i]

Do you have to take the bumper off, or can it still be attached? Also, does the grille come out through the front or back of the bumper?

[Alphatek45]

Ah. Old thread with a title of front plate delete. Which I have done. I haven't removed my grill but I can tell you that mine was loose. It has several simple "tabs" that I had to snap into place to tighten it up.
Looks like if I were to undo them all, it would have popped right out, from the back, without touching the bumper. May have to weasel it out carefully, but you wont have to pull the bumper.

[Alphatek45]

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=750316

One guy pulled his bumper. One didn't. I wouldnt....

[Mtnman]

i pulled out my mesh grill insert without removing the bumper. I did it to repaint the thing black, cause mine looked grey like my car. It take some force, but it you start at one end, and push firmly, but quickly, it will pop out. Once you pop part of it, you will be more comfortable with it. It is held on by about 8 snaps. Its a pain to get out and in, but much easier than removing the bumper. First time took me about 10 minutes to get it out. Second time, because i knew i wasnt going to break it, it only took about 5 mins. Firm, even force is key, but i would not start lightly and slowly bring up pressure, but rather "pop" it if that makes sense.
David

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Like pulling off a bandaid.

[pyreguy]

Your front bumper is hairy too?

[Tampa330i]

Sounds good, I'll have to try this out soon. Pyre - do you have any more pics of your car? I was thinking of doing the tails and corners clear but wasn't sure how it'd look on black. It looks pretty good to me on yours.

[pyreguy]

http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00009.jpg
http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00036.jpg
http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00035.jpg

[Tampa330i]

Looks great! Do you have to change the bulbs where the amber lenses used to be?

[pyreguy]

I got them all from Turner Motorsports and they came with new amber bulbs. They had an option for the silver looking stealth bulbs, but I heard they tend to get pretty hot (at least in the front where they stay on...I'm sure they're fine in the fenders cause my GTI came with them in the repeaters) and I think the ambers look more eurostock.

[Tampa330i]

Nice! They have a package deal (http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=CLE46SEDAN02-04) for the tails, sides & corners. And look at the car they're displayed on! Is that mystic blue?

[pyreguy]

yeah, I may end up with those tails if I start having problems with the Eagle Eyes. They look sharp! I have bought a ton of stuff from Turner and can say without equivocation that they are a good company to deal with.

[Tampa330i]

I think cosmetic stuff is last on my list for changes for now, but I'd like to do it some day. First I'm going to get the cooling done, i'm just at 70k, so it's time to do it before something bad happens. I won't be able to do it myself, so it's basically going to cost me christmas to have it done. Since I get to keep all the old parts that aren't actually broken yet, it's not so bad of a deal. I also plan on getting the lock-when-you-go-8 setting removed and a second key+coding, and that'll be expensive. I might attempt the removal of and repainting of the mtech grille this weekend, and possibly putting some of that black stuff on the bumper trims. Any suggestions on a paint brand, anyone?

[danewilson77]

I would just go with a duplicolor..

[Tampa330i]

So while I was out taking the fog light pictures, I tried getting the front honeycomb out. I did manage to get it free of all the tabs, so it's floating around in there now. I spent a good 10 minutes trying to get it out of there, but it just won't fit. There's also some big white piece of plastic attached to the top of the back of it, what is that? I think I could get it out if I did some serious bending on it, but I wasn't sure how strong it is. What's the trick to getting it out of there?

[pyreguy]

I just watched Mtnman put his back in this weekend. I didn't see him take it out but I know it's possible without taking anything apart. He could be a ninja though.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

:)N

[pyreguy]

Seriously. I watched him put it back in. Don't know how he did it without breaking it. Must be the skills of a :pimp ....ahem, er :)N

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Got a new ninja smiley.

:ninja

[danewilson77]

^Marcus Ninja needs to be bigger.....

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I agree, DW. Will look for a bigger one.

[Tampa330i]

Seriously. I watched him put it back in. Don't know how he did it without breaking it. Must be the skills of a :pimp ....ahem, er :)N

Was it from the front or back/bottom? From the front the only way I see it coming out is bending the crap out of it and pulling it through on one side, towards the top. It's hard to tell whats going on underneath without having it lifted. It feels like there's something bolted on that may come off to get into the bottom area. If that opens up, maybe this comes out through there?

[pyreguy]

He went in through the front.

[Tampa330i]

Finally, after scratching my hands to hell, I got it out. It would be helpful for anyone planning on taking this out to know that there are 2 pieces that make up the honeycomb grid. The back piece is called an 'adapter' though I'm not exactly sure of it's purpose. The grid itself will fit on the car without this piece, so I don't think I'll be putting it back in. Once unsnapped from the bumper, I spent so much time trying to get it out in without breaking it I eventually said screw it and stopped caring if I broke it. Doing this is impossible with the adapter still stuck on the grid. The adapter has wings on either side that make it far too wide to come out without flexing it which wasn't happening with the grid on it. So as I pulled on the grid in the upper passenger corner, the wing from the adapter stopped it from coming through and the grid began to separate from the adapter. After the separation, it was simple to remove both pieces. I've already got it painted and will put it back on today. I forgot to get a before picture when I painted it, but I got some afters.

The adapter is part 4 here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=51_4519&hg=51&fg=15 .
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/c/x/136.png

Since the grid can be reinstalled without the adapter, does anyone know what the function of this part is?

[Tampa330i]

http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/c5f9cd4f571ae40a0b9836d6af8d561460988981f7acbaa020 49f6f99d12cd736g.jpg

http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/dc13aaf5b57ea5ce6ff5eba1c93f71eedbbdd20f03d5a8fbf3 13104747bdd2a96g.jpg

http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/afaa963b4f14afc38139f3ef79b3b5d24fe8c12622a67bd242 648f583d93ef896g.jpg

http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/87ea249b3c72ffeaa869a4824dbfcb78f50ba2210b4dedb446 07d3c4bcc8b9666g.jpg

http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/5107ab20d6af1eb3b987208883c5cabcea7612b9c1b4280d8a f166a3409fe5926g.jpg

http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/5964efd3f18adcdc6186711b6a53813d11a1ac34a995627954 eb8b7d282a705a6g.jpg

[danewilson77]

Very nicely done Tampa...

[Tampa330i]

Thanks! I think it looks so much better. It was almost white before, it's like night and day. I wouldn't have even attempted without you guys backing me up. I used walmart paint, btw. Krylon indoor/outdoor plastic black, that was the only brand of rattle can they had.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Good work, JB.

[kayger12]

Looking good, man. Nice work.

[pyreguy]

Black is beautiful!

[az3579]

Need to do. Looks like crap the way it is contrasted with my Imola. :(

[Kudos]

Has anyone thought of using Meguire's back to black? i used this on the diffuser in the rear and the mirror trim, and it looked great while it was on there. Then again, it dried and came off in like 1 month, but for that month it looked pitch black.

[pyreguy]

^ that's not a convincing recommendation... LOL

[danewilson77]

Has anyone thought of using Meguire's back to black? i used this on the diffuser in the rear and the mirror trim, and it looked great while it was on there. Then again, it dried and came off in like 1 month, but for that month it looked pitch black.

Not gonna happen on the front....

[MrMaico]

Not gonna happen on the front....

I agree, it just too hard/smooth of a plastic. Replacement or painting are probably our only options.