Removal of rear centre diffuser

[HandzsomeRob]

Originally Posted by k3silk

+1 Im looking for one also I don't want to bring carbon on the outside of the car.

Same, I just had my Carbon Diffusor wrapped, but a plastic would be ideal.

[chrisho68]

Been a few weeks since install but forgot to add the promised picture!

[Charlie_Big_Potato]

Originally Posted by k3silk

+1 Im looking for one also I don't want to bring carbon on the outside of the car.

+3. No carbon here too

[Bingly]

Originally Posted by MoonstoneM5

+3. No carbon here too

Zubek Was nice enough to tell me where he purchased his plastic diffuser. Sterckenn is the manufacturer and distributor in EU and IND is the distributor in the US.

https://ind-distribution.com/product?sku=SN-F10-D1

You can select plastic under finish. IND currently lists it for $568

[604f10m5]

Thanks for the instructions. I finished my center m performance diffuser. Fits like a glove. Broke some clips off the stock ones. No biggie won’t be going back on any time soon. Nylon washers are a no brainer.

[OneExtra]

Does anyone know what size washers

[Dwaynos]

Originally Posted by OneExtra

Does anyone know what size washers

I used these, i got the M10 ones and are perfect. I know the thread is only M6 but the original washers are large and smaller nylon ones would look stupid and also give a smaller mating surface, potentially damaging the carbon.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FLAT-BLAC...V44D-WBPr7s29A

[OneExtra]

Thanks mate how many do I need

[Dwaynos]

Originally Posted by OneExtra

Thanks mate how many do I need

3 If I remember correctly.

[OneExtra]

Originally Posted by Dwaynos

3 If I remember correctly.

Worked perfectly

[F10CPROG]

I love these centre diffusers... I'd like a gloss black one? Any recommendations?��

[Chaman]

This was an extremely helpful thread.

As mentioned in this thread, I had to use a nylon pry bar to undo the diffuser from the bumper.

I couldn’t figure any way to undo the clips that hold the factory plastic piece in place without taking it off And being able to work from the outside towards the middle from the back of the diffuser

[Larry77]

Here is a plastic option I've been looking at. I would prefer a paint matched one piece rear diffuser myself.

Plastic Rear Diffuser

[Cylenterok]

Originally Posted by hybrid_eg

thought i'd comment.. just did this last night in under 15 minutes the other night with BMW Motorsports piece..

Gentleman Jack on Rocks is optional

I used a panel removal tool to remove 4 plastic clips holding the center section of diffuser. In the middle you have three heavy duty bolts, will need star impact socket to get them off and little bit off pressure as they have thread lock.. Once hardware is out, simply wiggle the unit down and inward towards front of the car to slowly release plastic tabs holding it to upper section of diffuser.. (painted part).

The OEM unit fit like a glove, align it all back together and reinstall the hardware.. I WOULD RECOMMEND GETTING NEOPRENE BLACK WASHERS for heavy duty bolts so you dont have direct bolt to carbon contact..

Thank you for this DIY. I did mine today. Took about 30 min to complete.

[some_idiot]

Agree with the others here. 30 minute job. Fairly simple. T27 torx bit (though I stripped the bolts going back in - maybe it's slightly bigger than T27?) and an angled panel removal tool will make this an easy job.

I removed the screws first, which I think actually hurt me. I would remove the 4 tabs from the side first. Then go around prying the center from the rest of the diffuser using your panel removal tools.

[lucid21]

I just did this and my vote is to remove the entire diffuser and then the center section. After reading this thread, I tried to remove the center section without removing the entire diffuser. I understand several people did that without breaking any tabs but mine would not release after apply a good deal of force with the appropriate tools. I did not want to find out where that limit is and just pulled the entire thing off, only to be surprised how easy that was.

Moral of the story is that it is VERY easy to remove the entire diffuser. No need to fight/force things from under the car to get just the center section out IMO. Then you will have the needed space to stick a screw driver into those 4-5 tabs and release them without damaging either side. If you break off one of the tabs from the painted section, that would not be good.

[mickqld]

Hi, I thought I would add to this discussion a little. I looked this thread up for help, which it was, but I needed more info about the three fasteners (bolts)
Back story: last year I got a pretty deep scratch on the rear bumper, offside way down low. I backed over a star picket sticking up about 4" arrgghh. Anyway, took it to a paint shop for repair. Fast forward to last week. After returning from a 2100 km road trip the rear diffuser was hanging down a bit. I had a look and the three front screws/bolts were missing, and only three of the four press-in expanding rivets were left. I had no idea what was supposed to be in the front three holes. Anyway, after a bit of searching I found the RealOEM parts web site https://realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar...95#51128055229 From here I got the correct part numbers and descriptions of the fasteners. To be specific they are:
No. Description Supp. Qty From To Part Number
16 Expanding rivet D = 8MM 6 -- 51471911992
18 Hex bolt with washer M6X16-U2-ZNS3 3 -- 07119902913
18 Torx screw with washer ISA M6X18 3 -- 07146978618

So, notice that there are two Item 18, a hex headed M6x16 and a Torx M6x18 Either will work, they must have a large flat washer. Note that they are M6 METRIC bolts, not AF.
Rather than order from the Dealer I ordered some bolts from Amazon. M6-1.0 x 16mm Flanged Button Head Socket Cap Screw Bolts, Allen Socket Drive, Stainless Steel 18-8 (304), Black Finish. Temporarily I'm using some M6x16 Zinc plated screws to hold it together.

[M5Rick]

Can't find a 2 or 3 fin centre diffuser anywhere, I want to keep the car colour bumper bottom on.

[m5rosco]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Can't find a 2 or 3 fin centre diffuser anywhere, I want to keep the car colour bumper bottom on.

If you want to buy from a UK seller then here you go.....

https://www.ssdd-motorsport.com/auto...Ox0XkVhjFri6Z0

Or buy direct from Autotecknic and take a gamble on import taxes.

It's very very high quality. You really wouldn't know its not a genuine BMW M Perf part.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by m5rosco

If you want to buy from a UK seller then here you go.....

https://www.ssdd-motorsport.com/auto...Ox0XkVhjFri6Z0

Or buy direct from Autotecknic and take a gamble on import taxes.

It's very very high quality. You really wouldn't know its not a genuine BMW M Perf part.

A bit pricey but thanks anyway.

[m5rosco]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

A bit pricey but thanks anyway.

Autotecknic had 20 or 25% off everything until yesterday! You won't find better quality, and it's less than half the price of BMW.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by m5rosco

Autotecknic had 20 or 25% off everything until yesterday! You won't find better quality, and it's less than half the price of BMW.

I'm looking through their stock.