Performance Grilles HELP!

Satalite · 03-08-2011, 07:59 PM

Okay so I currently own an AW 128i with chrome/silver exterior trim and chrome grille. Would it look good to upgrade the front to the BMW performance grilles even though the rest of the exterior trim is that chrome/silver?

Need some thoughts! Help ASAP!

Eminenceo3 · 03-08-2011, 08:16 PM

Yes

tyorll · 03-08-2011, 08:45 PM

Here is the way to go:

I believe they are the black grilles, remove the center and paint the outside in AW. Looks pretty slick in those photos.

(Stolen from this thread: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=257104 who sells them)

dwn4cause · 03-08-2011, 09:04 PM

I have the same color but the shadowline trim so I was thinking of black grills.

Satalite · 03-08-2011, 09:05 PM

Yah I can't get paint unfortunately but the consensus is I get the performance grilles ?

OneThreeFive · 03-08-2011, 11:20 PM

I would definitely ditch the chrome. Whether you go gloss or matte black is up to you. I have a few Matte black bits (grilles, rims, vinyl trim, 135i trunk emblem) so I tried to keep a consistency between each. Each of these parts can also be had in a gloss black.

If you are concerned with the chrome trim, like I was, you may want to check out my DIY on vinyl wrapping the trim. http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297681.

HTH

1speedbike · 03-08-2011, 11:27 PM

Either get the shadowline grilles or the white painted ones. You can always wrap or paint the chrome black later on anyway, and even if you keep the chrome, the black accent is different and looks good on the front of the car. You can buy the grilles prepainted AW from a number of vendors on this forum as well for not much more money than the shadowline grilles. I would have gone that route if my car wasn't black and matched the perf grilles already. I see people once in a while with the perf grilles, but never see ANYONE around here with painted ones.

MarkR171 · 03-08-2011, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satalite

Yah I can't get paint unfortunately but the consensus is I get the performance grilles ?

Why can't you get paint? There are vendors that will sell you pre-painted AW grilles for the same cost as BMW performance grilles.

MarkR171 · 03-08-2011, 11:43 PM

Ok it's more expensive, but I think it would work better with non-shadowline trimmed cars... http://www.jlevistreetwerks.com/1-Se...duct_info.html

Satalite · 03-08-2011, 11:50 PM

Yah it is more expensive.. but I can get the Performance grilles for 60$ and don't wanna fool with the paint. I think the black accent should look a lot better than the chrome no?

MarkR171 · 03-08-2011, 11:53 PM

It should, anything is better than chrome

Satalite · 03-09-2011, 01:07 PM

Thanks for all the responses everyone! I'm going for just the black oem performance grilles will post up pics of car after I receive and install!

03-08-2011, 07:59 PM	#1
Satalite Colonel 178 Rep 2,926 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Georgia iTrader: (9) Garage List 2009 128i [10.00]	Performance Grilles HELP! Okay so I currently own an AW 128i with chrome/silver exterior trim and chrome grille. Would it look good to upgrade the front to the BMW performance grilles even though the rest of the exterior trim is that chrome/silver? Need some thoughts! Help ASAP! __________________
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03-08-2011, 08:16 PM	#2
Eminenceo3 Captain 57 Rep 652 Posts Drives: Mineral white E93 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Santa Clarita CA iTrader: (5)	Yes __________________ build thread. http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...1#post15672891
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03-08-2011, 08:45 PM	#3
tyorll Private First Class 10 Rep 175 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	Here is the way to go: I believe they are the black grilles, remove the center and paint the outside in AW. Looks pretty slick in those photos. (Stolen from this thread: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=257104 who sells them)
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03-08-2011, 09:04 PM	#4
dwn4cause New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	I have the same color but the shadowline trim so I was thinking of black grills.
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03-08-2011, 09:05 PM	#5
Satalite Colonel 178 Rep 2,926 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Georgia iTrader: (9) Garage List 2009 128i [10.00]	Yah I can't get paint unfortunately but the consensus is I get the performance grilles ? __________________
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03-08-2011, 11:20 PM	#6
OneThreeFive Lieutenant 52 Rep 596 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: NoVA iTrader: (12) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 \| SOLD [10.00] 1999 BMW M3 \| SOLD [0.00] 2009 BMW 135i \| SOLD [10.00]	I would definitely ditch the chrome. Whether you go gloss or matte black is up to you. I have a few Matte black bits (grilles, rims, vinyl trim, 135i trunk emblem) so I tried to keep a consistency between each. Each of these parts can also be had in a gloss black. If you are concerned with the chrome trim, like I was, you may want to check out my DIY on vinyl wrapping the trim. http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297681. HTH
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03-08-2011, 11:27 PM	#7
1speedbike Brigadier General 778 Rep 3,286 Posts Drives: i4 M50, 135i, S1000R Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: MKE iTrader: (15)	Either get the shadowline grilles or the white painted ones. You can always wrap or paint the chrome black later on anyway, and even if you keep the chrome, the black accent is different and looks good on the front of the car. You can buy the grilles prepainted AW from a number of vendors on this forum as well for not much more money than the shadowline grilles. I would have gone that route if my car wasn't black and matched the perf grilles already. I see people once in a while with the perf grilles, but never see ANYONE around here with painted ones. __________________ 2024 i4 M50 \| 2008 135i \| 2024 S1000R Scruffy's gonna die the way he lived... Mmhm.
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03-08-2011, 11:43 PM	#9
MarkR171 Lieutenant Colonel 160 Rep 1,593 Posts Drives: 21 F97 \| Lotus Elise & EvoraGT Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Phx, AZ iTrader: (0)	Ok it's more expensive, but I think it would work better with non-shadowline trimmed cars... http://www.jlevistreetwerks.com/1-Se...duct_info.html __________________ 2026 X5 Tow Pig \| 2016 320i F30 6MT Daily \| 2005 Lotus Elise TT Car \| 2020 Lotus Evora GT Previous BMWs: F97 X3M \| F87 M2C 6mt, G20 330i, F30 320i 6mt, E82 135i DCT
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03-08-2011, 11:50 PM	#10
Satalite Colonel 178 Rep 2,926 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Georgia iTrader: (9) Garage List 2009 128i [10.00]	Yah it is more expensive.. but I can get the Performance grilles for 60$ and don't wanna fool with the paint. I think the black accent should look a lot better than the chrome no? __________________
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03-08-2011, 11:53 PM	#11
MarkR171 Lieutenant Colonel 160 Rep 1,593 Posts Drives: 21 F97 \| Lotus Elise & EvoraGT Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Phx, AZ iTrader: (0)	It should, anything is better than chrome __________________ 2026 X5 Tow Pig \| 2016 320i F30 6MT Daily \| 2005 Lotus Elise TT Car \| 2020 Lotus Evora GT Previous BMWs: F97 X3M \| F87 M2C 6mt, G20 330i, F30 320i 6mt, E82 135i DCT
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03-09-2011, 01:07 PM	#12
Satalite Colonel 178 Rep 2,926 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Georgia iTrader: (9) Garage List 2009 128i [10.00]	Thanks for all the responses everyone! I'm going for just the black oem performance grilles will post up pics of car after I receive and install! __________________
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