The Random E46/ZHP Question Thread

[ecrabb]

Not sure about the vert but the sedan, all 4 switches: full up or down=auto, first detent up or down is manual...

Yup. It should be: first pressure point (like focusing a camera using the shutter button) is manual up/down until the button is released. Second detent (like pressing the shutter button all the way down) is the auto up/down.

OK, at least I'm not crazy. That's what I would have expected.

So, the question is, did I literally break the switch when I was cleaning it, or is there a way to not get the plug reinstalled properly? I did notice some major crumbs at the bottom of the switch recesses, which is why I took it out to clean it. I didn't yank or pull hard on the switches, but between the vacuum, windex and q-tips, and all the pulling and pushing, I wonder if I just killed the switch or got debris in it. I guess I'll have to pull it out and put a meter on it and see if I can figure out if the switch just died or what.

Thx,
SC

[BMWCurves]

Did you check that the wiring harness for each switch is all the way seated?

[Dr Dynamite]

I was in my trunk grabbing some oil to put on the motor and a gust of wind slammed my hood shut and finished off my already fragile drivers side kidney grille, I'm looking to buy new grilles.

Anyone happy with their aftermarket grilles? I'm looking on ebay and the prices are good but quality and fitment are questionable.... any leads? Thx homies 😎

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[san]

I was in my trunk grabbing some oil to put on the motor and a gust of wind slammed my hood shut and finished off my already fragile drivers side kidney grille, I'm looking to buy new grilles.

Anyone happy with their aftermarket grilles? I'm looking on ebay and the prices are good but quality and fitment are questionable.... any leads? Thx homies

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

I bought eBay ones and the quality is ok but not really great, I think I paid $45 for them...

Many members here bought from ecs tuning and they seem to be happy...

[fw_fw]

I was in my trunk grabbing some oil to put on the motor and a gust of wind slammed my hood shut and finished off my already fragile drivers side kidney grille, I'm looking to buy new grilles.

Anyone happy with their aftermarket grilles? I'm looking on ebay and the prices are good but quality and fitment are questionable.... any leads? Thx homies ��

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

Bought ECS Tuning in gloss black....and sold them again a week later. The OE BMW Performance shadowline black grilles just look and fit better. Tischer (getbmwparts.com) has the best price on them with free shipping.

[Sockethead]

IDK, all eBay grilles we've gotten over the years have been different levels of junk with the set for the e53 being the worst. I had to hot glue them in place to get them to stay. I went with OEM for the ZHP. If you want good grilles, eBay ain't the place...

[Dr Dynamite]

IDK, all eBay grilles we've gotten over the years have been different levels of junk with the set for the e53 being the worst. I had to hot glue them in place to get them to stay. I went with OEM for the ZHP. If you want good grilles, eBay ain't the place...

Yeah I'm thinking of getting the grilles somewhere other than eBay..... thx yall. I hope to get them soon, it doesn't feel good rolling with 1 kidney

I bought eBay ones and the quality is ok but not really great, I think I paid $45 for them...

Many members here bought from ecs tuning and they seem to be happy...

Bought ECS Tuning in gloss black....and sold them again a week later. The OE BMW Performance shadowline black grilles just look and fit better. Tischer (getbmwparts.com) has the best price on them with free shipping.

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

[Dual]

In case it helps, here's a report on my experience with Bimmian grilles.

In general my transactions with this firm have been troubled- I won't catalog the ways that is so except to say (as a single example): don't expect them to send you any kind of receipt for your purchase.

That aside, my painted grille has been pretty darn satisfactory.

PROS: Paint quality very good. (The black center is unpainted plastic, probably ABS.) The parts are not OEM but are very mechanically stable (i.e. not going to fall out) and I expect them to remain so for a long time. I like having the color choice without having to pay a body shop to modify an OEM grille.

CONS: I don't consider these problematic: others might feel differently. There is a slight issue of fitment in that the curves of the grille are not 100% congruent with the outline of the hood (photo attached). Factory parts have a rubber skirt as part of the rear assembly: this is missing on my replacement part but I can't see any untoward effects. And the Arctic White is perhaps a 99% match to the 10-year-old paint on my car.

Hope this helps

[das boots]

In case it helps, here's a report on my experience with Bimmian grilles.

In general my transactions with this firm have been troubled- I won't catalog the ways that is so except to say (as a single example): don't expect them to send you any kind of receipt for your purchase.

That aside, my painted grille has been pretty darn satisfactory.

PROS: Paint quality very good. (The black center is unpainted plastic, probably ABS.) The parts are not OEM but are very mechanically stable (i.e. not going to fall out) and I expect them to remain so for a long time. I like having the color choice without having to pay a body shop to modify an OEM grille.

CONS: I don't consider these problematic: others might feel differently. There is a slight issue of fitment in that the curves of the grille are not 100% congruent with the outline of the hood (photo attached). Factory parts have a rubber skirt as part of the rear assembly: this is missing on my replacement part but I can't see any untoward effects. And the Arctic White is perhaps a 99% match to the 10-year-old paint on my car.

Hope this helps

Thanks for the review. Aftermarkets when installed are not flush and are very lose when installed. They feel like they are about to fall off. Holding on to my aftermarkets and when funds free up, I will go back to genuine BMW parts.

[Dual]

I may not have been clear in my post. My aftermarket grill is flush to the body and fits quite tightly. The only fitment issue is a very small one with "roundness" for lack of a better word, as shown in the photo. I'm not a super-perfectionist but close to it. I am happy with the Bimmian painted grille.