Front Grill Color

[PakBMW]

Hi everyone, I have recently bought a space grey metallic 3.0si(2007). I want to paint the front grill( internal black plastic mesh) to same as my X5 color. I have called my dealer recommended guy. He's giving me a estimate of about $500-600.
Has any one done that on their X5! to me it looks pretty aggressive and cool . appreciate your input, thanks.

[Don Coffey]

$500-600 is very expensive, the grills are easy to take off and they wont take more than a couple of hours at most to paint (Not including drying). That said I agree that the grills do look better painted but would tend to go for the titanium look to give some contrast.

Don

[PakBMW]

Thanks Don, I was told that whole front bumper needs to come out, then they need to treat plastic with some abrassive agent and paint it.
I was also wondering if paint would chip off with time because of being exposed to so much wind and dust!!!! Pictures on BMW brochure has it painted and looks very cool.

[cpd1]

PakBMW,
The pictures on the BMW brochures are from a 4.8 which has a Titanium kidneys rather than the black ones on the 3.0. It is not painted to match the car colour, it is titanium irrespective of the car colour. Getting it painted is a fairly straightforward job I would think since the two parts can be removed they do need to be prepped tho $500-600 sounds toppy.
The alternative is just buying the BMW part Titanium ones for $200 since your car is space grey, check this thread. Then you can experiment with your black ones and see how the painting works out.
C

[PakBMW]

Thanks C , I did't realize that is 4.8. I did the search but didn't know they are called "kidneys". I wonder if there is a bladder on my bimmer as well some where .

Thanks again for great help folks, solves my problem.

[Gilles]

I paid only 150Euros for mine. (75 Eur Each)

[Don Coffey]

I understood it that PakBMW was talking about the mesh grills in the bumper/fender but as said before the cost seems high. I know a paint shop will tell you they are taking the bumper fender off but not sure if you really need to. Could be worth getting down on the floor and having a look. If you are able to get the mesh of and deliver to the paint shop than the cost shoud drop like a stone.

Don

[X5love]

i don't think he's talking about the kidney grills... i think he's talking about the mesh that covers the air intakes on the front bumper...

[thinson]

Krylon® Fusion for Plastic

good paint for this, also I changed my 3.0 black for the 4.8 grill one day after I got my X, if you want the old set PM me $25 use them as a test set

[PakBMW]

Hmm, Now you got me confused between organs in my X5.lol
X5love is right. I guess I'll have to paint it then!
SAV do you have the old "black" grill? where do you buy Krylon fusion for plastic?
thanks