My side vents will NOT come out

MEMMEZZ · 08-01-2011, 12:13 AM

Ive done many searches on replacing side vents on an e92 and the consensus is that it just requires some squeezing and force but I have pulled and wiggled and with considerable force and it does not budge. Any advice anyone? thanks

Sean@PYSpeed.com · 08-01-2011, 12:16 AM

Hold it firmly and pull up form the bottom at a 45 degree angle. It should pop right out. Btw, you would need to use more force than you think. Good Luck!

3XTR3M3 · 08-01-2011, 04:36 AM

3/4 of the vent is the light/light-housing, so you need to grab it as deep as possible, squeez evenly, across the gill while putting more presure on the bottom side, slightly pulling upwards.

The bottom will unlatch and you just wiggle the top out. That's what she said.

gthal · 08-01-2011, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean@PYSpeed.com

Hold it firmly and pull up form the bottom at a 45 degree angle. It should pop right out. Btw, you would need to use more force than you think. Good Luck!

+1... I thought I was going to break mine but all was well. Just need I bit more elbow grease.

Rshane · 08-01-2011, 06:03 AM

Like the others are saying, just apply more pressure until it pops out. I went through the same thing...kept thinking I would break something, but it turned out fine. In my mind I figured I didn't care if I broke the stock ones anyways since they were getting replaced, so I kept on adding more force until "POP", out it came.

Nelrock · 08-01-2011, 07:10 AM

Stand up. Reach down and get a firm grip on the gill, use your legs, and pull up on it.

NYCMCBM3 · 08-01-2011, 07:23 AM

^+1 that worked for me

MK599 · 08-01-2011, 10:18 AM

Think of it as trying to lift your whole car up just from the side gills. Worked for me.

TRY...M3 · 08-01-2011, 10:23 AM

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170882

TRY...M3 · 08-01-2011, 10:24 AM

theres a better video out there that i used that i cant find right now...im stilling looking for it..the one i just posted isnt bad though

aznclickster · 08-01-2011, 10:48 AM

This is what i used to remove my side gills

Moxie · 08-01-2011, 11:41 AM

BMW unclips them through the inner fender.

rye m3 · 08-01-2011, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moxie

BMW unclips them through the inner fender.

Bet you your bottom dollar they do not. That would be ridiculous. Check the DIY section. Wrap the end of the gill with a piece of packing tape to make a handle. Wiggle it slightly using a towel and pull the tape. Comes right out and doesn't damage anything. Other techniques are worthless by comparison. Installed both sides in 15 minutes.

Singletrack · 08-01-2011, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moxie

BMW unclips them through the inner fender.

They do not - they have special removal tools for them. I actually bought them because removing mine was extremely difficult.

They are marked "64 1 020 PA6 FK1015" on the side. I believe they are also used for stereo head unit removal on some cars as well.

Here, even found a link:

http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?1/06/49/99

geneatals · 08-01-2011, 02:00 PM

there is a DIY that actually does show how to unclip from behind via the fender/wheel well. One member did mention thats how his delaership installed them for him as well. Not everyone is comfortable with just yanking on it or taking a screw driver to it. Going from behind thru the fender does take more time, but you you can rest assure you wonder break a clip, mess up the honey comb on e90's, or ding your fender....

I wonder if there is a TIS for this procedure...hmmm

Singletrack · 08-01-2011, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geneatals

I wonder if there is a TIS for this procedure...hmmm

There is - using the tools I posted above. I believe someone posted on this site actually, but it is a bear to find. They pop out incredibly easily with the tools.

Moxie · 08-01-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rye m3

Bet you your bottom dollar they do not. That would be ridiculous. Check the DIY section. Wrap the end of the gill with a piece of packing tape to make a handle. Wiggle it slightly using a towel and pull the tape. Comes right out and doesn't damage anything. Other techniques are worthless by comparison. Installed both sides in 15 minutes.

Mine refused to come out. Ended up indenting the fender that was later touched up. BMW replaced mine free of charge when I had my alignment done. I was told they removed them through the inner fender. Maybe I was misinformed, dunno. I didn't watch them.

Erhan · 08-01-2011, 02:44 PM

Use disposable gloves. They have much more grip than your bare hands, hence you can apply more force to pull the gills.

Also, use some sort of thick tape (like racers tape). Cut like 10inches, fold inwards but leave an inch of sticky surface. Attach it to the gill. Use one hand to pull the tape, and the other to squeeze & pull the gill simultenously.

MEMMEZZ · 08-01-2011, 03:03 PM

thanks for all the help guys. i was able to finally get it out. I wasnt pulling hard enough or upward enough. bmw seriously doesnt want these things to come out. the drivers side came out easier since i have been messing with it for days now. The passenger side seriously wouldnt budge even with my new understanding of how to get it out. i literally tried to lift the car up in one big burst and broke one clip but absolutely dont care about the oems. IND gloss black

CCLSVTM3 · 08-01-2011, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aznclickster

This is what i used to remove my side gills

Sweet... Thnx for putting that up.. I just got my black gills in the mail today and need to put them on.....

theriz · 08-01-2011, 11:38 PM

^^^ put enough cushioning on the spot, so you dont fuck it up.

fdelement · 08-02-2011, 12:53 AM

i did what others have said and just put tremendous amount of force on the bottom and lift it up and out towards you. Once the bottom unbuckled, I was able to use a small flat-head screwdriver and lift the side out easily.

08-01-2011, 12:13 AM	#1
MEMMEZZ Captain 71 Rep 752 Posts Drives: MR.E92 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (6)	My side vents will NOT come out Ive done many searches on replacing side vents on an e92 and the consensus is that it just requires some squeezing and force but I have pulled and wiggled and with considerable force and it does not budge. Any advice anyone? thanks
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-01-2011, 12:16 AM	#2
Sean@PYSpeed.com Major General 306 Rep 8,952 Posts Drives: 2009 AW E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (22)	Hold it firmly and pull up form the bottom at a 45 degree angle. It should pop right out. Btw, you would need to use more force than you think. Good Luck!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 04:36 AM	#3
3XTR3M3 Lieutenant Colonel 99 Rep 1,575 Posts Drives: E92 AW M3 6MT Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: LA iTrader: (1)	3/4 of the vent is the light/light-housing, so you need to grab it as deep as possible, squeez evenly, across the gill while putting more presure on the bottom side, slightly pulling upwards. The bottom will unlatch and you just wiggle the top out. That's what she said. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 06:03 AM	#5
Rshane M-Flight Member 38 Rep 1,085 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas iTrader: (0)	Like the others are saying, just apply more pressure until it pops out. I went through the same thing...kept thinking I would break something, but it turned out fine. In my mind I figured I didn't care if I broke the stock ones anyways since they were getting replaced, so I kept on adding more force until "POP", out it came. __________________ 2011 Le Mans Blue M3// Black extended Novillo w/ Blue Grey Aluminum trim/DCT/ZTP/ZCW/ZPP/ZCP Premium Sound ///Akrapovic Evolution Exhaust 2015 Audi S4 Prestige, Brilliant Black S-tronic 2012 Le Mans Blue 135i M Pkg DCT
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 07:10 AM	#6
Nelrock Lieutenant 14 Rep 514 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oklahoma iTrader: (0)	Stand up. Reach down and get a firm grip on the gill, use your legs, and pull up on it. __________________ 2011 E92 M3 \| Melbourne Red \| Black Novillo w/Carbon Leather Trim \| M-DCT \| Competition Package \| Premium Package 2 \| Convenience Package \| Enhanced Premium Sound \| Heated Front Seats 2004 E46 M3 \| Silver Grey \| - Retired
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 07:23 AM	#7
NYCMCBM3 Colonel 167 Rep 2,711 Posts Drives: 2012 MCB E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: South Ozone Park,NY iTrader: (13)	^+1 that worked for me __________________ 2012 MCB///M3
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 10:18 AM	#8
MK599 . 72 Rep 383 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (12)	Think of it as trying to lift your whole car up just from the side gills. Worked for me.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 10:23 AM	#9
TRY...M3 Major 86 Rep 1,430 Posts Drives: Depends on the day Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: PA iTrader: (2)	http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170882
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 10:24 AM	#10
TRY...M3 Major 86 Rep 1,430 Posts Drives: Depends on the day Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: PA iTrader: (2)	theres a better video out there that i used that i cant find right now...im stilling looking for it..the one i just posted isnt bad though
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 10:48 AM	#11
aznclickster Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 242 Posts Drives: E92 ///M Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00]	This is what i used to remove my side gills __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 11:41 AM	#12
Moxie Lieutenant Colonel 67 Rep 1,895 Posts Drives: AW 328d Touring/SG 335d Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (12)	BMW unclips them through the inner fender.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 02:00 PM	#15
geneatals Ninja 390 Rep 4,014 Posts Drives: 2019 530e Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: So Cal (SFV) iTrader: (3)	there is a DIY that actually does show how to unclip from behind via the fender/wheel well. One member did mention thats how his delaership installed them for him as well. Not everyone is comfortable with just yanking on it or taking a screw driver to it. Going from behind thru the fender does take more time, but you you can rest assure you wonder break a clip, mess up the honey comb on e90's, or ding your fender.... I wonder if there is a TIS for this procedure...hmmm __________________ 2019 AW G30 530e l ZPP l ZMP l ZDH Retired: 2016 F80 M3, 2012 E90 M3, 2008 535i
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 02:44 PM	#18
Erhan Colonel 87 Rep 2,464 Posts Drives: Cooper S Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Use disposable gloves. They have much more grip than your bare hands, hence you can apply more force to pull the gills. Also, use some sort of thick tape (like racers tape). Cut like 10inches, fold inwards but leave an inch of sticky surface. Attach it to the gill. Use one hand to pull the tape, and the other to squeeze & pull the gill simultenously. __________________ 2011 MINI Cooper S previous cars: E92 M3, Z4MC, Z4 Roadster, E36 328 Sedan
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 03:03 PM	#19
MEMMEZZ Captain 71 Rep 752 Posts Drives: MR.E92 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (6)	thanks for all the help guys. i was able to finally get it out. I wasnt pulling hard enough or upward enough. bmw seriously doesnt want these things to come out. the drivers side came out easier since i have been messing with it for days now. The passenger side seriously wouldnt budge even with my new understanding of how to get it out. i literally tried to lift the car up in one big burst and broke one clip but absolutely dont care about the oems. IND gloss black
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2011, 11:38 PM	#21
theriz Brigadier General 406 Rep 3,583 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ventura County, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2017 F80 M3 [0.00] 2011 335i M-Sport [4.00] 2015 M3 [0.00] 2009 X5 [10.00]	^^^ put enough cushioning on the spot, so you dont fuck it up.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-02-2011, 12:53 AM	#22
fdelement Private First Class 6 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo 6sp Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Central NJ iTrader: (3)	i did what others have said and just put tremendous amount of force on the bottom and lift it up and out towards you. Once the bottom unbuckled, I was able to use a small flat-head screwdriver and lift the side out easily.
	Appreciate 0 Quote