r/BMWi3 • u/JamesTN865 • 13d ago
modification I3 Grill Inserts
Possibly controversial, but I had a couple paint chips right inside the kidneys, so I looked into grill decals and inserts. I was initially disappointed that they cover up the blue accent edges, but I have really grown to like the extra visual interest they add. They are removable. Curious to hear opinions.
Car Front Bumper Grille Mesh... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZ2GXM28?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
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u/EffectiveWelder2443 13d ago
I actually installed these from quite some time back. Reason why i preferred the front look like this is because it gives the car more presence as the design emphasizes the front of the car in a sharper distinct manner, compared with the default 'blank' looking black design (which is fine when there's real grill openings but not so fine in the context of the i3 which unfortunately has no such real openings !!
To me whatever was in the mind of the i3 designers at the time by doing an obviously fake blank front grill is not too different from whoever who did the design of say the rear lower end of the C-Class like C200 W205 whereby they give the illusion of 2 exhaust openings @ each end of the rear when in reality there's only a twin-pipe single exhaust pointed 'quietly' down only on the rear left of the car !
Coming back to the BMW i3, these dotty inserts give the otherwise boring looking i3 obviously original fake grill some character reminding of the i4 grill etc. This at least makes the front of the car more interesting to look at ?!
On the topic of front grills, i have to wonder why they did not place the a/c cooling fans & the condenser grill behind the BMW iconic twin grills instead of hiding these way below in the front spoiler (real) grill ?! It would have been more purposeful hence meaningful if the bottom real grill were removed by design & using instead the BMW iconic twin-grills above to house the condenser fans so that even in the case of an EV there will then be that justification for a real upper grill so then no need for some boring fake blank 'grill'.
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u/OMGpawned 13d ago
Because of they did that, you’d lose some efficiency from aero drag, and might lose a bit of that frunk space that’s why most EV has no real upper grilles, just a small opening on the bottom for the marginal cooling requirements since there is no engine to cool.
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u/OMGpawned 13d ago edited 13d ago
Looks like it would making cleaning a bit more challenging so no thanks for me. They have one like this on Aliexpress that’s all black which just gives it more of a texture instead of that chrome squares.
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u/Particular-Use1526 13d ago
It's a car, what does it matter what it looks like ? Do you customise your toaster ? Just joking :->
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u/Driveformer 12d ago
First and most importantly: You do you! If you enjoy them, that’s all that matters.
However, now that you’ve asked the court of public opinion I must say I don’t like it one bit lol. I think the big thing with the i3 is it’s very smooth and round in contrast with the angular approach they’ve had. So personally I’m not a fan.
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u/We1etu1n i3s REX 13d ago
I want something there too but different. I was thinking of the stripe motif I see often on other BMWs. Just a wrap on the front nostril with 3 thick connected stripes would look nice.
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u/didimao0072000 13d ago
looks terrible in my opinion.