Black front trims for Silver X5
 

I'd like to embark on a project to have my silver X5 front trims converted to black color like the first pic. I love that look - black kidney grill, black hood vents and black bumper mesh. Any recommendations on spray paint to use that would stick and look nice? Currently my X5 looks like the second pic.

long-term use of 3 types of coatings that have lasted...2 on plastic, one on steel
 

I painted the "Bowtie" emblem on both the front grille of my '04 Chevy 2500HD, and the emblem on the lifthatch on my '09 Chevy HHR Panel with Krylon Fusion (for plastic), back in 2011. I didn't like the original gold color, so I painted them gloss black...and they're still perfect 13 years later.

I also painted the plastic wheelcovers on the HHR with white Krylon Fusion at the same time, but after a few years the brake heat, brake dust, and road effects started chipping away the paint, so I replaced them with a second set of factory "argent silver" covers I got from a friend.

The Krylon Fusion paint seems to work fine when on a surface not exposed to really harsh conditions (wheels live a tough life), and the newest Krylon Fusion (5x?) will probably work OK for your hood vents and grille kidneys.

P.S.: at the same time I painted the "Bowties" and wheels in summer '2011, I also used Plasti Dip Rubberized Matte Black Spray on the plastic grille of the HHR. It's held up pretty well for 150k miles, but could use a touch-up (looks OK from 10 feet, so I don't bother with it. It's a backup vehicle, any way).

I sprayed the steel fenders of my home-built 4'x8' squareback camping trailer with Herculiner Spray-On Truck Bed Liner in 2013, and it has also lasted OK, but I don't think I'd use it on plastic parts.

Awesome, thanks for those valuable tips:thumbup:.

Why don't you just buy black kidneys and bumper mesh?

Genuine BMW black bumper grills: https://www.fcpeuro.com/BMW-parts/X5...t=6&b=11&d=589

Genuine BMW black top of hood grills:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/BMW-parts/X5...t=6&b=11&d=589

For kidney grills, no one makes QUALITY black grills for the e53, but you can find plenty of questionable ones on ebay in both matte and satin finish. I'm on my third set but I've yet to find ones that fit as well as OEM. Mine regularly pop off if I close the hood too hard or simply go through a (touchless) car wash. Even when mounted they don't sit properly.

If I do this again, I'm going to buy some OEM titan ones and paint them. (I figure painting titan will be easier than painting plastic chrome)

Thanks for sharing your experience. The parts on the car are in great shape and fit perfectly. I'd rather just spray paint them with Krylon Fusion 5X black ($8 a can at Lowes) which is guaranteed to not peel, than buy new ones that may have fitment issues.

It'll peel. Guaranteed.

Okie dokie :D. FCPEuro informs this black air inlet grill on the hood fits only the 3.0. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...ck-51137113729

I thought the body trims are the same size on all E53? Surely, the hood and related parts are the same, no?

Our 2001 came like that...at the time long ago I didn't really know what was going to be 'on it', as we had a semi-local NJ Dlr hunt it down, as we wanted a 5 MT 3.0 'Sport', etc ...

Still runs v well 23 yrs later, still looks good, esp from a distance. ;)
GL, mD

for the cost, I'd still recommend painting the grilles
 

Not so much. My Krylon-painted emblems haven't peeled at all after 13 years of constant exposure to the elements.

The gloss black has changed to a matte black (maybe I should've overcoated them with UV-resistant clear?), and there are rock chips on the front emblem ('04 Chevy 2500HD), and only dirt and leaf litter marring the appearance of the rear emblem ('09 HHR Panel). Not bad for a $5 can of spray paint (2011 pricing).
Attachment 84485 worth the money