For U.S. members worried about the front amber/orange reflectors, please read this..

[Eclipse Motors]

I've read numerous posts where people are worried about the front reflectors. They think they're stuck in there for good, cannot be replaced by painted reflectors, or that the hole has to be filled with a mold and the bumper resprayed. No need to worry. The reflectors on the 08 M5 are the same as those on the 08 M3 and I've already replaced them on the M5. The instructions below are for the E46 M3 in particular, but they apply to the 08 M3 and M5 as well. If you want them painted, any BMW associated body shop can paint and clear coat your reflectors to your individual color. Find your paint code in the link below and tell the body shop to paint the reflectors your particular paint code. Should be a $50 job at most places.

http://www.cardata.com/spoilers/Car_Paint_Colors/BMW_paint_codes.htm

http://www.bimmian.com/elements/page.htm/instructions.ht/REF/REF.gif

EDIT: My reflectors are in!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/xcell1984/IMG_0146.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/xcell1984/IMG_0144.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/xcell1984/IMG_0143.jpg

[FifthStreetz]

:thumbsup:

Thats good news. That will be the first thing i do!

[Keto]

I suspect you will be able to purchase pre-painted reflectors, or clear reflectors, from various online sources as you could for the E46.

[SMSgt B]

I suspect you will be able to purchase pre-painted reflectors, or clear reflectors, from various online sources as you could for the E46.

Eventually I am sure they will be out. For me, I don't think I can wait that long. I will get the paint and do them myself

[moog55]

thanks for the info, xcellere. i think it's a good short-term fix. i think getting the euro bumper will be the way to go though.

[FifthStreetz]

i think getting the euro bumper will be the way to go though.

I think thats a little excessive, gotta buy new bumper, then wait for it to ship, then wait paint/install.

[SpencerM3]

I'm going to buy the clear reflectors while my car is on order. Get the car, swap out the reflectors, get car tinted, enjoy!

[GregW / Oregon]

I'm going to buy the clear reflectors while my car is on order. Get the car, swap out the reflectors, get car tinted, enjoy!
The clear reflectors available for the E46 were pure junk. Plated stamped steel reflector and did not fit well.

[skierman64]

That's excellent news. I think I'll wait for the pre-painted versions.

[FifthStreetz]

That's excellent news. I think I'll wait for the pre-painted versions.

+1

Im sure vendors will have those available really soon after launch.

[lucid]

Is there a liability issue with painting the reflectors? Meaning, if you were in an accident at night, could an insurance company deny you payment because stock reflectors were not functional?

[FifthStreetz]

Is there a liability issue with painting the reflectors? Meaning, if you were in an accident at night, could an insurance company deny you payment because stock reflectors were not functional?

I guess if the guy is a dick and could prove that the reason for the accident was because you did not have reflectors that could have prevented a accident. But if god forbid you did get into a accident (front end), the reflectors would probably be destroyed or fall off anyway and they wouldnt be able to know or tell. Or you can just pull them off and toss them if you were paranoid and just say they got destroyed in the crash IF they ever question you about reflectors.

[skierman64]

Is there a liability issue with painting the reflectors? Meaning, if you were in an accident at night, could an insurance company deny you payment because stock reflectors were not functional?

The reflectors are not very effective at night with your headlights on because they are so close to the headlights, people are going to see your headlights and parking lights first because they are brighter, not the reflectors. The reflectors are there for when your vehicle is parked or not in operation. If someone hits your car at night while it's parked, I think they'd have a tough time proving that it was your fault, if you weren't in the vehicle. There are many, many obsticles in or near roads without reflectors on them.

[inmotion]

i haven't heard of this being a possible liability, but you can get a fix-it ticket for it.

[FifthStreetz]

but you can get a fix-it ticket for it.

Havnt heard that one before. To the untrained eye most wont even know that there was orange reflectors unless side by side comparison. Its not as obvious as not having a front plate or something like that.

[lucid]

The reflectors are not very effective at night with your headlights on because they are so close to the headlights, people are going to see your headlights and parking lights first because they are brighter, not the reflectors. The reflectors are there for when your vehicle is parked or not in operation. If someone hits your car at night while it's parked, I think they'd have a tough time proving that it was your fault, if you weren't in the vehicle.

Yes, that is mainly how they are supposed to function although it can be argued that they serve as a redundant mechanism in the case of headlight failure and so forth if that happens to be the case in your car during the accident, which is a really unlikely combination.


There are many, many obsticles in or near roads without reflectors on them.

Ah, I'm not a lawyer, but disabling an existing safety mechanism designed into a product is not the same thing as not having had the safety mechanism in the first place.

Anyway, I just had nasty dealings with an insurance company on a major claim, and I know how hard some try to avoid payment, so I'm probably overly concerned on this one.

[inmotion]

Havnt heard that one before. To the untrained eye most wont even know that there was orange reflectors unless side by side comparison. Its not as obvious as not having a front plate or something like that.

true, but if you get robocop on your ass about driving down PCH @ 140mph, I'm sure they'll find everything they can ticket you for in addition to impounding the car.

[FifthStreetz]

but if you get robocop on your ass about driving down PCH @ 140mph

:bellyroll

Thats true, and theres always those types...

[Eclipse Motors]

The chances of you getting ticketed for not having the reflector is slim to none. Cops will ticket you for not having a front plant, but a reflector? Extremely unlikely. And about insurance, I guess that's a chance you take, but that's doubtful to cause a problem.

[AwesomeM3]

Skierman64 and Fifth: Do you think not having the orange reflectors will pose a problem passing NJ state inspection? Of course we won't have to worry for four more years, but just curious.

[FifthStreetz]

Skierman64 and Fifth: Do you think not having the orange reflectors will pose a problem passing NJ state inspection? Of course we won't have to worry for four more years, but just curious.

Good question, that is a risk im willing to take. Ill keep my stock ones in hand just in case if they do fail me, i can just slap OEM on and take them off right after.

[lurks]

There are thousands of E46s with Euro Spec bumpers or reflectors painted over etc and I have NEVER heard of a legal prob. I think it's a non-issue magnified by that fact that we are bored silly waiting on the cars to show already. When the cars start rolling off the showroom floor into more home garages let the modding begin :)

[Big Windy]

this is the best news ever

[K3N R3D]

Thanks for the info.

[FifthStreetz]

after seeing the car in person and carefully examining the reflector, it seems like they can be pried off. I was tugging on one and its def. not glued on.

[K3N R3D]

after seeing the car in person and carefully examining the reflector, it seems like they can be pried off. I was tugging on one and its def. not glued on.

How dare you tug on anything on the new M3 lol

[SpencerM3]

The clear reflectors available for the E46 were pure junk. Plated stamped steel reflector and did not fit well.

Well if it's the same case with the E92 M3 i'll buy painted ones. Thanks for the heads up:thumbsup:

[TC M3]

That was the first thing I did when i picked up my '08 M5. Here's the outcome:

[jtown]

That was the first thing I did when i picked up my '08 M5. Here's the outcome:

Meter maid pwned your wheel wet.

[DJ9]

This is awesome! I was actually speaking about this today while talking to Premier mobile regarding clear bra's, they mentioned the same thing about the M5 reflectors; however they said, "almost" identical:)

Anyhow, this is good to know. Thank you again.

[inmotion]

That was the first thing I did when i picked up my '08 M5. Here's the outcome:

looks a lot better with them painted. :cool!:

[Dundas]

The clear reflectors available for the E46 were pure junk. Plated stamped steel reflector and did not fit well.

Actually there were a couple of different clear front reflectors available for the E46. One make was awful and one was OK. I replaced my Bimmian painted ones with clears. IMHO decent clears look better than painted reflectors but who knows if they will ever be available. Almost anything would look better than the orange ones.

[OC kid]

Long Tran (a trusted member of this forum) supplied hundreds of members with their body colored reflectors for the reg. e92. I hear he will also have the M3 reflectors available very soon...

[DJ9]

Group buy perhaps? sign me up

+1

[Eclipse Motors]

Pictures of my painted reflectors edited into first post.

[FifthStreetz]

Group buy perhaps? sign me up

+1

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125391

ask and you shall receive :D