Why not paint OEM chrome kidney grills?

N0Chill 335i · 07-27-2017, 10:41 AM

$40 bucks on eBay, 15 minute install, 10/10 fitment.

Materials to paint and do the job right is like $20 plus at least 5 hours of work sanding and painting and finishing...
That's a lot to save $40.

awmenard · 07-27-2017, 11:19 AM

Going to get on photoshop, I wonder what the grill would look like with a honeycomb pattern instead of bars. Will get back with some results soon

Ishan99 · 07-27-2017, 11:48 AM

See how good this looks? If you spray painted your grilles, they'd look like ?. I got these OEM glossy black grilles on Amazon from Schomp BMW in Colorado. Each were $60 so $120 for both. Do yourself a favor and buy these bad boys. You're not gonna remember how much you paid after a year. All you will remember is how ? your front end used to look and how ? it looks now.

atam1980 · 07-27-2017, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudiA4

Cool. Which "style" did you get?

I went with the 11 slats, but I actually like the 8 slat angled look a little more in hindsight. It's sportier and more aggressive looking in my eyes. So I guess I lied when I said I have no regrets.

desmat · 07-27-2017, 01:08 PM

I did this:

-Removed chrome rings from grill
-Sanded chrome part (slats were already black on mine)
-2 coats primer
-3 coats black
-4 coats clear

1 winter and it's all chipped haha

AudiA4 · 07-27-2017, 09:04 PM

Okay, so now I can't decide between "matte" and "glossy"...the only thing glossy black on the car is the window trim (and a bit around the side mirrors). Whatever I decide will set the standard for any other trim pieces, such as the front splitter.

I like the idea of "matte" but I'm leery of stains/cleaning. Thoughts?

tpo209 · 07-28-2017, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desmat

I did this:

-Removed chrome rings from grill
-Sanded chrome part (slats were already black on mine)
-2 coats primer
-3 coats black
-4 coats clear

1 winter and it's all chipped haha

I did the same and its chipped within 6 months. Looking at the bimmian ones now.

BEM-S4 · 07-28-2017, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tpo209

Quote:

Originally Posted by desmat

I did this:

-Removed chrome rings from grill
-Sanded chrome part (slats were already black on mine)
-2 coats primer
-3 coats black
-4 coats clear

1 winter and it's all chipped haha

I did the same and its chipped within 6 months. Looking at the bimmian ones now.

Mine were professionally painted and chipped as well

atam1980 · 07-28-2017, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudiA4

Okay, so now I can't decide between "matte" and "glossy"...the only thing glossy black on the car is the window trim (and a bit around the side mirrors). Whatever I decide will set the standard for any other trim pieces, such as the front splitter.

I like the idea of "matte" but I'm leery of stains/cleaning. Thoughts?

Matte trim pieces on a non-matte car look cheap to me. But that's coming from a guy that put a 30 dollar Chinese part on a German car. So maybe I just have bad taste...

AudiA4 · 07-28-2017, 04:30 PM

Update: I just purchase a set of gloss black OEM 8 slat grilles from a fellow forum member today. I'll post pictures when installed on my EB 335i!

classyfast · 07-29-2017, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

I had my chrome surrounds painted by IND so top quality job. The work was excellent but they did start to chip after a while, just nature of the beast. I'd go for the OEM set since there's no paint to chip. Pulling them is annoying you can save yourself some hassle and do it just once.

Yours were painted by IND but they still chipped? Lol screw that I would have made them replace those quick! All the damn projects they do and they can't guarantee a chip free grill? Lol. Jeez.

BEM-S4 · 07-29-2017, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classyfast

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

I had my chrome surrounds painted by IND so top quality job. The work was excellent but they did start to chip after a while, just nature of the beast. I'd go for the OEM set since there's no paint to chip. Pulling them is annoying you can save yourself some hassle and do it just once.

Yours were painted by IND but they still chipped? Lol screw that I would have made them replace those quick! All the damn projects they do and they can't guarantee a chip free grill? Lol. Jeez.

They did but those chipped too.

In their defense they used a Mercedes color per my request and satin clear to match my BBS wheels, so a bit out of the ordinary.

I don't car who paints them grilles are just prone to chipping. Not sure powder coat would even last - and I don't think you can powder coat plastic.

AudiA4 · 07-29-2017, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Quote:

Originally Posted by classyfast

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

I had my chrome surrounds painted by IND so top quality job. The work was excellent but they did start to chip after a while, just nature of the beast. I'd go for the OEM set since there's no paint to chip. Pulling them is annoying you can save yourself some hassle and do it just once.

Yours were painted by IND but they still chipped? Lol screw that I would have made them replace those quick! All the damn projects they do and they can't guarantee a chip free grill? Lol. Jeez.

They did but those chipped too.

In their defense they used a Mercedes color per my request and satin clear to match my BBS wheels, so a bit out of the ordinary.

I don't car who paints them grilles are just prone to chipping. Not sure powder coat would even last - and I don't think you can powder coat plastic.

The OEM (or even 3rd party) black gloss are integral color, not painted, so chipping isn't an issue.

BEM-S4 · 07-29-2017, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudiA4

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Quote:

Originally Posted by classyfast

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

I had my chrome surrounds painted by IND so top quality job. The work was excellent but they did start to chip after a while, just nature of the beast. I'd go for the OEM set since there's no paint to chip. Pulling them is annoying you can save yourself some hassle and do it just once.

Yours were painted by IND but they still chipped? Lol screw that I would have made them replace those quick! All the damn projects they do and they can't guarantee a chip free grill? Lol. Jeez.

They did but those chipped too.

In their defense they used a Mercedes color per my request and satin clear to match my BBS wheels, so a bit out of the ordinary.

I don't car who paints them grilles are just prone to chipping. Not sure powder coat would even last - and I don't think you can powder coat plastic.

The OEM (or even 3rd party) black gloss are integral color, not painted, so chipping isn't an issue.

Yep that's why I'm running those now. $90 OEM from Sun.

classyfast · 07-29-2017, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

They did but those chipped too.

In their defense they used a Mercedes color per my request and satin clear to match my BBS wheels, so a bit out of the ordinary.

I don't car who paints them grilles are just prone to chipping. Not sure powder coat would even last - and I don't think you can powder coat plastic.

I hear you, yeah you cant powdercoat plastic either...

AudiA4 · 08-03-2017, 08:36 PM

After all of the great feedback, I bought a set of OEM gloss black 8-blade grilles from a fellow forum-member...I couldn't be happier! [I wasn't considering the fact that not only were mine chrome, but the blades were less aggressive than the M Performance]

Thanks for the help everyone!

p.s. Now for front splitters [sans cross bar]

desmat · 08-09-2017, 05:19 PM

Painted vs M Performance

F30xx · 01-11-2018, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwiftF30

What a gay video, that plate looks terrible and that dude is so ugly just like his F30..

Lmao yea he is bro lol

07-27-2017, 10:41 AM	#23
N0Chill 335i Colonel 850 Rep 2,771 Posts Drives: 13' F30 335i M Sport AW Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MD iTrader: (2)	$40 bucks on eBay, 15 minute install, 10/10 fitment. Materials to paint and do the job right is like $20 plus at least 5 hours of work sanding and painting and finishing... That's a lot to save $40.
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07-27-2017, 11:19 AM	#24
awmenard First Lieutenant 142 Rep 322 Posts Drives: 2012 320i Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Montr%C3%A9al iTrader: (0)	Going to get on photoshop, I wonder what the grill would look like with a honeycomb pattern instead of bars. Will get back with some results soon
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07-27-2017, 11:48 AM	#25
Ishan99 Captain 115 Rep 622 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW 320i Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	See how good this looks? If you spray painted your grilles, they'd look like ?. I got these OEM glossy black grilles on Amazon from Schomp BMW in Colorado. Each were $60 so $120 for both. Do yourself a favor and buy these bad boys. You're not gonna remember how much you paid after a year. All you will remember is how ? your front end used to look and how ? it looks now. Attached Images __________________ Ishan Achar Former: 2004 BMW E46 325i Current: 2017 BMW F30 320i Follow @Black_Lux_Cars on IG
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07-27-2017, 01:08 PM	#27
desmat First Lieutenant 37 Rep 311 Posts Drives: F31 M Sport Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 F31 M Sport [0.00]	I did this: -Removed chrome rings from grill -Sanded chrome part (slats were already black on mine) -2 coats primer -3 coats black -4 coats clear 1 winter and it's all chipped haha
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07-27-2017, 09:04 PM	#28
AudiA4 Major 648 Rep 1,476 Posts Drives: 2022 G01 X3 M40i (Black/Black) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Little Rock, AR, USA iTrader: (0)	Okay, so now I can't decide between "matte" and "glossy"...the only thing glossy black on the car is the window trim (and a bit around the side mirrors). Whatever I decide will set the standard for any other trim pieces, such as the front splitter. I like the idea of "matte" but I'm leery of stains/cleaning. Thoughts? __________________ 2022 G01 X3 M40i (Black Sapphire/Black), HK, DAP, PAP, Shadow Line 2014 F30 335i (EB) 6MT, M Sport, Premium, Tech, DHP, HK, CW, M Brakes, M Exhaust 2006 E90 330i (Silver) 6MT, Sport
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07-28-2017, 04:30 PM	#32
AudiA4 Major 648 Rep 1,476 Posts Drives: 2022 G01 X3 M40i (Black/Black) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Little Rock, AR, USA iTrader: (0)	Update: I just purchase a set of gloss black OEM 8 slat grilles from a fellow forum member today. I'll post pictures when installed on my EB 335i! __________________ 2022 G01 X3 M40i (Black Sapphire/Black), HK, DAP, PAP, Shadow Line 2014 F30 335i (EB) 6MT, M Sport, Premium, Tech, DHP, HK, CW, M Brakes, M Exhaust 2006 E90 330i (Silver) 6MT, Sport
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08-03-2017, 08:36 PM	#38
AudiA4 Major 648 Rep 1,476 Posts Drives: 2022 G01 X3 M40i (Black/Black) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Little Rock, AR, USA iTrader: (0)	After all of the great feedback, I bought a set of OEM gloss black 8-blade grilles from a fellow forum-member...I couldn't be happier! [I wasn't considering the fact that not only were mine chrome, but the blades were less aggressive than the M Performance] Thanks for the help everyone! p.s. Now for front splitters [sans cross bar] Attached Images __________________ 2022 G01 X3 M40i (Black Sapphire/Black), HK, DAP, PAP, Shadow Line 2014 F30 335i (EB) 6MT, M Sport, Premium, Tech, DHP, HK, CW, M Brakes, M Exhaust 2006 E90 330i (Silver) 6MT, Sport
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08-09-2017, 05:19 PM	#39
desmat First Lieutenant 37 Rep 311 Posts Drives: F31 M Sport Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 F31 M Sport [0.00]	Painted vs M Performance Attached Images
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