[Ryan@IND]

Painted reflectors are among the first additions made by any owner of a modern BMW. The unsightly orange reflectors installed in cars bound for North America instantly break the smooth lines of BMW bumpers.

IND provides painted reflectors as a cost effective solution relative to the purchase of a OEM European bumper. We start the process using the OE BMW reflectors for a factory fit, and the same paint process we would use to spray an entire car. Each reflector is sanded, prepped for paint, primed, then painted. We ensure that all lettering on the face of the reflector is completely removed providing the same finish as your factory bumper.


Many enthusiasts enjoy installing their own painted reflectors, so we’ve created this installation DIY to help.

Available for purchase on our website:
http://ind-distribution.com/ind/bran...ont-reflectors



Tools needed:
• Heat gun or Hair dryer (recommended)
• Nylon pry tool
• Adhesive remover (optional)
• 8mm Socket (optional)

Step 1:
First, turn the steering wheel to full lock, in any direction. This will expose the fender liner which you will need to pull back.




Step 2:
Remove the five 8mm screws holding the lower half of the fender liner in place.



Step 3:
Pull back the fender liner enough to access the reflector and carefully remove the black wiring connector off the reflector.







Step 4:
Wave the heat gun or hair drier over the area surrounding the reflector being careful not to stay in one spot. This will help release the adhesive tape holding it in place.



Step 5:
Using your thumb, put press the reflector through the bumper. If it doesn’t budge you did not heat it up enough.





Step 6:
Once removed make sure you get all the adhesive off the inside of the bumper. If not your new reflectors will not sit flush.




Step 7:
Remove the protective film covering the new paint IND reflector to expose the adhesive tape. Put the new reflector in place making sure you don't scratch the finish on the bumper bracket. Press from the back of the reflector and from the front bumper surrounding surface to ensure good adhesion.




Step 8:
Hook the electrical connector up to the new reflector.




Step 9:
Ensure the fender liner is back in place and insert the five 8mm screws.





Step 10:
Repeat on the other side.

[MalibuBimmer]

I'm looking forward to future threads showing how to defeat other safety devices mandated by law.

[SlipperyGary]

Yeah, I've always wanted to make my nearly black car less visible at night. It's especially helpful to be less visible in parking lots at night so people can accidentally back into your car more easily.

I guess to each their own, but this mod is definitely not for me.

[skinrock]

Curious then, what is your opinion on the fact that Euro spec doesn't have these?

Hate on them all you want, but I fail to see the benefit. Then again maybe it would have stopped the idiot from backing into my hood in a brightly lit garage.

[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by skinrock

Curious then, what is your opinion on the fact that Euro spec doesn't have these?

Hate on them all you want, but I fail to see the benefit. Then again maybe it would have stopped the idiot from backing into my hood in a brightly lit garage.

European drivers are generally much better than Americans. Driver's licenses in America are given out as if they are everyone's God given right. In Europe a prospective driver has to demonstrate competence.

I've always been amused at drivers who black out their tail lamps, too. In a rear end accident the guy who runs into them will have the perfect excuse.

[i8_it]

any diy guides you can give us in regards to blacking out the accents (fe: Kidney grills,side skirt trim, rear bumper trims)?

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

I'm looking forward to future threads showing how to defeat other safety devices mandated by law.

Well, here's one: get an old seatbelt from the scrapyard, cut away the belt, and click the tab into your belt lock. Now you don't have to wear a seatbelt, don't get any warning noises, and can accelerate into your steering wheel at full force upon impact. ;-)

Having US readers on here, I should probably state that this is meant as a joke, and not as advise to be followed!

To get back to seriousness, European spec cars don't have those wheel arch reflectors and I don't think we get t-boned any more often.

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by i8_it

any diy guides you can give us in regards to blacking out the accents (fe: Kidney grills,side skirt trim, rear bumper trims)?

Uhm ... wrapping? There's more than one thread on that here.

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

European drivers are generally much better than Americans. Driver's licenses in America are given out as if they are everyone's God given right. In Europe a prospective driver has to demonstrate competence.

I've always been amused at drivers who black out their tail lamps, too. In a rear end accident the guy who runs into them will have the perfect excuse.

True.

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

European drivers are generally much better than Americans. Driver's licenses in America are given out as if they are everyone's God given right. In Europe a prospective driver has to demonstrate competence.

I've always been amused at drivers who black out their tail lamps, too. In a rear end accident the guy who runs into them will have the perfect excuse.

Actually, at least in Germany and Switzerland, each car has to carry a registration document that contains key specs, such as tire sizes, horsepower, ngine block number, etc. Any mod you make to the car, if it's material like changing tire sizes, tinting windows, changing exhausts, smoky taillights, etc., you need to show your car to the authorities and get the change approved. If it doesn't meet official standards, you don't get it approved and have to reverse that mod. If you don't and the cops catch you, you pay a hefty fine and still have to reverse the mod.

This is supposed to keep people from doing silly stuff that makes cars unsafe or undriveable, or both.

[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by Aye-eight

Well, here's one: get an old seatbelt from the scrapyard, cut away the belt, and click the tab into your belt lock. Now you don't have to wear a seatbelt, don't get any warning noises, and can accelerate into your steering wheel at full force upon impact. ;-)

Having US readers on here, I should probably state that this is meant as a joke, and not as advise to be followed!

To get back to seriousness, European spec cars don't have those wheel arch reflectors and I don't think we get t-boned any more often.

I am amused watching the various auto repair/build/mod shows on Velocity. It seems that every one of the Velocity TV stars has either never learned what a seatbelt is, or knows because he is famous he doesn't need one.

(Just ask Princess Diana.)

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

European drivers are generally much better than Americans. Driver's licenses in America are given out as if they are everyone's God given right. In Europe a prospective driver has to demonstrate competence.

I've always been amused at drivers who black out their tail lamps, too. In a rear end accident the guy who runs into them will have the perfect excuse.

I think the reflector has more to do with regulations from the US than driving skills and I have to say it's ugly. European and Australian cars don't have them and it doesn't make the car more unsafe. By the way, there are plenty of terrible drivers in Europe too such as in France or Italy where they don't seem to follow any rules... At least in Italy the people are nice but not so much in France...

[stressdoc]

What a helpful DIY! And a beautiful product!

I prefer to match the body paint color with reflective tape of the same color. So for my YMB M3 I covered the yellow and red reflectors with a blue reflective tape. Cost was about $15. I am thinking I might do the same -- blue reflective tape -- if I get the sophisto gray w blue trim i8 I am currently looking at. Not sure, dark grey reflector to match the paint would probably look better.

In regard to the argument that the reflectors are not useful, think about bicycles and bike helmets and safety vests and even kids sneakers.

IND engineers great stuff for our bimmers. In this case, I do not see how it follows the 'freude am fahren' dictum. I would love it if IND would also provide matching color reflective options for those of us who want beautiful and functional reflectors.