OEM Chrome Kidney Grill Situation

[tnord]

I did send an email to BMWCCA and got an immediate response from Steve Schlossman at chapter services. He is also dealing with the same issues on his E36 M3 and 2003 Mini.

It might be worth an email to BMWCCA and see if we can get a campaign started.

[samthejam]

I went to the junkyard this past weekend to get kidneys from an early coupe. There is some entrepeneur pulling every kidney grill from bmws to resell.



Since I am redoing my hood kinda wanted new ones. I guess I might gamble on these?

[flightz71]

Wow I got crazy lucky. Restoring my LSB back to OEM fresh and picked up a set from FCP Euro for $75 each side in December 2024. Can’t believe they got NLA’ed so quickly.

[BMWE46M3]

FWIW, I like (and run) the chrome outers with black vertical slats. That’s how the car should have come as it matches the side vent scheme. Maybe you can find a genuine set of those.

Do you have the part number for these? I too agree wholeheartedly that the chrome outside with black inserts looks the best. Thanks.

[Nico]

Do you have the part number for these? I too agree wholeheartedly that the chrome outside with black inserts looks the best. Thanks.

Production doesn't seem any better with these either.

Still, as time passes, July 2026 doesn't seem that far away now. I wonder if the date will move back or stay the same.

Genuine BMW - 51138208684 - Kidney Grille - Right (51-13-8-208-684)

[BMWE46M3]

Production doesn't seem any better with these either.

Still, as time passes, July 2026 doesn't seem that far away now. I wonder if the date will move back or stay the same.

Genuine BMW - 51138208684 - Kidney Grille - Right (51-13-8-208-684)

Thanks for the information. Just to confirm, will these kidney grills fit a 2002 M3 (build date 12/2001)? Thanks.

[bavarian3]

Production doesn't seem any better with these either.

Still, as time passes, July 2026 doesn't seem that far away now. I wonder if the date will move back or stay the same.

Genuine BMW - 51138208684 - Kidney Grille - Right (51-13-8-208-684)

Thanks for the information. Just to confirm, will these kidney grills fit a 2002 M3 (build date 12/2001)? Thanks.

They're all the same, but ECS dates have no reflection on reality, so if you purchase don't hold your breathe.

[///Marecki]

I gotta say this situation is a major pain in the ass.

[M3LSB.Gab]

Anybody tried any aftermarket ones ? And they can judge the fitment and quality.. I really need chrome front grilles ^^

[philrob1]

Per a post on a UK forum, it would appear the ETA for kidney grills is 1st October 2026 (the source of the info was a BMW dealership parts department)

[bavarian3]

Per a post on a UK forum, it would appear the ETA for kidney grills is 1st October 2026 (the source of the info was a BMW dealership parts department)

source? if this is true this could reflect another run for other parts as well. we can hope...

bmwfnatic any thoughts?

[BlueBimmers]

Sorry to see the link I shared is now out of stock.

[9kracing]

Since I have a massive intercooler up there, I have to trim my kidney grills to get them to fit... you guys would kill me if you knew how many OEM kidney grill I've destroyed lol

[simon_c]

I did a front end refresh a little over a year ago and bought new OEM kidney grill from ECS for $150/set. Damn this platform is getting crazy expensive.

[ac427]

There is a thread on here with someone asking for 3d printed clips for the grille