[AWM440i]

Does anyone know how to remove the kidney grilles on a 440? I went to do it like a 435, but when you take off the torx bolts there's no room to slide your hand behind and unclip them

[madmonkey]

I will help you - but your searchfu is weak!! Literally the first thing that shows up in google

[AWM440i]

Originally Posted by madmonkey

I will help you - but your searchfu is weak!! Literally the first thing that shows up in google

I looked at that video and tried that. There was something in the way and it was basically take off the bumper or something else. When I removed the weatherstripping and the torx bolts and tried to fit my hand back there, it wasn't possible to do some. I don't have large hands either

[madmonkey]

You have to pop the front cover off at the top (there's some press clips, that you can hear pop off in the video) and pull slightly forward to get enough space for your hands. Shouldn't be anything else in the way.

[AWM440i]

Originally Posted by madmonkey

You have to pop the front cover off at the top (there's some press clips, that you can hear pop off in the video) and pull slightly forward to get enough space for your hands. Shouldn't be anything else in the way.

I'll give it another go later on and see how it goes. Maybe I was overlooking something, very possible

[LiquidMercury]

Extra pair of hands is useful when pulling forward the bumper I found (ie. my wife hands are teeny fists o' fury perfect for that), but not necessary. It's not even getting your hands back there that I've found is a bitch, it's getting all those damn clips off, lol. You'll get there.

[bmrguy03]

Or you can do what the BMW technicians do and just pull them straight out. I've done it plenty of times and have only broken one clip once. You just have to use the same amount of force and pull in a jerking motion.

[ooshnoo]

There are multiple videos on YouTube showing the process. Do a search.

[AWM440i]

Originally Posted by ooshnoo

There are multiple videos on YouTube showing the process. Do a search.

I have. I tried a couple ways and they didn't seem to work. Like I said I most likely was messing something up and will try them again.

[AWM440i]

Originally Posted by bmrguy03

Or you can do what the BMW technicians do and just pull them straight out. I've done it plenty of times and have only broken one clip once. You just have to use the same amount of force and pull in a jerking motion.

Like grip and rip?

[LiquidMercury]

Originally Posted by DocHoliday440

Like grip and rip?

Yep. Seen at least one vid where a guy did that. Thought, screw that and went through behind the grill.

[Dang3r]

I would never try to grip and rip those, when BMW damage my kidneys at removal, they had to replace them, I wont accept any broken clips.
My way was a thicker stiff piece of welding wire, at the top bended 160° and I'd used it as hook to pull out the clips. Hold up the pulling force after loosen the first one and make your way around the kidney.

[bmrguy03]

Originally Posted by Dang3r

I would never try to grip and rip those, when BMW damage my kidneys at removal, they had to replace them, I wont accept any broken clips.
My way was a thicker stiff piece of welding wire, at the top bended 160° and I'd used it as hook to pull out the clips. Hold up the pulling force after loosen the first one and make your way around the kidney.

Well when you know what you are doing, you are less likely to break them. I've swapped them about 3 times between two vehicles and like I said, I've only broken one tab. That was because I was careless too. To each their own though. I was only offering another method since that's what I do and takes me 2 minutes to swap.

[AWM440i]

With pulling this is all I get

[madmonkey]

Originally Posted by DocHoliday440

With pulling this is all I get

There's gotta be something you missed like clips on the ends. Try pulling towards the ends, working from the middle. There are more silver clips like to 2 in your pic that hold the front on.

[Tr0y]

Have you taken the other torx bolts out too? By memory, two are a completely different size.

[AWM440i]

Originally Posted by Tr0y

Have you taken the other torx bolts out too? By memory, two are a completely different size.

Yeah. The picture wasn't too great but there's something there. But I'm gonna just see if there are more clips. Worse comes to worst I'll just take off the bumper

[kokoli84]

Originally Posted by DocHoliday440

Yeah. The picture wasn't too great but there's something there. But I'm gonna just see if there are more clips. Worse comes to worst I'll just take off the bumper

I followed the same video and did it on my 2018 440i. I don't have any experience removing grill so it took me near an hour to finish the job. You might need to use a bit more force to pull the top cover out if you are sure that all screws shown in the clip are removed

[Dang3r]

Originally Posted by Tr0y

Have you taken the other torx bolts out too? By memory, two are a completely different size.

Agree, outside are on both sides bigger ones. If all screws removed, you must be able to tilt the whole upper part more downwards. Im not entirely sure how many screws to remove but this was 4 small and 2 bigger or 6 small and 2 bigger, I dont know anymore more exactlier

[kern417]

just removed mine by pulling straight out. on the first grille, 2 tabs bent but i was able to bend them back in place. then i reached through the opening to help tease the tabs out of the other grille, but the tabs on the bottom are pretty much impossible to reach. i tried using my fingers and a trim stick. ultimately i pulled out the bottom clips on that one too without an issue.

just pull straight out focusing on the area where each tab is located around the perimeter. don't jerk it, just pull with steady force and it'll pop out.

[AWM440i]

Originally Posted by kern417

just removed mine by pulling straight out. on the first grille, 2 tabs bent but i was able to bend them back in place. then i reached through the opening to help tease the tabs out of the other grille, but the tabs on the bottom are pretty much impossible to reach. i tried using my fingers and a trim stick. ultimately i pulled out the bottom clips on that one too without an issue.

just pull straight out focusing on the area where each tab is located around the perimeter. don't jerk it, just pull with steady force and it'll pop out.

Where did you pull from?

[hmmwvj]

Does anyone recommend a good set of black grills?