if you think this is strange to charge 40% more for a different color (titanium was sport package deal, if i remember correctly), check out the rear wheelwell flare between the diesel E53 and the "is" E53 - the diesel version (slightly different) is about $20, the "is" version is about $180!!!
I haven't seen them being a maintenance item, even though a buddy of mine at work has his busted on his 4.4 - but he had a tree fallen onto his car, and he did not bother to fix any of the other dents either...
EDIT: I will stand corrected - those are the bumper mesh thingies you are talking about - they do take a hit and they are plastic, so they break... we had a thread somewhere, and you can go to a Home Depot or whatever, buy yourself a metal mesh and paint whatever color you wish - definetely will not break!!!...
On my buddy's car, the nostrils on the hood were busted, and i incorrectly referred to them originally... sorry... getting old...
