Great video guys , just a couple of things that make removing the top grille easier ( from my own experience ) .When removing the nuts take a 10mm socket and pack it with tissue paper so that the "self tapping" nut cant slide into the socket too deeply .Then take a flat had screwdriver and slide it under the "washer" .Apply gentle pressure downwards with the screwdriver to the washer when unscrewing the nut and you will find that they come off a lot easier .When attaching the new grille the nuts should be self tapping so using a 10mm socket should do the trick instead of "pushing" them on in the manner you did in the video .Hope this is useful as its what I have found works best when I have removed and reapplied the top grille several times .
Thanks for sharing these tips - the nuts that come supplied with the grilles we sell are not great ( nor are the BMW ones ) so we are looking at sourcing some better nuts to go with the grilles.
They screw on and off they are just fine. I've used them on many different cars. Just go slow they cut into the plastic and make their own thread as you twist on the correct direction. Use a 10mm socket and just stop as soon as they start to feel snug. Put them in the socket first also. They only have to hold the grill to the car and since they are on the front the air pushes them to the car as you drive so no way for it to detach.
This grille set looks like the black version of the one I have in chrome. Years ago, when I fitted mine, I had fits trying to get the steel clippy things onto the plastic pins. Ir was still a bit loose. My solution was to fit a pair of grille badge holder plates and fab up a small piece of aluminium bar for the mounting screws to go through, so the grille badge holds the grille in the opening in the bonnet. For the lower section, I used a Dremel and opened up the bumper cover behind the grille to let in more air, as we get a lot of rather warm weather here in Azirona, and every little bit helps when it's nearly 50°C. The grille lines up fairly well with the round holes in the aluminium bit behind the bumper cover. I had the same problem you did with the end clippy thingies not wanting to stay snapped in. My solution to that was to use the same #8 socket head cap screws I used to hold in the bonnet vents I added (see earlier comment about temperatures here) to keep the ends tight. Since then, I have upgraded the intercooler and set up a custom scoop for it (because it was half blocking the opening and starving itself for air flow), following the old Mopar "Shaker" pattern. Had to cut the bonnet again, but it sure drops out of heat soak quickly now....
Wish i had read some of the comments on here first, it is so easy to damage the existing crome mini parts, they bend and snap with hardly any effort, as previous posters have said its good to recycle your old mini parts to help others out. Once fitted however these grills look so much better than the bling.
Ok. In case this helps someone else, use a heat gun and melt the tabs on the back until you can distort them into bonnet to form a seal. Creates a way tighter fitting. Wear gloves and use common sense. The original bmw and even the newer supplied fittings just don’t work. I went one step further and masked off the bodywork behind grill and sprayed it matte black. Thanks again for getting in touch. Means a lot!
Not sure about the material for your grille kit, but the one I just purchased was made from ABS. From my 3D printing hobby, I know that a soldering iron makes easy work of embedding heatset nuts. I just cut off the plastic stems and predrilled for M3 heatset nuts. Then attached the upper grille with some short M3x10mm sockethead bolts and some washers. Now I have a solid connection that can be serviced repeatedly with nothing more than a 2.5mm hex key.
Good video and helpful comments/tips for fitting and removal of these parts. I personally prefer the less sleek old-school look of the OEM grill that was on there. Even more, I like the pre-facelift bumpers with extra chrome thingys from 2002 - 2004.
Your going the wrong way with the drill and to keep from stripping the lower grille tabs take the bumper off and push the insert down to release. Those nuts screw on and off just as a normal one use a wrench and go slow it's just plastic it's cutting into no reason to ruin every part that comes off the car. I usually recycle my unwanted parts by simply posting them on Facebook for people less fortunate who need them to repair their cars. Cheers
Hi Guys, so when I tried to buy the mesh grill on your website, it states - WILL NOT FIT ON 2006 MODEL. But in this video you install the mesh grill on a 2006 R53 convertible 😊. Please advise what mesh grill I should buy for my 2006 R53?? Or confirm whether the info on your website is incorrect.
Just tried fitting the grill. The self tapping nuts provided only work on the top pegs as they are thinner all they do on the bottom is strip the plastic pegs because they’re too thick to go through. Then when you put them on the pegs along the top for a second time after a thread has already been cut it ends up stripping the thread and making it useless because the grill doesn’t have a curve and you have to force the nut on. It forces you to use those hex washer things that you then can’t get off. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now
Hi Ciaran - the overall design of the grille from BMW is a little annoying and we are tried to come up with best solution possible to make a grille that fits using the original fixing methods. You are welcome to return the grille for a full refund if you are not happy.
@@simonjefferson it’s just the lower pegs that are the main problem. Like if they were the same size and thickness as the top ones so self tapping ones could make a thread it would be fine everywhere else. I’ve damaged the thread on some of them would I still be able to return it ?
Where can I get the nuts/washer style bolts to refit the new grill. I don’t have the original bolts because whoever owned the car before me just glued it on.
Waiting for car to come back from garage... £2100 worth of remedial work and fitting the 17% pulley.. Cant wait to get the car back and then fit this grill :)
@@bluenapalm123 what "remedial work" did you have done if you dont mind me asking? I'm thinking of picking one up this week. Aside from the cosmetics I was going to get the 19% pulley and upgraded intercooler and get the timing chain done too. Anything else you recommend?
@@bluenapalm123 nice one cheers mate. How many miles did yours do on the oem clutch? One I'm looking at has 73k miles. Is it going to start slipping soon?
Just bought one of these. The quality of the parts are fine, the fixings are appalling. Loose upper grille, loosen lower grille. Bit of a bad taste in my mouth now! Really need to supply a bit of paper explaining what the different fixings are for. Anyway of supplying a replacement. I’ve just binned my old grille!!!
Hi Steven - i agree the fixings are not great - the grille uses the same fixings as original - and these for sure are not great. We do use this video as a fitting guide If you contact customer service we will get your sorted with a new grille etc.
This reminds me of when i had an E46 M3. I was tormented by the cheap and nasty trim clips that BMW are addicted to using. Utter, utter crap. In fact, owning that car put me off BMW forever. Ive got an R53 JCW as a toy, and surprisingly, the Rover part of the equation is equal to BMW in terms of cheap and shoddy quality...I actually thought it would be even worse.
I have to say this was one of the best instructional videos I've seen in years. Great tips that worked a treat. Job well done guys. Thank you.
thanks for the comments - the videos are not "professionally" produced but i hope they reflect real life etc !
Thank you for the video. Took me about 20mins to replace both parts.
Great video guys , just a couple of things that make removing the top grille easier ( from my own experience ) .When removing the nuts take a 10mm socket and pack it with tissue paper so that the "self tapping" nut cant slide into the socket too deeply .Then take a flat had screwdriver and slide it under the "washer" .Apply gentle pressure downwards with the screwdriver to the washer when unscrewing the nut and you will find that they come off a lot easier .When attaching the new grille the nuts should be self tapping so using a 10mm socket should do the trick instead of "pushing" them on in the manner you did in the video .Hope this is useful as its what I have found works best when I have removed and reapplied the top grille several times .
Thanks for sharing these tips - the nuts that come supplied with the grilles we sell are not great ( nor are the BMW ones ) so we are looking at sourcing some better nuts to go with the grilles.
They screw on and off they are just fine. I've used them on many different cars. Just go slow they cut into the plastic and make their own thread as you twist on the correct direction. Use a 10mm socket and just stop as soon as they start to feel snug. Put them in the socket first also. They only have to hold the grill to the car and since they are on the front the air pushes them to the car as you drive so no way for it to detach.
Just wanted to says thanks for this video and supplying the grille. I bought and fitted the grille. Car looks a million times better now. :)
Instablaster
This grille set looks like the black version of the one I have in chrome. Years ago, when I fitted mine, I had fits trying to get the steel clippy things onto the plastic pins. Ir was still a bit loose. My solution was to fit a pair of grille badge holder plates and fab up a small piece of aluminium bar for the mounting screws to go through, so the grille badge holds the grille in the opening in the bonnet. For the lower section, I used a Dremel and opened up the bumper cover behind the grille to let in more air, as we get a lot of rather warm weather here in Azirona, and every little bit helps when it's nearly 50°C. The grille lines up fairly well with the round holes in the aluminium bit behind the bumper cover. I had the same problem you did with the end clippy thingies not wanting to stay snapped in. My solution to that was to use the same #8 socket head cap screws I used to hold in the bonnet vents I added (see earlier comment about temperatures here) to keep the ends tight. Since then, I have upgraded the intercooler and set up a custom scoop for it (because it was half blocking the opening and starving itself for air flow), following the old Mopar "Shaker" pattern. Had to cut the bonnet again, but it sure drops out of heat soak quickly now....
Thanks lads. Swapping my grills in the new and happy to tackle now that I have seen your how to video
Great tutorial guys! Can’t wait for mine to arrive!
Wish i had read some of the comments on here first, it is so easy to damage the existing crome mini parts, they bend and snap with hardly any effort, as previous posters have said its good to recycle your old mini parts to help others out. Once fitted however these grills look so much better than the bling.
Ok. In case this helps someone else, use a heat gun and melt the tabs on the back until you can distort them into bonnet to form a seal. Creates a way tighter fitting. Wear gloves and use common sense.
The original bmw and even the newer supplied fittings just don’t work.
I went one step further and masked off the bodywork behind grill and sprayed it matte black. Thanks again for getting in touch. Means a lot!
Would they bend around better if you heat or put it in the sun
Just fitted mine today. Looks better than the stock on the electric blue r53 ties in with black mirrors and trim :)
fits genuine spotlights auxiliar lights?
Great vid guys need more mini stuff👍
Not sure about the material for your grille kit, but the one I just purchased was made from ABS. From my 3D printing hobby, I know that a soldering iron makes easy work of embedding heatset nuts. I just cut off the plastic stems and predrilled for M3 heatset nuts. Then attached the upper grille with some short M3x10mm sockethead bolts and some washers. Now I have a solid connection that can be serviced repeatedly with nothing more than a 2.5mm hex key.
These are available to purchase on our website:
www.powerfuluk.com/catalogsearch/result?q=mfg452
Good video and helpful comments/tips for fitting and removal of these parts. I personally prefer the less sleek old-school look of the OEM grill that was on there. Even more, I like the pre-facelift bumpers with extra chrome thingys from 2002 - 2004.
Your going the wrong way with the drill and to keep from stripping the lower grille tabs take the bumper off and push the insert down to release. Those nuts screw on and off just as a normal one use a wrench and go slow it's just plastic it's cutting into no reason to ruin every part that comes off the car. I usually recycle my unwanted parts by simply posting them on Facebook for people less fortunate who need them to repair their cars. Cheers
This... just have patience with everything. And don’t push! Hahaha and they also sell the stuff, they don’t know how it works... 😂🤪
I have the same kit and you re correct. The bumper only takes 5 minutes to remove, so it's not that difficult.
10:10 where did u buy the clip for the grille? I can’t find them
Hi. Are these easy to fit with factory spot lights in place?
Heads up. The early model r53 lower grill. The clips do to align, at all.
Hi Guys, so when I tried to buy the mesh grill on your website, it states - WILL NOT FIT ON 2006 MODEL. But in this video you install the mesh grill on a 2006 R53 convertible 😊. Please advise what mesh grill I should buy for my 2006 R53?? Or confirm whether the info on your website is incorrect.
What size socket ?
Just tried fitting the grill. The self tapping nuts provided only work on the top pegs as they are thinner all they do on the bottom is strip the plastic pegs because they’re too thick to go through. Then when you put them on the pegs along the top for a second time after a thread has already been cut it ends up stripping the thread and making it useless because the grill doesn’t have a curve and you have to force the nut on. It forces you to use those hex washer things that you then can’t get off. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now
Hi Ciaran - the overall design of the grille from BMW is a little annoying and we are tried to come up with best solution possible to make a grille that fits using the original fixing methods. You are welcome to return the grille for a full refund if you are not happy.
@@simonjefferson it’s just the lower pegs that are the main problem. Like if they were the same size and thickness as the top ones so self tapping ones could make a thread it would be fine everywhere else. I’ve damaged the thread on some of them would I still be able to return it ?
@@ciaranw128 Yes you can still return for refund or replacement
What is the plastic tool you are using?
Where did you get the clips from online as i need to get some for fitting a grill i bought second hand
Where can I get the nuts/washer style bolts to refit the new grill. I don’t have the original bolts because whoever owned the car before me just glued it on.
It looked like you were TIGHTENING the screw on the top grill as the chuck appeared to going CLOCKWISE "RIGHTY TIGHTY"
Its a trick of the light...
Okay the little nuts aren’t coming off! They turn but don’t unscrew! Any idea what I can do??? I bought this exact same grill for my 2003 R50
Can you get a screwdriver behind the nuts and then turn them - they are rubbish nuts on the original grille !
@@L663 I got it off! Looks amazing! Thank you. 🥰
Where can I buy this front grill?
Ebay
Good upgrade guys. But come on Simon L200 upgrades.
Yes we need to get some stuff going on this one... lots to do !
powerfulukltd good man. I am not going to forget about it 😆
Nice video, could you post where you bought the replacement mesh grille from?
Hi - its on our website
www.powerfuluk.com/vehicles/other-vehicles-accessories/bmw-mini/bmw-mini-2001-06.html
Where can I get that grill ? Cheers !
www.powerfuluk.com/catalogsearch/result?q=mfg452
Boom just bought one. :D
Waiting for car to come back from garage... £2100 worth of remedial work and fitting the 17% pulley..
Cant wait to get the car back and then fit this grill :)
@@bluenapalm123 what "remedial work" did you have done if you dont mind me asking?
I'm thinking of picking one up this week. Aside from the cosmetics I was going to get the 19% pulley and upgraded intercooler and get the timing chain done too.
Anything else you recommend?
@@djibby1157
Timing chain kit replacement
Clutch kit
Crank oil seal replacements on timing and gearbox sides
Oil leak at oil housing repaired
Inner CV boot replaced
Ball joints on lower wishbone replaced
Oil and filter change
Supercharger Inspection
Reduction Pulley Kit Fitted
@@bluenapalm123 nice one cheers mate. How many miles did yours do on the oem clutch? One I'm looking at has 73k miles. Is it going to start slipping soon?
@@djibby1157 No idea, bought it with the busted clutch. Had 96k on the clock.. but of course there is no way to know when the old clutch was fitted.
The top grill is a bastard 10mm nuts also do the trick 👍
Just bought one of these. The quality of the parts are fine, the fixings are appalling.
Loose upper grille, loosen lower grille. Bit of a bad taste in my mouth now! Really need to supply a bit of paper explaining what the different fixings are for. Anyway of supplying a replacement. I’ve just binned my old grille!!!
Hi Steven - i agree the fixings are not great - the grille uses the same fixings as original - and these for sure are not great.
We do use this video as a fitting guide
If you contact customer service we will get your sorted with a new grille etc.
This reminds me of when i had an E46 M3. I was tormented by the cheap and nasty trim clips that BMW are addicted to using. Utter, utter crap. In fact, owning that car put me off BMW forever. Ive got an R53 JCW as a toy, and surprisingly, the Rover part of the equation is equal to BMW in terms of cheap and shoddy quality...I actually thought it would be even worse.
Great video but man use some gloves!! Your hands are a mess....
The fit sucks...
So does my Dyson !