Installed the "wider lower grille effect" mod - what do you guys think?

[nuclearfusion]

Hi everyone,

I got busy and installed the 524td grille panels known as the "wider lower grille effect" detailed on Bruno's www.bmwe34.net site which references this page:

E34 Wider Lower Grille Effect

Here's the before:



and here's the after:



Part numbers are:

Left: 51-11-8-168-917
Right: 51-11-8-168-918

They were $CAD 19 each, so probably no more than $US 15 in the States, likely even less.

I know it's not Alpina spec but aside from that what do you guys think of the look?

Enjoy!

Fusion

[Gayle]

I was afraid it was going to be a wide grill with the narrow hood.



Sigh of relief.

[E34 530]

looks good. Those 2 pieces can be fitted on to any e34 model???

[GJPinAU]

I know it's not Alpina spec but aside from that what do you guys think of the look?

It took me a while to see the difference, luckily I have a large monitor and could compare the pics.
Yep looks fine.

[nuclearfusion]

looks good. Those 2 pieces can be fitted on to any e34 model???

To tell the truth I don't know that 100% for sure - but since they fit on my Alpina with not much fuss at all I'd assume that they should go on any E34 without a big problem. As far as I know those blank covers are the same on most of the E34 models, so the ventilated ones should be pretty much universal as well.

It was about 3 minutes per side - a minute or so to pop the cover off, about the same to pop on the new one. Repeat on the other side.

Enjoy!

Fusion

[E34 530]

Just remebered though, I have an alternator cooling duct on the right hand side.

[genphreak]

I know its a simple on off thing but (of I was lucky enough to have a choice about such matters) I'd keep an Alpina dead-on original. Sorry to be a spoiler!

btw; is your suspension factory or has it been replaced? What kidn of springs/shocks are you running are they new/old? Just interested re ride-height 'sall... nick

[winfred]

hard to see in the dark

[E34 530]

winfred, did you make those ducts yourself, they seem alittle different than the 540 ones. I love the 540 ducts and want to do them to my car.

[winfred]

they are 540 ducts but they are bolted to the bottom of the stock bumper instead of the bumper being cut out for them, then i took a piece of a broken bumper and cut it to fit between them, they were pretty tough and never broke despite being grounded hard a few times, i never got around to installing the ductwork to the brakes and sold the car last year