[SlammedR8]

Has anyone painted their chrome front grilles to body color? More specifically to Carbon Black?

I am picking up a Carbon Black G05 next week hopefully and I normally would order the Gloss Black performance grilles (which are not available yet I'm told for the G05) but I don't think black is the right move as it will make the blue in Carbon Black very evident. So I was thinking of having my body shop spray my OEM grilles to body color.

Thoughts/pics?

[maczrool]

So you aren’t bothered by the black rails or window trim? Seems like black would be the better choice for the grill given that those are black already.

[SlammedR8]

Originally Posted by maczrool

So you aren’t bothered by the black rails or window trim? Seems like black would be the better choice for the grill given that those are black already.

Ya I thought about that already, but obviously not going to paint those body color. It makes sense for those to be black, but the grille is a pretty big piece and catches your eye way more than the roof rails or window trim IMO. That's why I'm asking for pics to see how it looks before I do it.

[samvora]

Painted grills will chip over time as you drive and then you will be left with the polka dot effect. Best option is to buy one that is made of black plastic and then painted black so even if it chips you are good. Check out the ones that most of us got from eBay.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by SlammedR8

Has anyone painted their chrome front grilles to body color? More specifically to Carbon Black?

I am picking up a Carbon Black G05 next week hopefully and I normally would order the Gloss Black performance grilles (which are not available yet I'm told for the G05) but I don't think black is the right move as it will make the blue in Carbon Black very evident. So I was thinking of having my body shop spray my OEM grilles to body color.

Thoughts/pics?

RatedX40iG05 said he painted his kidney grill and when I asked how well it was holding up, this is what he said ..

Originally Posted by RatedX40iG05

Not so well. has rock chips. didnt do a clear coat

. Even if he did add a clear coat, paint from DIY'ers is soft and will not hold up against stones, sand and whatever hits the front of your car at speed. If you want to read the post, here it is. https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...1612428&page=4

[SlammedR8]

I would not be painting this myself. I would have my body shop do it properly and with a clear coat obviously.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by SlammedR8

I would not be painting this myself. I would have
My body shop would do it properly and with a clear coat obviously.

Don't do it, you won't be happy in the long run. Heck, factory paint jobs get stone chips. Just go with the all plastic black molded grill from IND. It too will get chipped but its black through and though, no base color or metal will show. However, if body color is what you want and its not black, then you will have to get them painted.

[dream54ing]

I've wrapped mine with black vinyl. had a few chips on a road trip and all i did was rip off the slate with the chip and re wrapped it. took less than 5 mins have not had a chance to wrap the surround, but kind of like that being chrome. it compliments the headlights/foglights

[Tenac]

Here is mine with the cheap Ebay grill on. So far so good and the construction was solid, so not expecting any bad results. Bad picture but only one I have right now.

[Grentz]

I have the black grills on my CB. Looks great. It matches all the other black (roof rails, window surrounds, other front accent grills, side grills, etc.) on the car.

[MystroX5]

This is the look I wanted.

[maczrool]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

This is the look I wanted.

Agreed. Just the right amount of contrast.

[NoCompromise]

Had it done by a body shop and it looks great - £170

[maczrool]

Originally Posted by NoCompromise

Had it done by a body shop and it looks great - £170

Did they just paint over the chrome? I suspect that the base material on the chrome ones is black ABS plastic so the best thing to do would be to strip the chrome off and paint it so as to minimize the appearance of stone chips.