If you've read our hood vent explainer, you know why venting an E36 hood helps: hot air gets out of the engine bay, more air flows through the radiator and oil cooler, and there's less pressure under the hood lifting the front end. This post is the other half. It's how to actually put the vents in.
The short version: tape the template down, cut, rivet, done. The long version is below, because cutting a hood is permanent and it's worth doing right the first time.
Pick your layout first
The BMW E36 M3 hood vent louver kit fits E36 coupe and sedan hoods, M3 and non-M, and comes three ways:
- Full 3-Piece Kit: center vent plus left and right side vents
- 2-Piece Sides: left and right side vents only
- Center Only: just the center vent
Rough sizes: the center vent is about 25" wide at the bottom, 24" at the top and 8" tall. The side vents are about 8" wide by 13" tall.
If you're chasing heat on track, the full kit gives hot air the most ways out. You don't have to do it all at once, either. Plenty of people start with the center or the sides and pick up the remaining pieces separately later.
What's in the box
- 3 hood vents (center, left and right) on the full kit
- 3 full-size (1:1) cutting templates
- Black anodized rivets
The 2-piece and center-only versions come with the matching vents and templates.
What you'll need
- A drill with a 1/8" bit
- A rivet gun
- A cutting tool of your choice, such as an angle grinder with a cutting disc
- Files and sanding gear to smooth the cut edges (optional, but worth it)
Step 1: Pull the hood or protect the engine bay
You don't want metal chips and cutting dust in your engine bay. Either take the hood off and work on it on a bench or a pair of stands, or cover everything under it really well. Off the car is easier. You can flip it, see the bracing and cut at a comfortable angle.
Step 2: Don't worry about the bracing
The E36 hood has an inner support structure underneath. It's fine to cut through it where the openings land. M3 and non-M hoods install the same way.
Step 3: Tape the templates down
The included templates are 1:1, so what you see is what you cut. Start with the center vent: its leading edge goes 12" back from the leading edge of the hood. Center it left to right, then line up the side templates, measuring from fixed points like the hood edges and centerline so left and right match. Tape everything down flat so it can't shift.
This is the step to slow down on. Measure twice, step back, look at it from the front of the car, and make sure it looks even before you mark anything.
Step 4: Mark and cut the openings
Trace the openings, then cut. Stay inside your lines. You can always take a little more off, but you can't put metal back. Take your time on the corners.
Once the openings are cut, smooth the edges with a file or some sanding so there are no sharp spots or burrs.
Step 5: Seal the raw edges
Bare cut steel will rust if you leave it. Hit the cut edges with primer or touch-up paint and let it dry before the vents go on.
Step 6: Drill and rivet the vents in
The vents come pre-drilled. Set each vent in its opening, check it sits flat and even, then use the vent's holes as your guide and drill through the hood with the 1/8" bit. Rivet them in with the supplied black anodized rivets. Work your way around the vent instead of doing one side and then the other, so it pulls down evenly.
Step 7: Reinstall and check
Put the hood back on, check the gaps and latch, and look for anything underneath that sits close to the openings. Then go drive it.
A few things people ask
Will water get in? Some will, just like some already gets in from underneath. Lots of track cars run hood vents year-round. If it's a daily, look at what sits under the openings, like the intake, fuse box or electronics.
Can I use this kit on a different car? If the vent dimensions fit your hood, yes. It can be used as a universal kit. Email us if you want to talk it through.
Coupe or sedan? Both. Same hood kit.
Pair it with fender vents
Hood vents let heat and pressure out of the engine bay. Fender vents do the same for the wheel wells. On an E36 coupe, the E36 coupe upper fender vents pull high-pressure air out from behind the front tires. They work best with a splitter that has diffusers or tunnels.
Building out the whole car? Our E36 track build guide covers cooling, aero and the cockpit in one place.
Why buy from Elian Motorsport
- Designed, made and coated in the USA, shipped from our shop in Texas
- Orders ship in 1–2 business days
- Free US shipping on orders of $100 or more, and we ship worldwide
- 30-day returns on unused items in original packaging (see our refund policy)
Not sure which layout fits your build? Email info@elianmotorsport.com. Ready to cut? Shop the E36 hood vent kit.
