Did you look at this?

Link

It shows good detail of the clips on the reverse side of the grilles.

 

Try a little heat with a hair dryer or heat gun and then use a little Silicone spray.

 

So I broke one of the clips...and found it nearly impossible to remove the vents...so I'm going to take it to the dealer tomorrow and have the service dept help me out.

Damn.

 

You CAN separate the painted part from the black part behind it and if you are successful in doing so it makes taking the black part out a breeze, but on some cars the painted part is clipped so tightly to the black part that you will break it trying to get it out and that is a LOT more expensive than a 50 cent plastic clip. Hence the recommendation to do it as one piece, but every car is different so doesn't hurt to try to separate the two.

 

Thanks for the info. But the whole d*mn vent seems clipped so tightly together that the whole process seems like it won't happen unless I break it and pull it off in pieces. I'm just going to sneak into the service bay at my dealer tomorrow and get some help...

Unless you can provide some more helpful hints/advice, that's the plan...

 

To remove vent assembly, which is made up of two joined parts: the ventilation grill (it is painted car color) and the underlying part called the retaining frame which is unpainted and is flat black in color. These two plastic pieces are held together by means of four little molded tabs--they just snap together… The complete vent assembly (these two pieces together) is attached to the car body by 4 diabolical female attachments on the retaining frame that clip onto 4 male pins on the car body. Removing this vent assembly from you car has been the subject of many inquiries and articles on the Cayman Club site--even many Porsche dealers don’t know how to do it, and even break parts in the process of trying. But, I have a foolproof method for you. Attach some masking tape to the ventilation grill --you are going to be pulling on it.(see photo #2) Then, insert a small flat-bladed screw driver between the ventilation grill and the retaining frame at the point indicated in the next photo (photo # 3). Pry the grill and frame apart at the same time you pull on the masking tape. As soon as you feel the grill pull away from the frame at that pry point, move the screw driver up to the next pry point: (photo #4). A little more prying and pulling and retaining frame the ventilation grill will pop right out. Now you are looking at the Retaining frame still firmly attached to the car --but now the diabolical attaching points are no longer hidden--they are right there for you to play with. Locate all 4 of them.(photo #5) Just gently pry up the locking tabs, one at a time, while you pull the frame away from the car (photo #6). (Note: if you want to “de-snork” your car, this is your chance. Read all about the pros and cons on the Cayman Club web site.)

Note: plastic parts are more flexible when warm. Do not try to pry cold pieces apart--something will break. Use a hair dryer to warm things up, and some silicone lubricant or liquid soap.

P-mail me your E-mail address and I'll forward the photos referenced above--file size too big to be inserted here...

 

jcopeland you should write this up as another article for the ARTICLES section and upload the photos there.

 

Before & After...

[Clear lenses are on the way]

 

Looking good



Looks better with the black vents IMO - glad you got it worked out.

Now, it's Miller time :beer:

 

Black vents look great.

 

Now you need black spears. Just say no to the VW Beetle look.

 

Black spears? VW look?

 

The new vents look awesome!

 

I love it, looks great. you have excellent taste in colors.

 

:cheers: Thanks man. When I first got the idea of black vents- I did a search on here, and your car was the first to show up- and that solidified my decision.

 

How did you paint the vent black?

 

I don't think he painted them, he ordered them from the dealer in BLACK...

 

My son is the lead painter at the local BMW shop. His advice (using a silicone lube....) - NEVER EVER use any silicone spray on a (or around ) painted part. You or your repair shop will never be able to repaint it. Even silicone removers won't do a complete job. He also said this applies to Armour-All & poducts like it.