[bbho]

I was driving highspeed on highway yesterday and there were a few objects falling off a garbage truck in front of me. These "fruit-like" items kept bouncing along the road and I have nowhere to get away from them but to run through them. Finally I knew that one of them hit my front bumper. I got off my car and realized a very weird situation: An object like potato broke through my front lower plastic grill and was being trapped inside the slot (See photo).

I went to the nearest BMW express service department immediately and all the advisers were scratching their heads and wondering how could I do that. They told me that in order to replace the plastic front grill, it is necessary to take the whole front bumper out, put the new plastic front grill and install the whole bumper back.

Can any expert know is there a way to install a new plastic front grill without taking the whole bumper out? I know it is a very very weird situation (it is quite funny actually) but any helpful advice is appreciated.

[lonestar22]

hahaha. why dont u jut take the bumper off yourself?

[jblackwell]

Originally Posted by lonestar22

hahaha. why dont u jut take the bumper off yourself?

Seriously, the bumper might take 30 minutes to get off your first time doing it.

[UncleWede]

slice the (potato?) up into chuncks, pull it out the hole, then keep going.

Best regards,
Wede

[lonestar22]

or u could keep the potato and consider it a driving mate

show it to people at meets and such

[135forthewin]

I'm not completely sure since I drive a 135i not a 335i, but a similar thing happened to me. Look under the car (having some ramps would help you get under the car, but stacked pieces of wood has worked for me before) and begin removing what seems like a million 8 (?) MM screws.
It was about 12-15 to be honest, took me 5 minutes.

Take off the panel, reach one arm up through the new gap and keep one arm in the front of the car. There are several tabs surrounding the grill. Just to remove the potato you will only have to pop off 4 or 5.
The tabs surround the grill when you want to replace it, but if you're just throwing the old grill away I'd just cut out pieces and put it out from the front lol.

[Jonny550]

bro i think that grill just pops right out really easy you should try that i mean the grill is destroyed anyway

[O-cha]

All that has to come off is the undertray IF that.

[NiVeDh]

So that's how you make waffle fries.

[BK]

Originally Posted by lonestar22

or u could keep the potato and consider it a driving mate

show it to people at meets and such

Usually when I say "LOL," I'm not actually laughing out loud.

This time, I was.

[Donald-335i]

Originally Posted by bbho

I was driving highspeed on highway yesterday and there were a few objects falling off a garbage truck in front of me. These "fruit-like" items kept bouncing along the road and I have nowhere to get away from them but to run through them. Finally I knew that one of them hit my front bumper. I got off my car and realized a very weird situation: An object like potato broke through my front lower plastic grill and was being trapped inside the slot (See photo).

I went to the nearest BMW express service department immediately and all the advisers were scratching their heads and wondering how could I do that. They told me that in order to replace the plastic front grill, it is necessary to take the whole front bumper out, put the new plastic front grill and install the whole bumper back.

Can any expert know is there a way to install a new plastic front grill without taking the whole bumper out? I know it is a very very weird situation (it is quite funny actually) but any helpful advice is appreciated.

push the center grill in it pops right out.. remove it buy a new piece for like $15 bucks end of story.