[bewareofspoilers]

Reading IND's grille mod experiment thread I was under the impression that their bolt-on budget solution hasn't been particularly popular. It seemed many people prefer a G20/G15 grille slapped to the bumper.

I'll be straight with my point. I think a G20/G15 grille inspired bumper is very much possible, but I don't think it is possible to design the said bumper without redesigning the hood and the headlight unit (or adapting G20/G15's unit). Take this prior design's concept for example(see pic 1), which I find representative of many other concepts: At first glance, I'd say this is a decent looking concept. But it shouldn't take long before you notice the upper-outer edges of the grille are way misaligned to the hood creases. I don't think such a concept will be up to scratch when viewed in 3D, or even physically possible to construct at all.

To work around this, you can of course shrink the grille of your choice, and eventually I suppose it'd look something like one of evaero's concept(see pic 2), which is quite a long way off the much cherished G20/G15 grille. I seriously doubt this will be a universally loved solution as indeed eventuri themselves have recently announced that they won't realise this concept in plastic construction because they believe there won't be enough demand.

Alternatively, you can, like I mentioned at the beginning, redesign the bumper, hood and headlight altogether for a complete solution. I'm no expert in this but I assume the parts alone will cost at least $1500 for the bumper and hood and another $2000 for the headlight, throw in some carbon fanciness then you can easily double or triple the price. This brings me to my curiosity: if you can't stand the grille, how much are you willing to pay for an alternative solution?

[BimmerMat135]

The prior design one is pure fire!

[DvidzM3G80]

I just ordered mine in Black Sapphire Metallic so you can barely even see the black grille. That was my solution

[Zirenz2006]

those alternatives suck, this topic was worn out ages ago

[2011ninja]

Originally Posted by Zirenz2006

those alternatives suck, this topic was worn out ages ago

Frankenstein your $80k M3 with an aftermarket front bumper...

[mmckenzie]

If you don't like the grill that much, don't buy the car. Enough said.

[KevinGS]

Unbelievable that those designs look like a step back than a step forward to me. They both look 340i-ish. Not bad, but not enough 'M' in them.

The only alternative or grill mod I've liked so far is the simple body-colored bar splitting the top and bottom portions of the grill...and I even waffle on that solution being "better". For some colors, I think the center body-colored bar looks decent, and in others, not so much.

[Rick955]

Originally Posted by KevinGS

Unbelievable that those designs look like a step back than a step forward to me. They both look 340i-ish. Not bad, but not enough 'M' in them.

The only alternative or grill mod I've liked so far is the simple body-colored bar splitting the top and bottom portions of the grill...and I even waffle on that solution being "better". For some colors, I think the center body-colored bar looks decent, and in others, not so much.

Agreed. The more designs I see, and some are OK, I just fall back to the unaltered one again. Most people are leasing and you'd be nuts to take a chance with anything significant like removing the entire front. If you couldn't return it to spec you'd be screwed. Almost 80% of those that voted so far either like or are OK with it as is... and this is from BMW loyalists like us! Those on the outside and I remember a video posted with a bunch of detailers showing signs on how much the liked the new grill... 80% liked it as do outsiders that are not BMW savvy at all. Most say it's "very aggressive" looking, and are pretty clueless when you mention "the older BMW kidney grills"... they're like lol. Those thinking LCI will magically transform the entire front will likely be disappointed. Even if BMW decides on change, I'd be shocked to see anything significant before the H. German's can be stubborn (I grew up with one! lol) ... BMW may even double down!

[NinjaBum]

I wouldn't get one just because you'll never 100% be unable to tell you sprayed a new bumber and tried to blend it with the rest of the car. Maybe you could justify it if you were in a front end collision and needed to do it anyway, but otherwise probably not.

[GOLFFRR]

I want to know who the 4 people are who voted 7500+! dang, thats nuts.

[MmmmmM2]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

I want to know who the 4 people are who voted 7500+! dang, thats nuts.

Just kidding. Wasn't me.

[NinjaBum]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

I want to know who the 4 people are who voted 7500+! dang, thats nuts.

Show me their names and I'll show you the names of 4 liars haha.

[xlover]

Originally Posted by NinjaBum

Show me their names and I'll show you the names of 4 liars haha.

Lol can just bucket them under "just here to hate"

[Sedan_Clan]

I agree with the sentiment that the aftermarket solutions look worse than OEM. If the design isn't for you, why buy the car at all?!?!

[BimmerMat135]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I agree with the sentiment that the aftermarket solutions look worse than OEM. If the design isn't for you, why buy the car at all?!?!

Well there aren't many stick shift sedan left on the new car market so i might consider the car even if the front end is ugly. So if there are simple ways to improve it's a win-win solution.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by BimmerMat135

Well there aren't many stick shift sedan left on the new car market so i might consider the car even if the front end is ugly. So if there are simple ways to improve it's a win-win solution.

Per the detractors, enter Cadillac Blackwing or [automatic] Alfa Romeo Giulia stage left. ☺️

I hope you get the G8X. Help make it the best selling ///M3 ever.

[Tacoma]

Check out video below where they (Evolve Automotive in UK) talk about aftermarket grille (go to around 16:40 mark). They said they designed it but demand will likely be low due to high cost and people warming up the the stock look. Essentially, they said it'll take them between £300,000 and £500,000" of tooling to make it, so the ROI isn't there. Based on that initial investment, the cost to consumers of will likely be closer to $7,500 end of the survey than $500.

There are also other questions: What happens to the warranty? Impact of structural integrity in a frontal crash? Cost to replace if the front bumper if it gets damaged? Etc. My 2 cents is if you despise the looks so much that you need an aftermarket to fix it, then don't buy the car in the first place.

[snareman]

The Prior design looks like something close to what most of us likely wish the car would have looked like from the beginning. Also, most of the renders just don't look that good. And the Prior one needs a new hood even? However, having done it in my e92, swapping the bumper is a huge hassle in cost, time and logistics that I'm betting most people won't be interested in tackling. I certainly won't.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by snareman

The Prior design looks like something close to what most of us likely wish the car would have looked like from the beginning. However, having done it in my e92, swapping the bumper is a huge hassle in cost, time and logistics that I'm betting most people won't be interested in tackling. I certainly won't.

I'm probably one of the few that didn't really care for the front of the 8, so the Prior design isn't my cup of tea.

[ZGM3]

Originally Posted by mmckenzie

If you don't like the grill that much, don't buy the car. Enough said.

I get what you are saying, BUT there are some prospective buyers, myself included, only wants to buy a manual car, and this is really the only option for a sporty 4 door manual.

[bsmf8x]

I haven't seen a single good looking render. All the jokes about the company that makes a normal looking grill is going to sell a ton is bullshit unless somebody comes up with something that looks nice, which I doubt will happen seeing how long the g8x design has been out and nobody can even render a decent looking grill.

If a smaller grill made it look good I'd be open to it.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by ZGM3

I get what you are saying, BUT there are some prospective buyers, myself included, only wants to buy a manual car, and this is really the only option for a sporty 4 door manual.

BMW knows they have this market cornered. They can afford to experiment and/or trail blaze.