Black Kidney Grill
 

Does anyone know where to buy pre painted black kidney grills. Ive searched and looked but couldn't find anything. Is there any sites that sell these. Also for those of you that have painted yours what was the cost about?

Thanks, Ben

paint them at the dealer cost me around $120

They are fairly easy to take off... why dont you just take them off and paint them yourself and save some money..

it'll probably cost you no more than 10 $ if you do it yourself

I have seen Matte Black Grill on the M3, and I would suggest them if you want them black.
Also, I had seen black grill's for the E70 online, but don't remember the site. If I remember, I will let you know. If you want Carbon Fiber, they are about $1200. :dunno:

I looked everywhere for the 'blackout' grills as they are called. Nobody has them yet for the E70, only E53. Do not attempt to paint them yourself! It's not just a matter of buying a can of spray paint! As mentioned in another thread I posted, hardly any body shop was willing to do it as they didn't want to be responsible when it started peeling off. I finally found someone who can do it. He suggested that they have to sand it down, use a special primer and use a paint specifically designed to bond to chrome. And what's more, he guarantees his work. I should be picking up mine in a couple of days...I'll be sure to post pics! :thumbup: I found another company willing to refinish the grills with carbon fiber for $650!

Ok, sounds good. Cant wait to see how yours looks and deffenetly post pics:thumbup:

Frankly, if I wanted matt black, I would just paint them myself, as matt black is the easiest color to paint... much easier than a gloss black. The key thing is to sand the chrome parts of the grill with some fine sandpaper (220 or finer), and use some appropriate primer. If you paint them yourself, them you can easily re-paint or touch them up with a perfect match if you get stone chips later, which you would not be able to do yourself if you have them professionally painted.

Can u Paint Plastic Chrome Grilles? - Kustom Kulture Lounge -=KKL=-

On the other hand, if you don't mind the cost and inability to retouch/repaint chips yourself, there is no doubt a professional painter will do a better job.

Isn't the grill on the X5 30i black to begin with? I was under the impression that only the 35d and 48i were not black? I only ask because I am about to get one and would love to know.

You are correct in terms of the blades. I'm fairly sure the OP is referring to the chrome surround too though.

Anyone interested in CF grills? We can do it for MUCH less than the $650. We would prep the item, lay CF film on it, and finish with an automotive clear. This would be as durable as any other item you had painted. We have done many parts for the exterior.

Any interest?

Can you post a couple of pics and either list the price or send me a P.M.

Thx.

Yeah give me about 2 weeks though. We are finishing up a group buy and have to get some parts done, but I will post some pics and details about the process and pricing soon.

CF look sounds nice would be interested if you could also package and send to Australia as well. :thumbup:

Bozz

Just picked up my grills today from the body shop. I had them painted gloss black and they look great! :thumbup: The shop did a perfect job sanding them; using a special primer for chrome & plastic and spraying them with a paint designed to bond to chrome. They took the grills apart (since the chrome surround snaps off) and put them back together after spraying.

I have not installed them on my vehicle just yet as it is still snowing out, but have them ready as soon as spring comes around...if ever. :(

Painting was approx $175. Here are a couple of pics as promised.

very clean...

I just painted my grilles black but I'm having a hard time re-installing them. For some reason the clips dont bite into each other, and im having a hard time putting the chrome (well now black) ring together with the grille. Can anyone describe a trick to install it back on?

Not sure about the chrome surround part. but for the install, you need to manually seat the "criss-cross" clips onto the hood. Just carefully use a flat blade screwdriver to tease one of the criss-cross sections behind the flat stop on the hood. You only need to have one per connection seated.

Yes, very interested. How much $?

im confused... do you place the chrome on the hood first and then try to attatch the middle part of the grille from the back? Or the other way around? mine just wouldnt connect. I tried placing the chrome part on the hod first and then trying to attatch the middle actual grille from behind the hood... it just wouldnt connct..

No, you need to join the two parts together first then insert into the hood.

got it- thanks.

Sometime next week I should have pictures, just give me some time to prep, prime, and finish this piece. I will be offering this service shortly for all kinds of X5 parts. We can pretty much dip anything you have in a CF finish.

Please count me in for the CF as well

Any more information on these yet? :popcorn:

Sorry for the delay, have been extremely busy. We are finishing the grill today, just need to apply the clear and get some photos ready. :thumbup:

Something to look forward to :cool:

http://xoutpost.com/gallery/files/3/3/5/8/8/cfgrill.jpg

Something doesn't look right. Compare those to my pics above on page 2. The outside trim might be the same but the inside (vertical grills) on your carbon fiber pics look really puny :shakehead: Unless of course they are from a different model other than the E70...

Yes now that I look closer, they are from a different model. Do you have any better pics up close??

Good eye, you are correct ;) The purpose though was to show off what we are capable of.

That is infact from a different model, but of course we can do any model. We have been trying to do a photo-shoot with a vehicle, but the weather has not allowed. I will have something soon though :)

if you want matte, your answer is plasti-dip and its available at HD or lowes

I posted a set of OEM E70 Kidney Grills for anyone interested, see link below for details.

http://www.xoutpost.com/classifieds/b...tml#post601196

Finally had a chance to do a set, this will be for sale if anyone is interested. We can do many different patterns and different colors in carbon fiber, and can do almost any item. We are taking orders if interested.

Also below is a radio bezel we just finished for a different vehicle.

http://www.niytrus.com/images/gallery/x5/grill/1.jpg
http://www.niytrus.com/images/gallery/x5/grill/2.jpg


http://www.niytrus.com/images/galler...nt/bezel/4.jpg

Ok,
lets say I order a set of grills for the E70 in the original Cf pattern, what is the price?

Hey, pricing will vary depending on what options you would like. There are basically two ways we can finish a grill in Carbon Fiber.

The first being to just get the tips/front of the blades inside the grill, and then the outer part of the grill.

The second way we can do it is getting the outpart of the grill + the inside blades covered completely. This option is more expensive.

This is an example of the first option (just the tips or front part of the blade):
http://www.niytrus.com/images/gallery/x5/grill/2.jpg




Option 1 (Tips): $300.00
Option 2 (Full CF): $400.00

Free shipping (USA Only) via FedEx w/ tracking number is also provided. If we can organize a Group Buy, I can also lower the price if there is a minimum of 10 buyers.


We can also do different colors in Carbon Fiber besides black, and can do almost any part for the X5 if there is interest.

Anyone interested? If so just let me know.

Thanks