[irq5]

Hi All

Have searched and haven't found a definitive answer:

I just want to know if it would be possible to fit the new lci kidney grills on my pre-lci e90?

I would imagine that you'd need to do some modification on the hood to remove the mustache mounts. Has anyone done this yet?

And then lastly, are the mounts for the new lci grill the same as the mounts for the pre-lci?

Thanks!

[JayKay335i]

Sure. Retrofit a LCI bumper and hood.

[irq5]

Can you retrofit without changing the bumper though?

[evotwelve]

Originally Posted by irq5

Can you retrofit without changing the bumper though?

from what i have seen around, no you can't without wasted body shop time and money. easiest way is to do a lci hood and bumper.

[irq5]

Originally Posted by evotwelve

from what i have seen around, no you can't without wasted some body shop time and money. easiest way is to do a lci hood and bumper.

Well, I imagine modifying the hood shouldn't be too much hassle, right? As long as the kidneys fit my current m-sport / m-tech bumper, I don't mind spending the money at the body shop...

[SV Concepts III]

You will need to replace the bumper and modify the hood to make it work. The hood modification would require cutting the metal, you would be better off purchasing an LCI hood and doing a complete conversion.

[irq5]

Ok - guess I'm not going to get away with this the easy way. I'll have to see how much my bonus in March allows and decide whether I can afford it or not...

[moto_noob]

so, if you get the lci hood and kidney grills, you just need to modify the front bumper at the shop correct?

[MassBimmer]

Originally Posted by moto_noob

so, if you get the lci hood and kidney grills, you just need to modify the front bumper at the shop correct?

No, you need the LCI bumper

[JDLM]

They changed it enough that new parts are needed

[san40k]

If you're handy and/or adventurous, you can fit LCI kidney grills to pre-LCI hood and bumper.

You will need to bend pre-LCI hood under kidney strips (unpainted/hidden section of the hood and it's reversible)
and use dremel (or equivalent) to basically cut "channel" in lci grills for bent hood.

Finally zip ties or self taping screws will be needed, since pre-LCI bumper doesn't have matching clips.

It's a tedious multi hour process, but i like the result, finally no kidney strip.

[BB_cuda]

san40k, Nice work! I'm also a bit of a trail blazer. Don't let them tell you no!

[Joeroyce]

san40k

Any chance i can contact you about how to make thay fitment work?

[MWagen]

But, is it possible to get an LCI bumper (preferable M Tech) that does not have the US spec side markers? The lack of them is the only thing that redeems the pre LCI bumper for me and I wouldn't want to have to add them.

[Serf27]

Originally Posted by MWagen

But, is it possible to get an LCI bumper (preferable M Tech) that does not have the US spec side markers? The lack of them is the only thing that redeems the pre LCI bumper for me and I wouldn't want to have to add them.

I have seen them for sale before.
It is a cleaner look. I normally paint over them. Completely shaving them off is another option if you can’t find one.

[MWagen]

Is BMW still blocking the export of euro spec parts to NA? Probably wouldn't matter if I tried explaining that the car was not originally equipped with side markers and the bumper cover will not be installed on an LCI model. Though I suppose it would likely be cheaper to just buy the NA spec or get lucky and find a good used M-sport bumper and have those provisions filled in... Maybe I'm just imagining things but it seems like there's a lot more pre-lci cars for sale, and for much cheaper, at least in the condition I want. I just really don't like the early grills, haven't since the model launched.

[san40k]

Originally Posted by san40k

If you're handy and/or adventurous, you can fit LCI kidney grills to pre-LCI hood and bumper.

You will need to bend pre-LCI hood under kidney strips (unpainted/hidden section of the hood and it's reversible)
and use dremel (or equivalent) to basically cut "channel" in lci grills for bent hood.

Finally zip ties or self taping screws will be needed, since pre-LCI bumper doesn't have matching clips.

It's a tedious multi hour process, but i like the result, finally no kidney strip.

Few more pics to hopefully answer some of the questions.

I found the angle of the hood bend by gradually bending it with pliers to place it where it doesn't touch the front face of the new grill.

Given the tools it might be easier to cut that hood flap completely or half way to avoid so much plastic cutting and fitting. I spray painted hood flaps, they were not uniformly black under original plastic grille strips.