Accent bar removal

Accent bar removal

Published by FrankoQ
08-26-2006

Accent bar removal

These are the bars that go across the front grill.
There are 3 pieces. Others have mentioned just pulling on them to
remove them. If you do that, chances are you will break a tab or two
from them.

This is a safer way to remove them...

1) this picture shows the tools used and one of the removed pieces.
Notice the tabs circled in red.
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2) You need to locate where the tabs go into the grill.
To remove the pieces, use the "L" shape screw driver
(or any tool in an "L" shape) to go behind
the grill and push down on the tabs as indicated on the down arrow.
At the same time, pull out the piece by hand or use the paint can opener to pull out the
piece.
3 tabs on the left and right pieces.
5 tabs on the center piece.
NOTE: 2 tabs on the the side pieces have solid grill behind them.
I just pulled those by hand. I did break one tab in that process.
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3) Repeat for the 3 pieces.
This is how the grill looks like after you remove a piece.
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Why remove these pieces?
1) if you have the black ones and want to install the gray ones that come
with the 330.
2) if you are installing a spoiler. (that is my case)

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By KL2DC on 08-26-2006, 05:04 PM

hahaha there was something wrong with good ol' fashion pulling?

Thanks for the discovery...hope all goes well with your lip installation...

By Chesmu on 08-26-2006, 07:05 PM

me thinks this is better than just yankin' on it. i'm debating pulling mine off and painting them black....

By Chesmu on 08-26-2006, 07:15 PM

is the bottle opener for opening bottles? You don't use it in the DIY at all!

By Chesmu on 08-26-2006, 07:22 PM

hey.... I just went out and tried to remove my accent pieces. The center piece has 5 clips and I cant get the clips on the side pieces because the grill is not perforated near the foglights. Is your car different FrankQ?

By bavarian19 on 08-26-2006, 08:16 PM

Thats what I should have done, but I didnt care about breaking the tabs on my old ones... How did you get the tabs that were behind the solid pieces on the sides?

Is the lip installed? I look forward to seeing it if it is...

By FrankoQ on 08-27-2006, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moocow

is the bottle opener for opening bottles? You don't use it in the DIY at all!

That's for opening beer while on the job!

Ok seriously, that's a paint can opener.
I used it to pull out the side pieces.
If you just use your hands, the pieces kind of slip off then while you pull.

By FrankoQ on 08-27-2006, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moocow

My bad. we do have the same grill. look at picture #3 above.
I just updated the instructions to mention that.
That's where the can opener comes handy.
You could also try to use a very skinny flat head screw driver
to try to push down on the tabs while pulling on them.

By FrankoQ on 08-27-2006, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Yep. if you are just replacing them, I guess no need to try to save the old ones.
Then again, you could save them and sell them on ebay.
Or pass them to a fellow DC metro friend.

You never know when you might need that piece. hehe.

Spoiler is not installed. I already spent a few hours on it.
Much more work to do on it. I'll do a separate post about.
It's not a: "open box, snap on, done" kind of installation.
But it looks GOOD on the car.

By achal on 08-27-2006, 07:46 PM

hey Frank...hope u will do it sooner and give me some advice..as I am waiting for u r response......let me know when u r done....

GOOD LUCK

#10

By FrankoQ on 08-27-2006, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by achal

hey Frank...hope u will do it sooner and give me some advice..as I am waiting for u r response......let me know when u r done....

GOOD LUCK

The job is done.

see instructions here:
http://e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28226

#11

By Andy M on 11-15-2010, 01:50 AM

Thought I'd just add my comments on this. It's a fairly old thread but I found a new way to remove these accent bars (or "finisher rods").

I used the L-shaped tool as the same as above but also an old credit card that I shredded up into strips. (I actually used one of those fake cards that they send in the mail with those forms asking you to sign up - these cards are thinner but just as strong).

When I pushed down with the L-shaped tool, I pushed a plastic strip (from my shredded credit card) in between the hole in the grate and above the plastic clip. This way even though I release the pressure with the L-shaped tool, I have a piece of plastic in between the clip and the grate. Repeat for each clip (I found I only needed two) and then when I pulled on it, it came out much easier with all plastic clips intact!

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