Hi all,

have had a search of the forum but can't find anything.

I have a 1st Gen MCS with the lower aero grills fitted (lucky me - they sound like a pain to fit!) but the previous owner left the chrome upper grill on.

Having bought a black upper aero grill off ebay and starting to follow instructions on here on how to remove the chrome one, I've hit a brick wall and can see why the chrome one was left on - spot lights!

I have two spotlights, each mounted on a bracket that slots nicely through the chrome grill. In order to remove the chrome grill I need to take the spotlights off first. This is proving impossible. The brackets are held in place by three studs that appear bomb proof, no amount of wedging a flat head screwdriver underneath seems to move them, nor are they suited to any tool as there have nowhere to get any purchase on them to unscrew (thats even if they unscrew!).

Does anybody have any experience in removing spotlights? I want my 3 grills to match up!

Many thanks,

JFM

If they are riveted in they require drilling out with a drill bit slightly larger than the ID of the hole in the rivet.

For example get a set of drill bits and place them on the rivet and usage which one is big enough to overlap the hole and some more. Once drilled out the brackets will come free.

This is an example of how it could be done, but tailor to tools etc that you require.
http://www.sailingtexas.com/chowtoremoverivet.html

PS. you will need to cut the aero grill to allow for the spot lamps.

The BMW spotlight fitting pdf file link below, shows that pop rivets are used to secure the bracket which as said must be drilled out.
If you do any drilling.......take care as when the drill bit breaks through or you may put a dent in the bonnet outer skin from behind, if possible place a block of wood in between anywhere where the drill may hit to cushion any impact!
http://www.motoringfile.com/howto/Driving_Lights_902.pdf