Thinking of painting my lower grill and air ducts.

PrimoM3 · 01-20-2009, 06:56 PM

I recently added the BMW Performance shadowline kidney grills (actually only the surround, kept the chrome slats) and like the look but feel that it has made alot of the other black plastic on the front look rather bland and cheap. So, I was considering having a local shop paint the lower mesh grill and the left/right side ducts in high gloss black to match all of the shadowline trim.

Thoughts?

ad78 · 01-20-2009, 08:48 PM

request photoshop first before going to do it..

PrimoM3 · 01-21-2009, 11:37 AM

Good advice, I did my own Photoshop... Going forward with this and will post pictures after the pieces have been painted. Here is my quick black adjustment for those pieces. Ignore the dirt! :biggrin:

esses · 01-21-2009, 08:49 PM

I like it, keep us updated.

DCD · 01-21-2009, 09:13 PM

Hey I've been thinking of doing the exact same thing! Super keen to see some pics of how it turns out

HighQ · 01-22-2009, 07:10 PM

Get the rear diffuser painted at the same time for the ultimate in color coded awesomeness.

gatorfast · 01-23-2009, 11:26 AM

Looks cool. Here is an idea too...get the kidney surrounds painted silver to match the body, use the gloss black slats, and get the other pieces you mentioned painted gloss black.

Berduderunner · 01-23-2009, 11:53 AM

HOT idea!

I wonder if it would be worth it on a Jet Blacker...

PrimoM3 · 01-23-2009, 08:49 PM

Okay, so I viisted a couple of paint shops in the area today and got quotes for around $700-800, not including removal/installation. I was planning on removing the parts and reinstalling after they have been painted anyway. After considering that I have to remove the front bumper to get the right and left duct pieces out, I've decided to wait on the front pieces for the time being and only have the rear diffuser painted.

I may remove the honeycomb airdam grill myself and shoot it with a can of primer and then a can of gloss black. I certainly don't want it to look ghetto though, so I'll continue to mull this over... Because of the intricate honeycomb design I think it would turn out fine and be much cheaper. I wouldn't dare try this on the side duct pieces though, and of course there is the removal part.

PrimoM3 · 01-23-2009, 08:54 PM

I should also add that both places I went would not warranty there work on the front pieces. They indicated that they'd have to use an adhesion promoter to help the paint stick and that these pieces will not be very durable or resistant to rock chips and the like.

...think I'm gonna go for a satin black finish on the rear diffuser.

Motorsports_3 · 01-23-2009, 10:46 PM

No matter what they are going to crack and peel. I would not reccomend it.

Add1ct · 01-25-2009, 12:23 AM

damn that's a lot, I heard of people on here having the rear diffuser painted for like $60?! anyway, I was going to try buying tiag mirrors off another addict and then painting the rear diffuser and just the side duct/vent covers, kind of a borrowing of porsches gt3-rs theme, but with a more tame silver. Another member had got the vents out from underneath by removing just a few bolts and struggling with it, but the painting cost and potential lack of success makes me think twice

as for your tiag car, I recommend painting the diffuser black and getting black mirror caps- there is a member on here with both on an AW 135i and it looks really cool, just a suggestion

bryan@mwerks · 02-05-2009, 01:09 PM

I repainted the front and rear plastic trim (and the Shadowline) on our 135i before taking it to SEMA. I prepped everything well and used a high-flex primer to be safe. Shot the color and clearcoat at home with an Eastwood gun. Had roughly $100 in materials. $700-800 for just front grilles is steep.

Add1ct · 02-05-2009, 01:29 PM

wow that really helps- I definitely may be doing this now- want to sell me any parts or trade?

Add1ct · 02-05-2009, 01:30 PM

oh and do you think I could paint the standard aluminum trim or would it match the silver enough to leave it?

01-20-2009, 06:56 PM	#1
PrimoM3 Chemofski 54 Rep 1,295 Posts Drives: '13 X5M Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Coast, U.S. iTrader: (0)	Thinking of painting my lower grill and air ducts. I recently added the BMW Performance shadowline kidney grills (actually only the surround, kept the chrome slats) and like the look but feel that it has made alot of the other black plastic on the front look rather bland and cheap. So, I was considering having a local shop paint the lower mesh grill and the left/right side ducts in high gloss black to match all of the shadowline trim. Thoughts? __________________ '13 Individual Frozen Brilliant White ///M3 Coupe Ordered 2/15/12 \| Euro Delivery on 9/21/12 \| U.S. Redelivery on 12/6/12 \| Motor Dead on 7/15/13 '13 Space Gray/Mugello Red X5///M Pavement Punisher \| Snow Muncher \| Family and Board Hauler \| Roadtripper
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01-20-2009, 08:48 PM	#2
ad78 Yr1OfD1 106 Rep 900 Posts Drives: 2015 F34 M Sport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	request photoshop first before going to do it..
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01-21-2009, 11:37 AM	#3
PrimoM3 Chemofski 54 Rep 1,295 Posts Drives: '13 X5M Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Coast, U.S. iTrader: (0)	Good advice, I did my own Photoshop... Going forward with this and will post pictures after the pieces have been painted. Here is my quick black adjustment for those pieces. Ignore the dirt! :biggrin: __________________ '13 Individual Frozen Brilliant White ///M3 Coupe Ordered 2/15/12 \| Euro Delivery on 9/21/12 \| U.S. Redelivery on 12/6/12 \| Motor Dead on 7/15/13 '13 Space Gray/Mugello Red X5///M Pavement Punisher \| Snow Muncher \| Family and Board Hauler \| Roadtripper
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01-21-2009, 08:49 PM	#4
esses • 19 Rep 709 Posts Drives: like I stole it. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	I like it, keep us updated. __________________
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01-21-2009, 09:13 PM	#5
DCD Private First Class 10 Rep 162 Posts Drives: Join Date: May 2008 iTrader: (0)	Hey I've been thinking of doing the exact same thing! Super keen to see some pics of how it turns out
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01-22-2009, 07:10 PM	#6
HighQ Quality is everything 12 Rep 756 Posts Drives: you mad Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Get the rear diffuser painted at the same time for the ultimate in color coded awesomeness.
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01-23-2009, 11:26 AM	#7
gatorfast Major General 4995 Rep 6,862 Posts Drives: 718 Cayman Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SoFla iTrader: (4)	Looks cool. Here is an idea too...get the kidney surrounds painted silver to match the body, use the gloss black slats, and get the other pieces you mentioned painted gloss black.
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01-23-2009, 11:53 AM	#8
Berduderunner drk one 38 Rep 797 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tampa/Orlando iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 e90 335i [0.00] 2008 135i [0.00]	HOT idea! I wonder if it would be worth it on a Jet Blacker... __________________ Jet Black \| Coral \| HighGlossBlack \| Steptronic \| Premium \| Sport \| Comfort \| ActiveSteering \| Navi \| HiFi \| HD \| iPod \| SAT BMS JB3 v2.0 \| BMS DCI \| Berk Tech Sport Exhaust \| UR * DPs \| CoolingMist Meth Kit w/ CMGS \| H&R OE Sport Springs \| Breyton GTS-R \| Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Specs \| GP Thunder 8000K Low Beams/Angel Eyes/Cornering Lights \| LED Interior Light Kit \| Window Tint \| Smoked Tail Lights \| Smoked License Plate Cover
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01-23-2009, 08:49 PM	#9
PrimoM3 Chemofski 54 Rep 1,295 Posts Drives: '13 X5M Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Coast, U.S. iTrader: (0)	Okay, so I viisted a couple of paint shops in the area today and got quotes for around $700-800, not including removal/installation. I was planning on removing the parts and reinstalling after they have been painted anyway. After considering that I have to remove the front bumper to get the right and left duct pieces out, I've decided to wait on the front pieces for the time being and only have the rear diffuser painted. I may remove the honeycomb airdam grill myself and shoot it with a can of primer and then a can of gloss black. I certainly don't want it to look ghetto though, so I'll continue to mull this over... Because of the intricate honeycomb design I think it would turn out fine and be much cheaper. I wouldn't dare try this on the side duct pieces though, and of course there is the removal part. __________________ '13 Individual Frozen Brilliant White ///M3 Coupe Ordered 2/15/12 \| Euro Delivery on 9/21/12 \| U.S. Redelivery on 12/6/12 \| Motor Dead on 7/15/13 '13 Space Gray/Mugello Red X5///M Pavement Punisher \| Snow Muncher \| Family and Board Hauler \| Roadtripper
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01-23-2009, 08:54 PM	#10
PrimoM3 Chemofski 54 Rep 1,295 Posts Drives: '13 X5M Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Coast, U.S. iTrader: (0)	I should also add that both places I went would not warranty there work on the front pieces. They indicated that they'd have to use an adhesion promoter to help the paint stick and that these pieces will not be very durable or resistant to rock chips and the like. ...think I'm gonna go for a satin black finish on the rear diffuser. __________________ '13 Individual Frozen Brilliant White ///M3 Coupe Ordered 2/15/12 \| Euro Delivery on 9/21/12 \| U.S. Redelivery on 12/6/12 \| Motor Dead on 7/15/13 '13 Space Gray/Mugello Red X5///M Pavement Punisher \| Snow Muncher \| Family and Board Hauler \| Roadtripper
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01-23-2009, 10:46 PM	#11
Motorsports_3 E30 Addict 38 Rep 590 Posts Drives: 2008 135, 1988 325 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Miami iTrader: (3)	No matter what they are going to crack and peel. I would not reccomend it. __________________ Check out my e30 project! http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...6#post11306896
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01-25-2009, 12:23 AM	#12
Add1ct Lieutenant Colonel 59 Rep 1,859 Posts Drives: 135i, 335i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Palos Verdes Estates (SoCal) iTrader: (3)	damn that's a lot, I heard of people on here having the rear diffuser painted for like $60?! anyway, I was going to try buying tiag mirrors off another addict and then painting the rear diffuser and just the side duct/vent covers, kind of a borrowing of porsches gt3-rs theme, but with a more tame silver. Another member had got the vents out from underneath by removing just a few bolts and struggling with it, but the painting cost and potential lack of success makes me think twice as for your tiag car, I recommend painting the diffuser black and getting black mirror caps- there is a member on here with both on an AW 135i and it looks really cool, just a suggestion __________________ E82 N54 6MT 6FL 668 KASW turned in E92 Crimson/Cream N54 6MT, ZSP, ZPP, ZCW, Nav, Sat radio, HD Radio, Logic7, PDC, Active Steering, Active Cruise, 6FL, CA
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02-05-2009, 01:09 PM	#13
bryan@mwerks Second Lieutenant 48 Rep 218 Posts Drives: Join Date: Mar 2006 iTrader: (2)	I repainted the front and rear plastic trim (and the Shadowline) on our 135i before taking it to SEMA. I prepped everything well and used a high-flex primer to be safe. Shot the color and clearcoat at home with an Eastwood gun. Had roughly $100 in materials. $700-800 for just front grilles is steep. __________________ Kilometer Magazine
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02-05-2009, 01:29 PM	#14
Add1ct Lieutenant Colonel 59 Rep 1,859 Posts Drives: 135i, 335i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Palos Verdes Estates (SoCal) iTrader: (3)	wow that really helps- I definitely may be doing this now- want to sell me any parts or trade? __________________ E82 N54 6MT 6FL 668 KASW turned in E92 Crimson/Cream N54 6MT, ZSP, ZPP, ZCW, Nav, Sat radio, HD Radio, Logic7, PDC, Active Steering, Active Cruise, 6FL, CA
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02-05-2009, 01:30 PM	#15
Add1ct Lieutenant Colonel 59 Rep 1,859 Posts Drives: 135i, 335i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Palos Verdes Estates (SoCal) iTrader: (3)	oh and do you think I could paint the standard aluminum trim or would it match the silver enough to leave it? __________________ E82 N54 6MT 6FL 668 KASW turned in E92 Crimson/Cream N54 6MT, ZSP, ZPP, ZCW, Nav, Sat radio, HD Radio, Logic7, PDC, Active Steering, Active Cruise, 6FL, CA
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