Rig, I've got a Titanium painted one (TMV's actually, the one that is on the front of his X5 thats been shown few times in this thread), which was the one that was used as the template for all these replicas, AND I have my original which I had painted Kalahari Beige to match my X5 paint. I MUCH prefer the Kalahari Beige painted one since it matches my body panels.
I have the silver one on now for the last few months but everytime I look at it, it just seems to not match the X5 as well as the beige painted... SO IF you have a lighter color (basically anything other than black) then think of getting the deco skid plate painted the same color as the vehicle body is... its a nice compliment.

so you can compare pics in the first post and you can see a beige on beige body vs a silver on beige body. See first post.

OH and forget about using the 3M tape to hold it perfect to the bumper... it wont last/happen. the replicas are softer than the factory material and even the factory does not mate exactly with the shape of the front bumper curves. I have two factory skid plates and a replica so I have a good comparison basis. Its not even noticeable how little gap there is really when you're standing in front, or hell driving BY the front of the vehicle. So dont worry about a little gap. its so shaded in the spots where it attaches, it will be fine.

I"ve not plasti-dipped mine, mine is still replica black finish. so I can't offer any advise on the release agent portion...
I may end up selling my replica since I have two factory plates, BUT I have to say this replica seems to be built better than the factory... so one day I may have to get it painted/installed.

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I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

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'91 850i
'05 X5 4.4i
'09 Clubman S