Unique grilles?

Pinz · 08-28-2013, 04:42 AM

In the beginning, I looked at all the grills of BMWs at the dealership (they didn't have any other M3s at the time), and mine were different (see pic below). Then I was looking around for aftermarket grills, and mine looked different and not shiny. All the grills I saw were either all silver, or all black... or some carbon fibre/vinyl pattern but consistently uniform.

Does anyone have the same grills as me? They did come with the car, and I thought they were OEM but so far I haven't seen a car in person with a chrome outline and black grills. I did see what looked like similar ones in pictures of brand new M3s. Maybe it was a dealer option that came with the OEM carbon fibre diffusers, mirror caps, spoiler, etc? The M Performance Grills are all black though...

If these really are the stock E92 M3 grills, then they look different than the 3-series, 5-series, X-series, Z4, etc. grills I've seen on the street and at the dealer. I just want to confirm whether these are the original M3 grills or not, and I figured you guys would know best.

They are certainly growing on me, and I think I'll keep them. I think they look unique and different than what everyone else has. They provide a nice contrast where the black grills match the diffusers and black rims, and the silver outline contrasts it and matches the headlights and side markers. And I don't have grills that looks like 99% of the other beemers out there.

PS. I was cleaning them for the first time and noticed they were plastic. I always thought they were metal because of the silver. Now they feel a bit cheap, but I guess it saves weight.

RD1M3 · 08-28-2013, 07:22 AM

Yup, that's what my stock ones looked like before I swapped them out.

FVM3 · 08-28-2013, 08:48 AM

thats what most of the m3s have

Endless619 · 08-28-2013, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FVM3

thats what most of the m3s have

Really? My M3 came with all dark chrome ones which I swapped out for matte black. I have only seen these types on the lower trim level E92 and E90s, not M3s.

pkimM3r · 08-28-2013, 09:08 AM

Regardless, those need to come out pronto.

slicer · 08-28-2013, 09:11 AM

Those are the OEM grills. All M3's come that way from the factory except for the special edition models which have black chrome grills and gills. I have had an '08 sedan and a '13 coupe and they both came with the chrome grills. I replaced them immediately.

e1000 · 08-28-2013, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slicer

Those are the OEM grills. All M3's come that way from the factory except for the special edition models which have black chrome grills and gills. I have had an '08 sedan and a '13 coupe and they both came with the chrome grills. I replaced them immediately.

+1. The M3 grilles are different than the series grilles though, they have black chrome fins and chrome surrounds. The series grilles are chrome all over.

CrucialScott · 08-28-2013, 12:33 PM

Mine are identical and my grills are stock

jrlee53 · 08-28-2013, 12:56 PM

These are the standard factory ones. Pre 2010, the grills were all chrome, but 2010 on, the middle part is black and the surrounding trim was chrome.

Erie Von Otto · 08-28-2013, 01:19 PM

I dont even remember what my OEMs looked like...

BTW, I came in here expecting to see this:

now I'm disappointed...

Z K · 08-28-2013, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDy80

These are the standard factory ones. Pre 2010, the grills were all chrome, but 2010 on, the middle part is black and the surrounding trim was chrome.

Is this true? What are the different part #s? Anyone have a side by side picture?

pkimM3r · 08-28-2013, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottoblotto

I dont even remember what my OEMs looked like...

BTW, I came in here expecting to see this:

now I'm disappointed...

is that a RANGE ROVER?

FVM3 · 08-28-2013, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endless619

Really? My M3 came with all dark chrome ones which I swapped out for matte black. I have only seen these types on the lower trim level E92 and E90s, not M3s.

Dark chrome?

Endless619 · 08-28-2013, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDy80

These are the standard factory ones. Pre 2010, the grills were all chrome, but 2010 on, the middle part is black and the surrounding trim was chrome.

I think this is more accurate. Pre 2010 had the darker chrome ones and I suppose the 2010 and newer have the above look which IMO looks like a 2007 E92 non-M. Saw one last week with these exact grills.

But who cares really as they should come out anyway for gloss or matte black grills.

OC3 · 08-28-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkim1079

Regardless, those need to come out pronto.

+1

DATM3 · 08-28-2013, 03:00 PM

SilentAttack · 08-28-2013, 07:10 PM

Factory. Swap em out chrome Robbs horsepower.

Pinz · 08-28-2013, 10:47 PM

Thought so. I guess most of the M3s I saw on the street had theirs swapped out as they were mostly all black matte. Not a big fan of matte black, but maybe I'll go with glossy.

I'd rather get something no one has... what about these?

glockperfect · 08-28-2013, 11:55 PM

Yes - you should spend money to rip out a grill you like so that you can do the same modification that everyone else has.
/sarcasm

jrlee53 · 08-29-2013, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z K

Is this true? What are the different part #s? Anyone have a side by side picture?

Original 2008-2009 Grille (Notice the middle slats have a chromed edge)

2010-on (Chrome edge removed. Probably to shave production costs, but I like how they came out)

UBER ///M3 · 08-29-2013, 11:16 AM

Get rid of the chrome....chrome looks tacky IMO

Z K · 08-29-2013, 11:20 AM

I think I'll get the 2010+ grills. It's barely noticeable unless you are looking at it in direct sunlight.

I just searched for the part numbers. It does have different part #s and descriptions. Part cost is identical.

2010+ grills part description reads "Grille chrome/black, w/M3"
2008-2009 grills part description is just "Grille"

I actually like a bit of contrast to the grilles on a black car. If it was all black grills, the whole front would just be black with no color.

08-28-2013, 04:42 AM	#1
Pinz Private First Class 43 Rep 183 Posts Drives: 2013 M3 Coupe Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Vancouver, Canada iTrader: (0)	Unique grilles? In the beginning, I looked at all the grills of BMWs at the dealership (they didn't have any other M3s at the time), and mine were different (see pic below). Then I was looking around for aftermarket grills, and mine looked different and not shiny. All the grills I saw were either all silver, or all black... or some carbon fibre/vinyl pattern but consistently uniform. Does anyone have the same grills as me? They did come with the car, and I thought they were OEM but so far I haven't seen a car in person with a chrome outline and black grills. I did see what looked like similar ones in pictures of brand new M3s. Maybe it was a dealer option that came with the OEM carbon fibre diffusers, mirror caps, spoiler, etc? The M Performance Grills are all black though... If these really are the stock E92 M3 grills, then they look different than the 3-series, 5-series, X-series, Z4, etc. grills I've seen on the street and at the dealer. I just want to confirm whether these are the original M3 grills or not, and I figured you guys would know best. They are certainly growing on me, and I think I'll keep them. I think they look unique and different than what everyone else has. They provide a nice contrast where the black grills match the diffusers and black rims, and the silver outline contrasts it and matches the headlights and side markers. And I don't have grills that looks like 99% of the other beemers out there. PS. I was cleaning them for the first time and noticed they were plastic. I always thought they were metal because of the silver. Now they feel a bit cheap, but I guess it saves weight. Attached Images __________________ Now have 2016 M4 2013 E92 M3 /// Mineral White /// Black Novillo Leather /// Competition Package /// Fully Loaded /// CF Roof, Mirrors, Spoiler, Front Diffusers /// Hellst XRT LED Angel Eyes /// BPMSport Tune Stage 1 Last edited by Pinz; 08-28-2013 at 05:04 AM..
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08-28-2013, 07:22 AM	#2
RD1M3 First Lieutenant 57 Rep 384 Posts Drives: '11 JZB E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Charlotte iTrader: (0)	Yup, that's what my stock ones looked like before I swapped them out.
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08-28-2013, 08:48 AM	#3
FVM3 Major General 273 Rep 5,751 Posts Drives: e92 m3, f30 328i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	thats what most of the m3s have
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08-28-2013, 09:08 AM	#5
pkimM3r Banned 209 Rep 7,298 Posts Drives: m3 saloon in granny mode. Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: lost angeles iTrader: (0)	Regardless, those need to come out pronto.
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08-28-2013, 09:11 AM	#6
slicer Major General 2746 Rep 6,734 Posts Drives: 'E46 M3 Race Car, '23 X7 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Wisconsin - Instagram - @slicer_m iTrader: (39)	Those are the OEM grills. All M3's come that way from the factory except for the special edition models which have black chrome grills and gills. I have had an '08 sedan and a '13 coupe and they both came with the chrome grills. I replaced them immediately. __________________ '23 X7 '04 M3 - Fall Line Motorsports Built Race Car - S65 swap, Dry Sump, Bosch Stand-Alone ECU, Drenth Sequential Trans, MCS 3-Way, Flossmann Wide Body, Brembo Motorsports Brakes, Drexler LSD, BBS E88 Etc. INSTAGRAM - @Slicer_M
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08-28-2013, 12:33 PM	#8
CrucialScott BMX Godfather 12 Rep 137 Posts Drives: 2010 White E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bristol, England iTrader: (0)	Mine are identical and my grills are stock
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08-28-2013, 12:56 PM	#9
jrlee53 Captain 161 Rep 839 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Queens, NY iTrader: (0)	These are the standard factory ones. Pre 2010, the grills were all chrome, but 2010 on, the middle part is black and the surrounding trim was chrome. __________________ 2003 Cobra -> 2010 BMW e90 M3 - Space Grey - Black on Carbon Leather Int. - BRILLIANT CAR!!
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08-28-2013, 01:19 PM	#10
Erie Von Otto DT///M 149 Rep 1,372 Posts Drives: 2014 F31 Touring Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Rocket City, AL iTrader: (3) Garage List 2014 BMW Touring [0.00]	I dont even remember what my OEMs looked like... BTW, I came in here expecting to see this: now I'm disappointed... __________________ "With great power comes great responsibility." -El-Superbeasto Last edited by Erie Von Otto; 08-28-2013 at 01:28 PM..
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08-28-2013, 03:00 PM	#16
DATM3 Captain 158 Rep 637 Posts Drives: Nissan GTR / F06 M6 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (5) Garage List 2016 Nissan GTR Nismo [0.00] 2014 BMW M6 [0.00] 2012 Nissan GTR [0.00]
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08-28-2013, 07:10 PM	#17
SilentAttack Lieutenant Colonel 165 Rep 1,790 Posts Drives: 08 E90 Jerez Black 6MT Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	Factory. Swap em out chrome Robbs horsepower. __________________ Stupid Photobucket
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08-28-2013, 10:47 PM	#18
Pinz Private First Class 43 Rep 183 Posts Drives: 2013 M3 Coupe Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Vancouver, Canada iTrader: (0)	Thought so. I guess most of the M3s I saw on the street had theirs swapped out as they were mostly all black matte. Not a big fan of matte black, but maybe I'll go with glossy. I'd rather get something no one has... what about these? Attached Images __________________ Now have 2016 M4 2013 E92 M3 /// Mineral White /// Black Novillo Leather /// Competition Package /// Fully Loaded /// CF Roof, Mirrors, Spoiler, Front Diffusers /// Hellst XRT LED Angel Eyes /// BPMSport Tune Stage 1
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08-28-2013, 11:55 PM	#19
glockperfect Private First Class 9 Rep 179 Posts Drives: '08 e93 m3 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: La Jolla, CA iTrader: (0)	Yes - you should spend money to rip out a grill you like so that you can do the same modification that everyone else has. /sarcasm __________________ 2008 Melbourne Red vert, 6 MT
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08-29-2013, 11:16 AM	#21
UBER ///M3 Nüburgring Nordschleife BTG 8:05 49 Rep 826 Posts Drives: 2012 LEMANS BLUE E92 ZCP M3 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Ezelsdorf, Germany iTrader: (0)	Get rid of the chrome....chrome looks tacky IMO __________________ ESS V2 Tune, ACM Test Pipes, AA Green Filter,Custom painted Recaro Pole Positions, Akrapovic slip on, Stoptech ST60/ Pagid pads, KW Clubsports, APEX ARC8s/Pilot Sport Cups, Hamann carbon fiber hood, ONEighty Headlight mod (selfmade), CRT lip with splitters, Blacked out/paint matched emblems, black aluminum extended paddles and pedals
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08-29-2013, 11:20 AM	#22
Z K Major General 1890 Rep 5,508 Posts Drives: E90 M3, G20 M340i Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (3)	I think I'll get the 2010+ grills. It's barely noticeable unless you are looking at it in direct sunlight. I just searched for the part numbers. It does have different part #s and descriptions. Part cost is identical. 2010+ grills part description reads "Grille chrome/black, w/M3" 2008-2009 grills part description is just "Grille" I actually like a bit of contrast to the grilles on a black car. If it was all black grills, the whole front would just be black with no color. __________________ Auto Detailing Enthusiast! Last edited by Z K; 08-29-2013 at 11:45 AM..
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