BMW F32, F33 and F36 mods: what is worth fitting first

, 7 min read, by bmwmods

Owners of the F32, F33 and F36 4 Series most often change the kidney grilles, mirror caps and boot spoiler first, then add a front lip, side skirt extensions and a rear diffuser. Grilles and mirror caps start from around €65 a set, most spoilers, lips and diffusers sit between around €105 and €140 each, and wireless CarPlay starts from around €245, all at the time of writing. Inside, the usual jobs are small fixes for worn door pulls and gear selector trim, from around €11.

Everything listed for the car is in our 4 Series F32, F33 and F36 collection.

Which 4 Series do you have?

Three bodies share this generation:

  • F32: the two-door coupé, launched in 2013.
  • F33: the convertible with a folding hardtop, from 2014.
  • F36: the Gran Coupé, a five-door with a lifting tailgate, from 2014.

The body code matters most at the back. The boot lid is a different shape on each body, so boot spoilers are sold per code. Front lips, side skirts, diffusers, grilles and mirror caps are generally shared across all three. If unsure, see how to find your BMW chassis code.

The facelift (LCI) arrived in 2017. It brought revised head and tail lights, which is why a few lighting parts come in separate pre-LCI and LCI versions. Our LCI vs pre-LCI explainer shows how to tell them apart.

The third question is the bumper. M Sport cars have different front and rear bumpers from the standard trim lines, and lips and diffusers are shaped to one bumper style. Compare the listing photos and fitment notes with your own car before ordering.

Grilles and mirror caps

These are the two quickest changes to the front of the car.

Check first: mirror caps come either as full replacement caps or as overlays that stick over the originals, so read which type a listing is. Fitting: grilles are held by plastic tabs and push in from the front once the old ones are released. Work slowly, because the tabs snap easily.

Front lip, side skirts and rear diffuser

These three lower the visual line of the car without changing the bumpers, and are usually fitted as a set in one finish.

Check first: the bumper style, as above, and for the diffuser your engine. The exhaust tailpipe layout differs between models, so the cut-outs have to match your car. Fitting: lips and skirt extensions fix along the underside of the bumper and sills, normally with screws and adhesive tape, so expect small holes in places you cannot see. A diffuser replaces or covers the lower section of the rear bumper. Our view: do a dry test fit before peeling any tape.

Boot spoilers

Pick the listing for your body code first, then the style: M4-style, M Performance style or PSM style.

Fitting: these spoilers are normally bonded to the boot lid with automotive tape. Degrease the paint, mark the position with masking tape and press firmly along the full length.

Lighting

This is where the pre-LCI and LCI split matters most, so check your build year first.

Check first: that your car already has fog lights, and which connector and build year a listing names. Fitting: fog lights are reached from behind the bumper, and tail lights unbolt from inside the boot. Some replacement lights need coding to clear bulb warnings, so read the listing notes. For exterior lighting, check local rules.

Worn interior fixes

Two parts of this cabin wear first: the door pulls, which go sticky and peel, and the trim on the automatic gear selector, which scratches.

Check first: left or right hand drive, because several interior trims are handed, and the button layout on your selector against the listing photo. Fitting: these fit over the worn part, so there is no dismantling. Clean the surface well first.

Screens and CarPlay

There are two routes to adding CarPlay.

Check first: which iDrive system the car has (the listings name CIC, NBT or EVO) and your current screen size. Fitting: both routes mean removing trim around the screen and head unit and plugging a harness in between. It is reversible, but set aside two to three hours for a first attempt.

Quick comparison

Part Typical price Fitting difficulty Reversible
Gear selector or door pull covers €11 to €18 Very easy Yes
Grilles or mirror caps Around €65 Easy Yes, keep the originals
Boot spoiler Around €105 Easy, but one chance to place it With effort
Front lip, skirts, diffuser Around €140 each Moderate Mostly, screw holes remain
CarPlay module or screen €245 to €410 Moderate to hard Yes
Tail lights Around €475 Moderate Yes, keep the originals

Where to start

For a first-time owner on a budget:

  1. Fix what is worn inside. The covers cost less than €20 each.
  2. Fit black kidney grilles. It is the cheapest exterior change.
  3. Add matching mirror caps.
  4. Choose a boot spoiler for your body code.
  5. Do the lip, skirts and diffuser together once you have confirmed your bumper style.
  6. Leave CarPlay and tail lights until last. They cost the most.

Most exterior styling parts above ship from our EU warehouse, usually about 4 to 8 working days within the EU. Parts shipping from Asia take longer. See our fit guarantee for what happens if a part does not fit.

FAQ

Do BMW F30 3 Series parts fit the F32 4 Series?

Many interior parts do, because the two cars share most of the dashboard and centre console, and the mirror caps are shared as well. Bumpers, lips and boot spoilers are different, so buy those for the 4 Series body code.

Will M4 parts fit my standard 4 Series?

No. The M4 F82 and F83 have wider wings and their own bumpers, so M4 body parts do not line up. The M4-style parts in this guide are shaped for the standard F32, F33 and F36.

How do I know if my 4 Series is pre-LCI or LCI?

The facelift arrived in 2017, so earlier cars are pre-LCI. Around the changeover, go by the build date and not the registration year.

Is carbon look the same as carbon fibre?

No. Carbon look is a printed pattern on the part with a glossy top coat. It gives the appearance of a carbon weave at a lower price, but it is not real carbon fibre.