Hi all... I hope I’m going to be accepted over here, I’m an active member on the babybmw forum which is full of excellent advice and support but my time has come and I’ve moved/moving out of my current car.
My bmw journey started with a 120d SE which was a great car for me at the time, since then I’ve moved from
120d e87 > 118d f22 > 120d f21 > m135i f21 > m140i shadow edition f21.
I need a bigger car for a few things and the x3 has always taken my fancy, I was tempted by the x3m40i but I have to be sensible and reduce running costs!!
So I have ordered a G01 X3 2.0 Msport in Sapphire Black and it’s due to be delivered next week. I appreciate it will be a tad slower than my current m140! But I am really looking forward to the comfort and some of the tech on the car - idrive7, HUD, Apple car play and wireless charging
I’ve gone for sun protection glass and the Tech Pack, I don’t think I need much else. I’ve ordered a fitted boot liner to protect the carpet from the dog.
I enquired with the dealers about replacing the chrome kidneys for the M performance black ones but was quoted £450!!! Looking online I can get a set for £120? Has anyone got any advice on the replacement or links to purchase. I assume the excessive price is due to the tech in the grill? Would I lose that by replacing with after market.
Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.
X3 2.0 m-sport incoming
Introduce yourself, (and post a photo if you have one).
Sj2412
Re: X3 2.0 m-sport incoming
Post by X5Sport » Sun Feb 07, 2021 7:04 pm
Hello and
to the Forum. We accept anyone so don’t worry about that bit
My only experience aftermarket grilles was a couple of years back on our E46. They were cheaper yes, badly wrapped, damaged and didn’t fit very well. A second set were supplied (undamaged) but the fit is still poor.
For our F46 we ordered genuine and had them dealer fitted at new. They weren’t that expensive though!


My only experience aftermarket grilles was a couple of years back on our E46. They were cheaper yes, badly wrapped, damaged and didn’t fit very well. A second set were supplied (undamaged) but the fit is still poor.
For our F46 we ordered genuine and had them dealer fitted at new. They weren’t that expensive though!

X5Sport
Re: X3 2.0 m-sport incoming
Post by Sj2412 » Sun Feb 07, 2021 9:26 pm
I’ve had dealer fit on all my cars so far apart from the current 140 as they were standard, they’ve always cost around £130 ish.
I wondered with the car having the ‘active grills’ that’s why they’re more ££ but looking at research the active grills sit behind the cosmetic grill.
I wondered with the car having the ‘active grills’ that’s why they’re more ££ but looking at research the active grills sit behind the cosmetic grill.
Sj2412
Re: X3 2.0 m-sport incoming
Post by Sj2412 » Sun Feb 07, 2021 9:26 pm
I’ve had dealer fit on all my cars so far apart from the current 140 as they were standard, they’ve always cost around £130 ish.
I wondered with the car having the ‘active grills’ that’s why they’re more ££ but looking at research the active grills sit behind the cosmetic grill.
I wondered with the car having the ‘active grills’ that’s why they’re more ££ but looking at research the active grills sit behind the cosmetic grill.
Sj2412
Re: X3 2.0 m-sport incoming
Post by X5Sport » Mon Feb 08, 2021 1:06 pm
I thought the active grilles were behind the cosmetic grilles too. It may be that the latest BMWs with their massive intake grilles (why?) are therefore more costly.

X5Sport
Return to “New members section”
Jump to
- Forum
- ↳ Forum Discussion
- ↳ New members section
- BMW X1
- ↳ General X1 Forum (F48 - 2nd gen : 2015+)
- ↳ General X1 Forum (E84 - 1st gen : 2009+)
- BMW X2
- ↳ General X2 Forum (F39 : 2018+)
- BMW X3
- ↳ General X3 Forum (G01 - 3rd gen : 2017+)
- ↳ General X3 Forum (F25 - 2nd gen : 2011+)
- ↳ General X3 Forum (E83 - 1st gen : 2003+)
- BMW X4
- ↳ General X4 Forum (F26 - 1st gen : 2014+)
- BMW X5
- ↳ General X5 Forum (G05 4th-gen, 2018+)
- ↳ General X5 Forum (F15 3rd-gen, 2014+)
- ↳ General X5 Forum (E70 2nd-gen, 2007-2013)
- ↳ General X5 Forum (E53 1st-gen, 2000-2006)
- ↳ Problems (sub-forums for all models)
- ↳ Problems (F15 3rd-gen, 2014+)
- ↳ How-To
- ↳ Problems (E70 2nd-gen, 2007-2013)
- ↳ How-To
- ↳ Problems (E53 1st-gen, 2000-2006)
- ↳ How-To
- BMW X6
- ↳ General X6 Forum (F16 2nd-gen replacement, 2014+)
- ↳ General X6 Forum (E71 - 1st gen : 2008-2015)
- ↳ Problems (sub forums for specific models)
- ↳ Problems (E71 1st-gen 2008-2014)
- ↳ How-To
- BMW X7
- ↳ General X7 Discussion (G07, 2018+)
- General
- ↳ General car-related discussion
- ↳ Gallery
- ↳ Meets/Events
- ↳ The lounge
- ↳ On the light side
- ↳ Other Marques
- ↳ Buy and sell
- Links
- ↳ Z4-Forum