10-17-2024, 08:55 PM | #1 |
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Custom grill/protection without removing or drilling lower front grill
Thanks to Mr. Hankey’s M2 Build thread for the inspiration! https://g87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...2102109&page=2
I just completed a lower front grill mesh installation with the same look as Mr. Hankey’s, but without drilling or removing the grill. It took about 3 hours. I used a 12”x48” Diamond XXL Aluminum Grill Mesh Sheet (black powder coated) from https://www.customcargrills.com/prod...od=Diamond_XXL It was easy to cut to size (22”x6.5”) with wire cutters. I also used a 1/8” opening of neoprene rubber edge trim for the bottom and sides of the mesh from https://www.customcargrills.com/prod...d=Trim_Neo_XXL Takes around 3'. This made for a very tight fit and, along with painter’s tape, it helped to avoid scratches while sliding the mesh in behind the pillars starting from the driver’s side. I found no need for putting neoprene on the top edge. Before sliding in the mesh, I loosely attached two 8” zip ties to it, about 4” in from each side and 2” from the top. These were helpful in pulling the mesh flush against the inside of the pillars to check the fitment. Once I had a snug fit, I tilted the mesh back into the great void in order to make room for the frustrating task of looping four (two for each pillar) 8” black zip ties to secure the mesh against the pillars. The difficult part for me was to thread the zip tie between the black plastic covering the pillar and the inside metal pillar itself. The trick to threading the zip tie is to have one sturdy enough, but flexible enough, to make the 180º turn around the metal pillar and come out the other side. This took time and patience. With the four zip ties in place around the metal pillars, I pulled the mesh back up flush against the pillars. I then looped each of the four zip ties around the mesh and snugged them up with needle nose pliers, while pushing the zip tie lock behind the pillar. Then it was simply a matter of cutting off the tails of the zip ties and removing the zip ties that were used to snug up the mesh. Hope this works for you. |
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10-18-2024, 08:06 PM | #2 | |
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Drive the Manual - 2024 G87 - Mr. Hankey's M2 Build Thread
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10-19-2024, 07:12 AM | #4 |
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Awesome job! Did you also do the side openings? Could you post some more pictures of the end result? I’m taking delivery of a BSM car in two weeks and I’m on the fence about installing a conspicuous grill. But both of you have done a great job and might have swayed me.
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10-19-2024, 01:02 PM | #5 | |
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Didn't do the sides, as they already have a factory grill/screen. Here's a couple of shots. |
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10-20-2024, 05:12 AM | #8 | |
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Great job amd thanks for the links. I would also do the sides for consistency aesthetically AND that the side protection doesn’t look that protective, given that the flimsy plastic is hard up against the radiator. There are numerous posts discussing how these radiators have been punctured. If you decide to attempt the side radiators too feel free to teach us how here as I am sure there are a lot of us that would like to know how. |
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11-05-2024, 07:34 PM | #10 | |
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Here are some photos of the finished product, as well as the template I used to cut out the mesh. |
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