[BTDOC23]

Aargh! So my project is blocked again!

I finally got the grill off! Yeah!

But def seems like I got the wrong new grill bc the new one doesn’t have the three prong outlet on each side for the right and left DAPP sensors! There’s nothing for the cameras to now connect to on the new grill??

unless I’m somehow supposed to take the camera housing off of the old grill too?

see pics.

 

[generic.user]

Aargh! So my project is blocked again!

I finally got the grill off! Yeah!

But def seems like I got the wrong new grill bc the new one doesn’t have the three prong outlet on each side for the right and left DAPP sensors! There’s nothing for the cameras to now connect to on the new grill??

unless I’m somehow supposed to take the camera housing off of the old grill too?

see pics.

You did not get the wrong item, this is actually the right grille. Please read the first post of this thread!

For the radar cover: You can install it over the existing radar cover that came with your car, so there's no reason to unplug that heating element. Another option is to remove the radar cover, and just leave the heating element unconnected. You won't get radar heating in the winter though. This is what I did.

For the Ultrasonic Sensors: It looks like you've unplugged those, and they've remained attached to your OEM grille.

For the front camera: The aftermarket grille comes with a cover for cars without the front camera. You need to remove that cover in order to attach your camera.

 

[toosteeley]

There are 3 things that plug into the grille: the front camera and two parking sensors (one on each side)

For the camera, you need to remove the plastic piece from the new grille. It’s shaped like the camera itself and is there incase the car didn’t come with a front camera.

For the 2 sensors, you need to transfer them from the original grille to the new one. The retaining clips need to be popped off with a pick tool or flat head screwdriver, then the sensors can be popped out.

 

[homerfan]

I finally decided to order one and while I wait for it to arrive, I have a question for you all.

Is the "//M" on the original grill reusable? Is it glued to the grill and could I re-tape it or would I need to order a replacement? If I have to order a replacement, anyone have a link to an OEM one or a good replica?

 

[homerfan]

I finally decided to order one and while I wait for it to arrive, I have a question for you all.

Is the "//M" on the original grill reusable? Is it glued to the grill and could I re-tape it or would I need to order a replacement? If I have to order a replacement, anyone have a link to an OEM one or a good replica?

After a re-read of the entire thread, I found my answer. Please ignore me. 😀

https://www.i4talk.com/posts/261314/

 

[hoggy32]

So far I've only seen the M50 badge here... Anyone that have tried this with a eDrive40 and putting the badge on this grill ?

 

[J_P]

So far I've only seen the M50 badge here... Anyone that have tried this with a eDrive40 and putting the badge on this grill ?

The M50 badge has a peg that fits through a hole in the grill. I'm sure the other badges will be the same, otherwise they would have to make a different grill!

 

[makelja]

I just removed the pegs and stick it on with HPX automotive double sided tape.

 

[BTDOC23]

So finally got it on! Actually asked my local great BMW mechanic to do for me!
And yes, an m badge link would be appreciated!
Thx

 

[I4Man]

Please post pictures. I’m temped to do mine when stock one wears down a bit more

 

[BTDOC23]

Moving the M badge over is pretty simple. It has a single knob on the back, and is actually secured with the same 2 sided automotive quality tape that holds the gps antenna cover on the roof on. I have a roll of that tape (it’s about $10 on Amazon), so I just punched the m badge off the old grill, put the knob between the second level styling, and affixed it with the tape. The trim tape takes about 24 hours to fully cure, but once it’s cured, that fixture won’t go anywhere, unless you hit it with a heat gun for a few minutes.., and then you’ll be left to clean up a very sticky, runny tape residue. The stuff is magic. View attachment 43942

What tape is that? I’ve tried 3M to attach my spoiler and after 90 days it’s coming up

 

[J_P]

Actually asked my local great BMW mechanic to do for me!

Cheat

 

[toosteeley]

What tape is that? I’ve tried 3M to attach my spoiler and after 90 days it’s coming up

Make sure the tape is VHB (very high bond).

 

[J_P]

Why to not buy the AliExpress grill...

Finally summoned up the courage to fit the grill today with the assistance of my son for an extra pair of hands. While looking at fixing the number plate holder I noticed that the grill has slots in the top half of the grill. There are no such slots on the OEM grill.

This means that there will be uncontrolled, constant airflow (and rain) entering where it isn't designed to go. Airflow on the i4 is via the bottom of the grill and is controlled by slats behind the grill that are opened/closed, controlled by the car.

Looking at other posts about the grill, you can see a large radiator behind the grill which is either for cooling or part of the heat exchanger but you are going to compromise its functioning if you bypass the cars control of the air flowing over it. I am also concerned about water entry from rain. For this reason, I have abandoned this product and will look to getting the genuine LCI grill.

I am very disappointed 😭

 

[jmciver]

Why to not buy the AliExpress grill...

Finally summoned up the courage to fit the grill today with the assistance of my son for an extra pair of hands. While looking at fixing the number plate holder I noticed that the grill has slots in the top half of the grill. There are no such slots on the OEM grill.

This means that there will be uncontrolled, constant airflow (and rain) entering where it isn't designed to go. Airflow on the i4 is via the bottom of the grill and is controlled by slats behind the grill that are opened/closed, controlled by the car.

Looking at other posts about the grill, you can see a large radiator behind the grill which is either for cooling or part of the heat exchanger but you are going to compromise its functioning if you bypass the cars control of the air flowing over it. I am also concerned about water entry from rain. For this reason, I have abandoned this product and will look to getting the genuine LCI grill.

I am very disappointed 😭

Honestly, I think you are overthinking this. Your call as it is your car, but I have not experienced any noticeable issues with my i4’s operation or performance - nor do I anticipate any.

In the area behind the grill that you seem to have concerns with, there is nothing back there. The radiators that control the cooling for the motors/battery are lower and would see little airflow from the upper portion of the grille area - and thus minimally affected. Also, everything in the “engine compartment” under the hood is appropriately weatherized and protected from the elements as dirt/debris always gets into that area under the hood of any car, EV or otherwise…

I am not an automotive engineer, nor do I have all of the technical design insights on the i4. But this isn’t rocket science either when it comes to the real world operation of the car 🙂.

 

[toosteeley]

Why to not buy the AliExpress grill...

Finally summoned up the courage to fit the grill today with the assistance of my son for an extra pair of hands. While looking at fixing the number plate holder I noticed that the grill has slots in the top half of the grill. There are no such slots on the OEM grill.

This means that there will be uncontrolled, constant airflow (and rain) entering where it isn't designed to go. Airflow on the i4 is via the bottom of the grill and is controlled by slats behind the grill that are opened/closed, controlled by the car.

Looking at other posts about the grill, you can see a large radiator behind the grill which is either for cooling or part of the heat exchanger but you are going to compromise its functioning if you bypass the cars control of the air flowing over it. I am also concerned about water entry from rain. For this reason, I have abandoned this product and will look to getting the genuine LCI grill.

I am very disappointed 😭

You'd be getting air/rain through the bottom part of the grille anyway.

 

[J_P]

Honestly, I think you are overthinking this. Your call as it is your car, but I have not experienced any noticeable issues with my i4’s operation or performance - nor do I anticipate any.

You've had it installed for less than two months, so you have hardly been through the full seasonal impact of varying temperatures on your car. You also don't know why it is designed the way it is or what systems it could be affecting so it is difficult to tell if it has/will have an impact. I don't know either. I just know that it isn't the way BMW designed the car to work, so I, personally, won't be doing it.

In the area behind the grill that you seem to have concerns with, there is nothing back there.

...you can see a large radiator behind the grill

Did you not read what I said? Don't believe me? Look at @BTDOC23's post above...

...there is the radiator that runs the width of the car behind the top half of the grill.

I am not an automotive engineer, nor do I have all of the technical design insights on the i4.

Neither am I but I do know that airflow is controlled via slats behind the bottom half of the grill, so in appropriate circumstances, the car can block off all airflow. With the AliExpress this is not possible because of the holes in the top half of the grill. This is not how BMW designed the car to work, so, not being an automotive engineer, I will assume they know better than me and will not compromise that design.

You'd be getting air/rain through the bottom part of the grille anyway.

As above and originally posted, air through the lower half is controlled by the car via slats behind the bottom half of the grill that can be completely closed when appropriate.

People are clearly free to choose what they do with their own car. I have posted this so that people can make their own informed decision about whether they want to use this product.

 

[cjh.]

Finally summoned up the courage to fit the grill today with the assistance of my son for an extra pair of hands. While looking at fixing the number plate holder I noticed that the grill has slots in the top half of the grill. There are no such slots on the OEM grill.

Where? Pic of the grille on my car. There is not negative space at the top of the grill that reveals the radiator unless I'm not seeing something that you are.

 

[J_P]

It's not at the top, there is a gap in the two top vertical elements...

I don't know whey they made it like this, the part is supposed to be specifically for the i4 so they should have followed the functional design of the original and not had the gaps.


Also, this picture from @generic.user's post shows the air control slats (in the closed position) behind the bottom half of the grill...

 

[Matteo]

I don't think that the holes in the grille at the top will create issues with the components behind it.
In principle I agree with jmciver, cjh. and toosteeley, I reckon that the battery cooling is operated by a low radiator behind those movable slats, which "decide" when to lower or not the battery temperature, and that the large top radiator is actually the heat exchanger of the air con unit, and it's the same piece used in the M440i GC, and very likely every other G26 and even M3/M4. I the ICE cars it is paired with the engine cooling radiator and hence directly exposed to the elements.
That said, there's very valid point in what J_P is saying, the car has been designed that way and there must be a reason.
Most likely the reason is that the air con exchanger does not need airflow and the aerodynamic effect of funnelling a lot of air at high speeds into the messy engine compartment it's like a parachute, so the closed grill means performance, and especially range at high speed. I know it sounds silly that those little holes are making an actual difference, but they do for sure.
They do so much that the ICE cars still have the slats at the top in order to reduce the aerodynamic drag when extra cooling is not needed, even the 2 series and 3 series that have the smaller kidney grille.
They do so much that the Bugatti Veyron has to close the oil radiator ducts above 320kph in order to achieve an extra 80kph+ and manage its theoretical top speed...

All that said, I believe they can easily be blanked with a bit of gloss flex Polycarbonate sheet bond inside the gaps.