Hood grille options for pre facelift model

[fmugur]

I really like the 4.8is front grille but I couldn't justify the cost to have the hood, fenders and so on replaced on my 2000 X5. I looked on how to retrofit an pair of facelift grille on but it's not an easy thing. The grille is bigger and it would require a cut in the hood and that's a bit crazy.
The other option is this link below but I am not sure about the look being much better than the stock. Any comment are appreciated:


BMW 00 01 03 E53 x5 Black Chrome Front Grill Grille C9 | eBay

[Ricky Bobby]

why dont you just get titan silver/chrome front grilles from the sport package 00-03 4.4i?

I had stock black/chrome grilles but i have the silver bumper mesh since I have sport package, i wanted that to match so i got these:

2000 2003 BMW x5 E53 Front Bumper Center Grille Kidney Replace OE Style Silver | eBay

I had to dremel a small notch for the hood latch but other than that they fit perfect and look OE

[fmugur]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

why dont you just get titan silver/chrome front grilles from the sport package 00-03 4.4i?

I had stock black/chrome grilles but i have the silver bumper mesh since I have sport package, i wanted that to match so i got these:

2000 2003 BMW x5 E53 Front Bumper Center Grille Kidney Replace OE Style Silver | eBay

I had to dremel a small notch for the hood latch but other than that they fit perfect and look OE

I have the original that are chrome lip with titanium grille blades but since I got the facelifted model I don't like the grilles on the 2000 one.

I was thinking more like this (sorry bad photoshop):



vs. original

[fmugur]

The big difference between them is the lip that is too thick and the blades to thin on the 00-03 model while the 04-06 model grille looks stronger with thicker grille blades and thin lip.

[Ricky Bobby]

oh i get it you are trying to retrofit the "look" of the slanted grill slats like on the facelifts but on your 2000 X.

in my opinion its way too much work with the grilles being different shape and all.

the slats on those Taiwan ebay grilles you posted are still pretty straight, and in my opinion they don't look very OE so if you were to install them they wouldn't look any more like the facelift grilles and they would scream aftermarket.

[powers1]

[QUOTE=fmugur;927067]I really like the 4.8is front grille but I couldn't justify the cost to have the hood, fenders and so on replaced on my 2000 X5. I looked on how to retrofit an pair of facelift grille on but it's not an easy thing. The grille is bigger and it would require a cut in the hood and that's a bit crazy.
The other option is this link below but I am not sure about the look being much better than the stock. Any comment are appreciated:
[/QUOTE

Know this thread is a bit old,but what did you decide on?
Fitting the facelift grills on a prefacelift is difficult but possible with right tools and a lot of patience.Check the thread "What have you done to your x5 today" for updates and how to!

[fmugur]

Yeah, it's and old thread. I don't have that X5 anymore but just to give you an update, I bought a set of facelifted grilles ($50) and I tried to craft one to fit in the pre-facelift hood. Although, I was close enough it didn't look good enough for the effort. I had to 'shrink' them and then the look was still close to the old look. The facelift grilles are bigger which makes part of the new look.
It is a personal preference though. Some like the pre facelift, some prefer the new look.

To solved the problem, I ended up buying a facelift X5

[powers1]

Originally Posted by fmugur

Yeah, it's and old thread. I don't have that X5 anymore but just to give you an update, I bought a set of facelifted grilles ($50) and I tried to craft one to fit in the pre-facelift hood. Although, I was close enough it didn't look good enough for the effort. I had to 'shrink' them and then the look was still close to the old look. The facelift grilles are bigger which makes part of the new look.
It is a personal preference though. Some like the pre facelift, some prefer the new look.

To solved the problem, I ended up buying a facelift X5

I agree with you ,shrinking the facelift grills wouldnt make the look that much different!
I widened the bonnet grill opening to fit the complete facelift grills,as I cant afford a facelift X5 but I have years of experience in this sort of work.

In your case ,buying a facelift X5, was an even better solution and much less work

Thanks for the feedback and good luck with the the X5

[fmugur]

Originally Posted by powers1

I agree with you ,shrinking the facelift grills wouldnt make the look that much different!
I widened the bonnet grill opening to fit the complete facelift grills,as I cant afford a facelift X5 but I have years of experience in this sort of work.

In your case ,buying a facelift X5, was an even better solution and much less work

Thanks for the feedback and good luck with the the X5

Can you please post a picture. I am curious how it looks.

[powers1]

Originally Posted by fmugur

Can you please post a picture. I am curious how it looks.

I posted a pic in the "what did you do today to your x5 "thread.I am still some way from completing as I work all day at Bmw and then when I get home ,I don't always feel like working on mine .So I been driving company car,series 1
The whole process has also been tediously slow with quite a lot of fine details that needed doing for a perfect fit.Also quite a few obstacles that have to be tackled and strengthened!I also painted the grills chrome black ,but whole job is coming a long nicely.

I shall post finish pics by next week.