DIY: M3 remove and install hood vents

CCL16M3 wrote

Since your kind of on the topic, what is the purpose of the passenger side vent since its a closed rubber piece???

I see no purpose except to hold excess heat in the engine bay. I removed mine.

Great post. Used the DIY to solve 2 problems:

1. Top painted plate was the source of a rattle
2. Polishing the hood and restoring the black to the plastic mesh piece.

Thanks!

stupid question but does BMW make any of these that are different? Specifically the edition ones that are black chrome?

OilPatch wrote

stupid question but does BMW make any of these that are different? Specifically the edition ones that are black chrome?

No. IND can paint it any color for you but not black chrome.

Snow M3 wrote

I just did mine but I didn't have to go under the hood. That seems way too much work. I just pried them up from the top, starting at the thin rim part (toward the front) and worked my way back (toward the windshield). There are tabs on windshield side so starting on that end would be too hard and could even break the OEM vent. My hood vents are from AutoTecknic and they don't fit 99%. I'd say 95% but still looks pretty good.

Be careful with taking it off. Like this post ^^^ above states. There are tabs that the OEM vent slides onto (rear portion near windshield). Once you release the "thin part" (either by prying up like post above states or from underneath with a screw driver) you need to wiggle the larger part in a forward motion pulling it away from the windshield DO NOT pull straight up it will break the OEM vent.

When releasing the "thin small part" of the vent I went from underneath and used a screwdriver. The tabs of the OEM vent actually insert into the plastic OEM beehive black vent. If your car is not black (like the plastic bee hive vent ) you will see the OEM vent tabs, as they will be the same color as your car. With a small blade screw driver pry the tabs to release them, very little pressure is needed. Then push each tab up with the screwdriver popping them out. Will make a crack sound when they pop out. Prying from above may damage the clips on the OEM vent and also damage the paint. IMOP.

Just did this. Made the mistake of going under the hood and removed the rubber seal. Took me forever to put it back on.

Then just followed this:

steven_s wrote

Just did this. Made the mistake of going under the hood and removed the rubber seal. Took me forever to put it back on.

Then just followed this:

when removing the vent, make sure you put a rag (one that you would use to polish your bimmer) around the hood vent when removing, not to scrape the paint or your hood itself. Besides that the above method in the video is great and is what i used to install my carbon fiber hood vents !

Good luck to everyone doing it!

hayes180 wrote

when removing the vent, make sure you put a rag (one that you would use to polish your bimmer) around the hood vent when removing, not to scrape the paint or your hood itself. Besides that the above method in the video is great and is what i used to install my carbon fiber hood vents !

Good luck to everyone doing it!

Thanks for the tip! Where did you pick up your carbon fiber hood vents from?

soredogg wrote

Thanks for the tip! Where did you pick up your carbon fiber hood vents from?

soredogg,

here you go https://www.bimmian.com/AutoCarbon-Carbon-Fiber-Hood-Vents-for-BMW-E92-or-E93-3-Series