[dream54ing]

Originally Posted by Mieleo

Is this grill two parts or just one part?
Can it separate the chrome and slot ?:

from what i read/seen, its 1 piece

[Mieleo]

Originally Posted by dream54ing

from what i read/seen, its 1 piece

Ahh....
Original grill is 2 parts..
I just wanna black slat and leave silver original chrome :

[Mieleo]

Originally Posted by bizfiend

Ya.*
$400 CAD Total including $50 customs tax.*

A real steal for the Taiwanese quality and fast FedEx shipping, and I didn't have to be home to sign for it. They left it on the porch.*
Installed 10 mins later.*

I couldn't be more satisfied.

Now waiting for ceramic coating at the end of the month.

Hi
Is this grill two parts or one part?
Because I just wanna black slats with my original silver chrome .

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by bizfiend

They still have a target market of rich individuals who will gladly over pay for top notch quality. Not made in China

My IND painted grill is not top notch quality for the record. It's nice but really nothing special. I have several chips in the paint which is very soft and I wouldn't waste $500 on one from them again.

[bizfiend]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

My IND painted grill is not top notch quality for the record. It's nice but really nothing special. I have several chips in the paint which is very soft and I wouldn't waste $500 on one from them again.

That's what happens when you're one of the first ones to rock it.
And that's $500USD which is equivalent to about $10,000CAD

[bizfiend]

Originally Posted by Mieleo

Hi
Is this grill two parts or one part?
Because I just wanna black slats with my original silver chrome .

The slats are connected to the rim of the grille, you can't take it apart and switch them.

[dream54ing]

Originally Posted by bizfiend

That's what happens when you're one of the first ones to rock it.
And that's $500USD which is equivalent to about $10,000CAD

$10,000cad??? more like $673.63cad

[dream54ing]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

My IND painted grill is not top notch quality for the record. It's nice but really nothing special. I have several chips in the paint which is very soft and I wouldn't waste $500 on one from them again.

I wonder if it was the oem one, would it have chipped.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by dream54ing

I wonder if it was the oem one, would it have chipped.

No, not as easy. Plastic is still plastic but topped with soft paint is very soft.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by dream54ing

I wonder if it was the oem one, would it have chipped.

IND literally just paints the OEM one so yes it's OEM. The true BMW OEM black one would not if the whole thing was made from black material (plastic)

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by bizfiend

That's what happens when you're one of the first ones to rock it.
And that's $500USD which is equivalent to about $10,000CAD

yep, I knew it would happen but not as badly or fast. The chips are pretty big. I literally uses Carbon Black touch up paint to blend the areas which has worked decently so far

[dream54ing]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

IND literally just paints the OEM one so yes it's OEM. The true BMW OEM black one would not if the whole thing was made from black material (plastic)

ah, I see. so if was oem black, it wont chip or the chip wont be as noticeable since it will chip black instead of chrome.

when you said it wasnt top notch, i thought it was a softer plastics that can easily chip. so just the paint. thanks for the clarification.

[dream54ing]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

yep, I knew it would happen but not as badly or fast. The chips are pretty big. I literally uses Carbon Black touch up paint to blend the areas which has worked decently so far

black sharpie!!!

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by dream54ing

ah, I see. so if was oem black, it wont chip or the chip wont be as noticeable since it will chip black instead of chrome.

when you said it wasnt top notch, i thought it was a softer plastics that can easily chip. so just the paint. thanks for the clarification.

assuming the OEM one is made that way yes.

painting was fine for the most part. there were a few small imperfections but rocks made those look negligible

even my Cerakoted one fell to some rock hits

[LexxM3]

Chipping of the painted grills ... hence why I asked for protection suggestions in another thread that seems to be dead. Before I put mine on (the eBay Taiwanese one), I would like to protect it. Choices seem to be ceramic coating or clearcoat. Any thoughts or suggestions on best approach?

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

Chipping of the painted grills ... hence why I asked for protection suggestions in another thread that seems to be dead. Before I put mine on (the eBay Taiwanese one), I would like to protect it. Choices seem to be ceramic coating or clearcoat. Any thoughts or suggestions on best approach?

Ceramic won’t protect it from chips. A few coats of clear coat is about the best you can do besides using a PPF on it.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

Ceramic won’t protect it from chips. A few coats of clear coat is about the best you can do besides using a PPF on it.

Thanks. I was reaching a similar conclusion, although apparently the industrial ceramic coatings, used on airplanes and guitar finishes amongst other applications, might be applicable — but that stuff will kill you without proper protection.

PPF seems to run contrary to native or painted parts here — might as well vinyl wrap in black per X54TH's approach.

So I am going to be trying clearcoat. Bought 3 types, don't know which will be best yet.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

Ceramic won’t protect it from chips. A few coats of clear coat is about the best you can do besides using a PPF on it.

PPF works just not on the slats as I found out sadly

[X54TH]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

Thanks. I was reaching a similar conclusion, although apparently the industrial ceramic coatings, used on airplanes and guitar finishes amongst other applications, might be applicable — but that stuff will kill you without proper protection.

PPF seems to run contrary to native or painted parts here — might as well vinyl wrap in black per X54TH's approach.

So I am going to be trying clearcoat. Bought 3 types, don't know which will be best yet.

My only thing with wrapping is you can tell it's been wrapped. Don't get me wrong it's good but that will have its challenges as well.

I guess we still don't know what the Black OEM grill will be like.

For now I have a black grill and black badging on route from IND.

[dream54ing]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

Thanks. I was reaching a similar conclusion, although apparently the industrial ceramic coatings, used on airplanes and guitar finishes amongst other applications, might be applicable — but that stuff will kill you without proper protection.

PPF seems to run contrary to native or painted parts here — might as well vinyl wrap in black per X54TH's approach.

So I am going to be trying clearcoat. Bought 3 types, don't know which will be best yet.

I did a few clear coats on previous auto projects, not sure if it would make a big difference, but its held up so far. wet sand in between coats. Ive also used a few different types hoping to give it more protection (UV)

I'm sure IND grills also used clear coat, but still didnt give the adequate protection from road debris.

https://www.amazon.com/Spray-High-Gl...=car-search-20

and

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MBFOH7Y...f-01df0530b2b5

[dream54ing]

Originally Posted by X54TH

My only thing with wrapping is you can tell it's been wrapped. Don't get me wrong it's good but that will have its challenges as well.

I guess we still don't know what the Black OEM grill will be like.

For now I have a black grill and black badging on route from IND.

I'm planning to wrap gloss black vinyl instead of painting or buying a entire new grill. Keeping the outer grill chrome and only wrapping the vertical slates. prefer that look with mineral white. If it doesnt work out, worst case i can purchase the all black.

watch a lot of videos, but you have any advice/tips on wrapping, I never wrapped before

[peter11]

The link does not seem to work anymore. When I search Ebay I think I found it but it is just as much as the IND grill. I thought this one was supposed to be way way cheaper. Right?

edit: found it again on ebay. New link: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/For-BMW-G05-...NcyA6G&vxp=mtr