Help w/ grill removal and high beam replacement - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

DCN M5 · 13th August 2006, 04:00

Let me preface this ... I am not overly mechanically inclined.

I was able to get the 4 top screws out of the driver side grill (2 large / 2 small). It still seems very snug and don't want to break anything by forcing it. I see that there are two small holes near the bottom (middle) but can't seem to get any bite with my tolls when I go fishing inside them. And not certain if they are for aiming, etc.?

How do I get the grill out and what tool will I need to take the 3 screws out for the head lamp replacement? Visually, they seem to have black plastic covers over where I was expecting a screw head to be?

Dumb question ... sorry. At least I'm trying ...

DCN

91 M5
88 911

farrell · 13th August 2006, 11:19

Hi
For those not well versed with mechanical removal of trim, especially this task, I would suggest that you not undertake the job yourself.
But if you are determined, then take your time & dont force anything as the parts are easy to damage.
You have a couple of tabs that you have to reach at the bottom of the grill through the grill itself by use of a thin flat bladed screwdriver or a dedicated trim removal tool.
Its much easier to remove the bumper but that would bring more questions than it would solve.
Shine a torch in through the grill & look at how the grill tabs detach.
If you remove the grill with bumper insitu, I would suggest using strips of masking tape to cover the top of the bumper bar paintwork adjacent to where the grill locates or you may scratch the paint when removing or refitting.
Masking tape is cheap & paint is not, so use plenty & cover the whole top face.

Once you have remove the grill, you have then got to remove the broken light.
These are held in place by 3 fasteners.
I suggest spraying them in WD40 or similar & then start working them loose.
Getting the light out can be quite tricky if its been there a long time.

Take your time & it will be ok.
If not, go take it to the body shop who are then liable for the work as it can be a real pain.

Cheers
Farrell

Sebring NL · 13th August 2006, 11:43

Faz, with all due respect, do you know any car that has an easier F bumper fitment than the E34? They basically fall off when you take the two bolts off..

I think its best to take the bumper off, I think its hardly possible to remove the grille with the bumper on..

I had mine off just before the Ring trip..IIRC there are some screws in the far corner of the grille that are unleashed from a upward angle.

The grille is held in place on top of the bar that holds the bonnet hinges, make sure you don't lose those clips as they easily fall into places where teh sun dont shine. Several screws are in there but you can easily spot them. Not such a big job

F bumper can be removed by taking off the black trim pieces on the edges ( they are pushed underneath the painted part on the far angles, so don't break them!) , undo the 17mm bolts that clearly become visible after that, pull the bumper to the front and disconnect the wires at the bottom.

W

farrell · 13th August 2006, 12:52

Wout
With respect, I have heard so many people try to remove bumper bars & tear temp sensor wiring out etc not knowing they are there.
They damage the paintwork where the bumper trim inserts locate due to those parts not being removed for years.
A fact.
If someone attempts to remove the bumper bar on their own especially if not in a garage environment, they usually drop the bumper on the ground or scuff it refitting it, then they gouge the bumper paintwork arch return on the leading edge of the house liner splash guard flitch
If you read the intial post, it clearly states the potential level of mechanical knowledge.
You take that as baseline & work from there.

It takes me 5-10 mins to remove the grill from my car without removing the bumper & that is how BMW recommend you do it.

Farrell

Sebring NL · 13th August 2006, 13:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by farrell

Wout

If someone attempts to remove the bumper bar on their own especially if not in a garage environment, they usually drop the bumper on the ground

It takes me 5-10 mins to remove the grill from my car without removing the bumper & that is how BMW recommend you do it.

Farrell

OK I hear you. Personally, I dont think people that actually drop a bumper on disassembly belong near a car with a wrench,but thats a different story.

Its true that bodywork is underrated and the costs are huge at a fuckup.

But you must agree with me that some of the screws are hard to reach with the bumper on, especially with the "toys'r'us" tools many people use instead of the proper ones.

farrell · 13th August 2006, 13:39

m8
I dont disagree with anything you have said.

I take the line that if advice is given to those who already personally state a level of competancy, I just dont want to take them further into other tasks on the vehicle that may cause even further issue.

A car fresh in my memory is Hertfordshire1 & his front end which had never been part imo.
Everything was brittle & seized & many spare parts had to be sough in the end & that was with me doing the job with the right tools...nightmare.

Devils advocate & all that.
Farrell

illjah · 13th August 2006, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by farrell

A car fresh in my memory is Hertfordshire1 & his front end which had never been apart imo.

not the case now!! Its been disasembled and re-assembled by most the paint shops in the SE!!! And its about to be done again!!