Symmetry Issue

[hufington]

I totally understand that the lower right side grille on the 50i m-sport bumper is open for the cooling function and I know that there is nothing to cool behind the lower left grille; however, the fact that it is closed unlike the right one does not sit right- symmetrically! I have no OCD but it does not look pleasing to the eye.

BMW may claim aerodynamics, etc. but, more than likely they did this on purpose so that they could use the same left grille part on all m-sport bumpers and save cost. I understand that as well. But why is the open version of this small piece of plastic cost so much?

Does anyone know a place to buy this part (Front Open Grid M Grille Left 51118064633) -even used- for less than an arm and a leg?

[Duke I]

Ben at RG sports. I swapped mine out.

[hufington]

Do you remember the price?

[alphaod]

Not sure how much cost they’re saving when they already make the open left grill for the 50d.

[JC1979]

Originally Posted by hufington

I totally understand that the lower right side grill on the 50i m-sport bumper is open for the cooling function and I know that there is nothing to cool behind the lower left grille; however, the fact that it is closed unlike the right one does not sit right- symmetrically! I have no OCD but it does not look pleasing to the eye.

BMW may claim aerodynamics, etc. but, more than likely they did this on purpose so that they could use the same left grill part on all m-sport bumpers and save cost. I understand that as well. But why is the open version of this small piece of plastic cost so much?

Does anyone know a place to buy this part (Front Open Grid M Grille Left 51118064633) -even used- for less than an arm and a leg?

I found this on ebay and Amazon for less than $100.00. I guess my question is what do you consider an arm and a leg?

[hufington]

Originally Posted by JC1979

I found this on ebay and Amazon for less than $100.00. I guess my question is what do you consider an arm and a leg?

It's a little piece of plastic. While you can get a set of black grills for the F10 for around $30-$40 on eBay, this one costs around $90-100.

[JC1979]

Originally Posted by hufington

It's a little piece of plastic. While you can get a set of black grills for the F10 for around $30-$40 on eBay, this one costs around $90-100.

If it bothers you that much, $100 shouldn't be much of a bother to spend on fixing this. Just my take. The $30-$40 grills you find are aftermarket with an abundance of people buying them, so they are cheap. Not sure what the aftermarket is for this one part, but I would imagine it is small, hence the higher price.

[hufington]

I know; however, most of the time I spend much more for other parts and I think that it is worth but sometimes I just can't justify the price.

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by hufington

I know; however, most of the time I spend much more for other parts and I think that it is worth but sometimes I just can't justify the price.

I have Luxury line and I took off the little chrome T pieces on the side grills to repaint. Anyways one of them fell off, cost $120 with taxes… all for a piece of plastic.

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by hufington

however, the fact that it is closed unlike the right one does not sit right- symmetrically! I have no OCD but it does not look pleasing to the eye.

I agree completely and what I did with mine is install the opened air grill for the other side in addition painted all the exposed bits matte black to give a much cleaner look (radiator paint made by eastwood or wurth can be used). It came out well and it should have been like this from the factory.

[hufington]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

I agree completely and what I did with mine is install the opened air grill for the other side in addition painted all the exposed bits matte black to give a much cleaner look (radiator paint made by eastwood or wurth can be used). It came out well and it should have been like this from the factory.

Good idea. I was thinking of painting the plastic grille parts on the bumper as well using Wurth Flexible Trim Paint.

[Teufelshund]

So glad to know I'm not the only one this mismatch bugged. I bought/installed the open left side from Ben last October for $80. He included 3 plastic rivets which were needed to button things back up.

As I was toiling inside the open wheel well beside the jack, my Mrs. advised me that nobody would even notice the difference. Well I sure gave her a piece of my mind I'll tell you what!
small piece

[r33_RGSport]

@hufington , I wish I can help you with the price.
BMW just recently raised all of their plastic piece prices.
Even the Knee Pads pricing went up over 20% in the past year.
Unfortunately, I am not aware if any aftermarket for this such low demand item.
Unlike the M50d grill trim, it is a faster mover so I decided to re-design it for easier install and make my own version.

[hufington]

Found and bought an OEM piece from Lithuania for lest than $40 including shipping. Let's see.

[Teufelshund]

There've been several times I could've saved by buying from an overseas vendor (especially on projector puddle lights) but I'm too impatient to wait and too nervous about returns.

[hufington]

Originally Posted by Teufelshund

There've been several times I could've saved by buying from an overseas vendor (especially on projector puddle lights) but I'm too impatient to wait and too nervous about returns.

I hear you. I once bought a carbon fiber trunk spoiler for my 550 on eBay and it took 40 days to arrive! I was going nuts. But, at the end, it was very well made and I felt better to have saved a couple of hundred bucks by not buying the BMW original.

[iconoclast]

I prefer to give business to fellow enthusiasts and vendors especially if they are followers of mine andeven if it means that the vendor is a couple dollars more or the wait time may be slightly longer. To me that is more important than purchasing possibly, stolen or damaged parts overseas for less. Contact Ben; if he can't get it you probably don't need it.

[hufington]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

I agree completely and what I did with mine is install the opened air grill for the other side in addition painted all the exposed bits matte black to give a much cleaner look (radiator paint made by eastwood or wurth can be used). It came out well and it should have been like this from the factory.

How did you install the open one? Is it accessible from the front or do you need to go from the back thru the fender well?

[Teufelshund]

Originally Posted by hufington

How did you install the open one? Is it accessible from the front or do you need to go from the back thru the fender well?

Wheel off, fender well out, quarter panel pried back. There's a how to on here but if I remember correctly, it's actually for getting to the reflector.

[hufington]

Originally Posted by Teufelshund

Wheel off, fender well out, quarter panel pried back. There's a how to on here but if I remember correctly, it's actually for getting to the reflector.

I saw the how to for the reflector. I was hoping to be able to snatch it off from the front like I did with the grilles of the F10.

[Teufelshund]

Originally Posted by hufington

I saw the how to for the reflector. I was hoping to be able to snatch it off from the front like I did with the grilles of the F10.

That would've been nice indeed, lol.