[roadkillrob]

Originally Posted by Herdalum

My CA called me the other day because he was keeping an eye out for me on the black grille situation and he told me that BMW didn’t even have anything planned for one. Apparently they either don’t like a black grille on this new X or they don’t want to bother with it and will let the aftermarket deal with it.

That would stink especially since their X5 m performance photos show the new X5 with all the m performance stuff on it and it has a black grill even though they don’t list it as an option (pic in second post of this thread shows it). Oh well I guess 10 bucks of vinyl
Wrap material will fix the problem too!

[******]

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

That would stink especially since their X5 m performance photos show the new X5 with all the m performance stuff on it and it has a black grill even though they don’t list it as an option (pic in second post of this thread shows it). Oh well I guess 10 bucks of vinyl
Wrap material will fix the problem too!

I painted mine, did you see my pics? So far it’s holding up just fine.

[bubbahead]

I just can’t see BMW not making a black grill especially after seeing it on the picture.

[******]

Originally Posted by bubbahead

I just can’t see BMW not making a black grill especially after seeing it on the picture.

Where are you seeing that? The configurator doesn’t show a black grille that I can see...


Nevermind, I found it, but that was not a BMW pic.

[roadkillrob]

Originally Posted by Herdalum

Where are you seeing that? The configurator doesn’t show a black grille that I can see...


Nevermind, I found it, but that was not a BMW pic.

That photo is a BMW marketing provided picture, here is the full set all provided by BMW to various websites https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...ts-for-2019-x5
http://www.pacificbmw.com/blog/what-...e-2019-bmw-x5/

[******]

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

That photo is a BMW marketing provided picture, here is the full set all provided by BMW to various websites https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...ts-for-2019-x5
http://www.pacificbmw.com/blog/what-...e-2019-bmw-x5/

That was a Motor Authority link, not a BMW link.

Anyway, I guess the point is, that was written a month ago and BMW is not offering them at this point in time.

[roadkillrob]

Originally Posted by Herdalum

That was a Motor Authority link, not a BMW link.

Anyway, I guess the point is, that was written a month ago and BMW is not offering them at this point in time.

Yes it was a motor authority link and a pacific BMW link - what I am saying as all those photos that are on dozens of sites are BMW marketing provided photos, but yep you are right, whatever it shows in the photo is currently not a product we can buy, so who knows maybe they will maybe they won't make one.

Is it possible the shutter system makes the grill less replaceable easily or would make it difficult and costly?

[******]

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

Yes it was a motor authority link and a pacific BMW link - what I am saying as all those photos that are on dozens of sites are BMW marketing provided photos, but yep you are right, whatever it shows in the photo is currently not a product we can buy, so who knows maybe they will maybe they won't make one.

Is it possible the shutter system makes the grill less replaceable easily or would make it difficult and costly?

No, the grille is very easy to replace. I’ve done it and painted the slats on mine. The shutter system is not part of the grille, it stays on the vehicle when you remove the grill.

[roadkillrob]

Originally Posted by Herdalum

No, the grille is very easy to replace. I’ve done it and painted the slats on mine. The shutter system is not part of the grille, it stays on the vehicle when you remove the grill.

That is good news, probably will just wrap mine, cheaper anyway than 200 bucks for new grills.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

That is good news, probably will just wrap mine, cheaper anyway than 200 bucks for new grills.

I've spoken with a number of installers and they said the finish on the grill makes it harder to wrap and it will eventually peel. Maybe they're all wrong?

[******]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

I've spoken with a number of installers and they said the finish on the grill makes it harder to wrap and it will eventually peel. Maybe they're all wrong?

I started out trying to wrap mine and was making a mess of it so I painted it with rustoleum gloss black with built in primer and designated good for plastic, which is what the grille is. You can see it on frame 55. Holding up very well so far. I just wanted the slats black, it would have been easier to paint the whole thing, though.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by Herdalum

I started out trying to wrap mine and was making a mess of it so I painted it with rustoleum gloss black with built in primer and designated good for plastic, which is what the grille is. You can see it on frame 55. Holding up very well so far. I just wanted the slats black, it would have been easier to paint the whole thing, though.

Paint will hold up better than a wrap, I was only talking about vinyl above. If I don't see a black option out there soon I'll have mine professionally painted. The goal is to have my PPF, Ceramic, ceramic tint and grill done at once.

[******]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

Paint will hold up better than a wrap, I was only talking about vinyl above.

I know, I just responded because of my attempt at vinyl. Sounds like you have a good plan.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by Herdalum

I know, I just responded because of my attempt at vinyl. Sounds like you have a good plan.

My bad, glad it worked out though. I'm really OCD about things not being done correctly which is why I'm not doing it. If I had the tools/know how it would be another story. I'm glad there are people out there willing to try things so the rest of us know how things go.

[******]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

I'm really OCD about things not being done correctly which is why I'm not doing it.

That’s the way my wife is, she was a little concerned, I heard “are you sure you want to do that” more than once, but she admitted it looked great when I got done. I’m pretty handy with a can of spray paint though, and that paint I mentioned was tremendous, so it all ended well. But yeah, if you don’t have a lot of experience it would be better to get it done by a pro.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by Herdalum

That’s the way my wife is, she was a little concerned, I heard “are you sure you want to do that” more than once, but she admitted it looked great when I got done. I’m pretty handy with a can of spray paint though, and that paint I mentioned was tremendous, so it all ended well. But yeah, if you don’t have a lot of experience it would be better to get it done by a pro.

I'm an engineer and love building/fixing/designing things. I've painted a number of things but doing something for like that I'm confident doing this grill. Hell, if I had a black to install I'd give it a go because you have no risk, so we will see how it goes when I get one.

[bubbahead]

I called my parts department and nothing listed but said BMW will definitely release it at some point in first model year.

[denniss]

Originally Posted by IND-Distribution

We will be offering the painted gloss black front grilles soon. Just waiting on the parts from Germany.

any update on this @IND-Distribution

[denniss]

ah seems like they have it.

https://ind-distribution.com/product?sku=IND-G05-FG

but $500

[arciga18]

Originally Posted by denniss

any update on this @IND-Distribution

It's on their website

[arciga18]

How about those sold out exhaust trim

[roadkillrob]

Originally Posted by denniss

ah seems like they have it.

https://ind-distribution.com/product?sku=IND-G05-FG

but $500

Ya hoping for the $150 BMW one - that is what I paid on my F15 - list on the grill is $170, so assuming black will be about the same, or will just get it painted - $330 seems expense to just paint it black, my local bodyshop will do it for half that.