[CombatNinja]

My 328 wagon got hungry and ate a bird. Little bastard broke right through the mesh. Now I need to replace it but want to do it as easily as possible. I'm talking about the large center lower grille, not the side with the foglights. Anyone?

[AndreyT]

It is possible.

In fact, installation of the new grille is easy. Just maneuver it in through the opening in the bumper, align it with the opening and then pull towards yourself until the locking tabs click (pull around the perimeter to engage them all).

But removal of the old one can be a major PITA. It is held in place by locking tabs. Merely forcefully pushing the grille in might break the tabs, meaning that it is a better idea to disengage them as you push the old grille in. I don't remember which way these tabs should be moved to disengage, so you might need some sort of hook-shaped tool for that.

However, if your old grille is already broken and useless, you can just cut out the mesh area completely, thus gaining easy access to the inside. And then you should be able to easily disengage the tabs and remove the remaining "frame" portion of the old grille.

[Spoolin335]

Yes it can. You just put the new grill in sideways then pull it forward into the clips that you see holding it in place. Ive done it before..

[CombatNinja]

Thanks. The old one is so far not cooperating. I think I will cut it up.

[CombatNinja]

Okay, F that. I'm done but that was horrible. It has to be easier to drop the bumper to do that. Never again...

[fenixxishot]

Originally Posted by CombatNinja

Okay, F that. I'm done but that was horrible. It has to be easier to drop the bumper to do that. Never again...

You have never take you bumper off before have you? Its not especially difficult but it takes a while so many freaking steps and screws!

[CombatNinja]

Never dropped the bumper before but it would have been easier and less stressful than doing it my way. My hands are all cut up from the jagged edges of the mesh and all of the twisting and puling convinced me I was going to break something. If I had not been alone in the house I would've enlisted someone to help me ease the bumper down and align it during reinstall. Nobody was home so I went this route but I regret it. Not worth it...

[Spun Crankhub]

bumper removal is actually pretty simple. I got good at it after having intercooler issues, and had to pull it like three times in a week. Repetition of anything makes things easier.

[CombatNinja]

Yeah, looks pretty simple. The whole time I was fighting with this thing I kept looking at the bolts holing the bumper and going through the steps of removal in my head...

Today's PSA: don't try to replace your broken lower mesh grille from the front. It sucks.

[f0xfire021]

I have the same issue that I've been procrastinating doing. I've torn my hands all up during a first attempt at removing the broken mesh, and got one or two clips un-clipped and then stopped because it was getting late and I was worried about breaking a clip.

Is it possible to not only cut out the mesh part, but to actually cut the outside "ring" of plastic into pieces so they can be unclipped piece by piece?

Last question - does the mesh serve any purpose other than keeping leaves and large, lightweight objects off the intercooler? Would it be problematic not to have it there at all?

[Slow_335i]

Originally Posted by fenixxishot

You have never take you bumper off before have you? Its not especially difficult but it takes a while so many freaking steps and screws!

This is a joke right?

It takes no more than 15mins to do it.

[Das_Stig]

word, is it weird i kinda want to see a pic?

[f0xfire021]

When removing the bumper, how much trouble is dealing with headlight washers?

does the mesh serve any purpose other than keeping leaves and large, lightweight objects off the intercooler? Would it be problematic not to have it there at all?

Nevermind, suppose on a 328 that's the AC condenser, and not an intercooler

[mccannable]

Originally Posted by f0xfire021

When removing the bumper, how much trouble is dealing with headlight washers?




Nevermind, suppose on a 328 that's the AC condenser, and not an intercooler

Easy pull them up and they pop off. I used pliers to hold the washer out then gently removed the cover.

[fenixxishot]

Originally Posted by Slow_335i

This is a joke right?

It takes no more than 15mins to do it.

It took me considerably longer than 15 mins. Besides my post said nothing about specific duration. I said screws so many screws! I have taken off many bumpers this one is not especially difficult by any means it just seemed to have an excessive amount of 8MM screws and since I didnt have a drill near me at the time I did them all by hand(could be why I felt like there were so many)

[CombatNinja]

Do it right and take the bumper off. I learned my lesson...