Protection measures!

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2012 BMW 328xi, 2011 BMW 328xi, 2010 BMW 328xi, and 2009 BMW 328xi. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Wear safety goggles
Wear protective gloves

IMPORTANT: To prevent the material from tapering, do not drill out the rivet head.

Carefully spot-drill rivet head with a larger drill bit/countersink

Fig 1: Drilling Rivet Head Using Larger Drill Bit
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Avoid paintwork damage
Knock rivet head away with a chisel

Fig 2: Knocking Rivet Head Using Chisel
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Drive through rivet shank into cavity, remove if necessary

Fig 3: Identifying Cavity Of Rivet Shank
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Clean component, eliminate paintwork damage if necessary

Fig 4: Identifying Cavity
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

If the rivet shank can be removed:

IMPORTANT: To avoid corrosion, stop chips/debris by means of cavity sealing.
Preserving cavity

Fig 5: Preserving Cavity
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

If the rivet shank cannot be removed:

WARNING: Risk of injury!

IMPORTANT: To avoid corrosion and rattling noises, stop chips/debris and rivet nut shank with cavity foam.
Remove foam remnants with isohexane (benzine).

Fig 6: Preserving Cavity
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Stop rivet shank by means of specific foaming
Set rivet nut with hand rivet gun
NOTE: Fit rivet nut as quickly as possibly, ideally before the cavity foam hardens.