[BMB063]

Finally got my hands on some gloss black kidney grilles. Here are some pics below. My other exterior updates will be some gunmetal rims, lip spoiler, maybe swap the front reflectors out.

Let me know if you guys recommend anything else. The only other things I have so far are Nokya yellow fogs and tinting.

[Tim603]

Looking good!

[jwzimm]

Hey! Those look familiar! Looking good.

BTW, if you want to go over to the 335is look with the slats chrome and the surrounds black you can do it easily with your old grills. I learned this only after I bought the OEM 335is ones. The center section of the grill snaps out of the surrounds. The chrome slats are identical between the 335is and the regular 335i and they will snap right in to your new grills.

[BMB063]

Originally Posted by jwzimm

Hey! Those look familiar! Looking good.

BTW, if you want to go over to the 335is look with the slats chrome and the surrounds black you can do it easily with your old grills. I learned this only after I bought the OEM 335is ones. The center section of the grill snaps out of the surrounds. The chrome slats are identical between the 335is and the regular 335i and they will snap right in to your new grills.

That's a good point, didn't even think of it! For now I am digging the gloss black look, but may change it up later if I feel like it since I still have the original grilles.

[cpie168]

Wrap them with vinyl would be an option.

[bimmette]

Looks good!

[jwzimm]

Originally Posted by BMB063

That's a good point, didn't even think of it! For now I am digging the gloss black look, but may change it up later if I feel like it since I still have the original grilles.

Yeah, I wish I had realized it before I had bought the replacements. I like the chrome slats look. It give a little more of a shine to the front end.

Enjoy them!

[BMB063]

Originally Posted by cpie168

Wrap them with vinyl would be an option.

Wrap the grilles with vinyl? - seems a bit odd.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by BMB063

Wrap the grilles with vinyl? - seems a bit odd.

If you think that's bad, some of these guys actually think plasti-dipping your grilles is a good idea!

[cpie168]

I was talking about wrapping the vertical slats with chrome vinyl if you want the 335is look... It'd take some time and labor but will be much cheaper.

[bimmette]

The outer part of my grilles are wrapped in gloss black and the slats are left chrome. I think it looks good.

[BMB063]

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

If you think that's bad, some of these guys actually think plasti-dipping your grilles is a good idea!

I have to be honest - I considered plasti dipping them gloss black.

It would be much cheaper ($10 vs $45), but i read about many people having to add additional coats or redo it every couple years. I figured that it wasn't an expensive mod so spending $45 was worth it.

I may swap the slits and trim just to see what it looks like, but like it said, I like the all gloss black look for now.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by BMB063

I have to be honest - I considered plasti dipping them gloss black.

It would be much cheaper ($10 vs $45), but i read about many people having to add additional coats or redo it every couple years. I figured that it wasn't an expensive mod so spending $45 was worth it.

I may swap the slits and trim just to see what it looks like, but like it said, I like the all gloss black look for now.

Well, when you think about it it ends up being potentially more expensive to plastidip the damn things.

I say pay once and have gloss black grilles for as long as you own the car, as opposed to re-coating with cans that run anywhere from 7$ to $14 apiece over the course of the car ownership.

The cans will dry over time, and be nearly impossible to spray if left out long enough (that's just guesstimating coats would be over the course of months or even a year), so you'll have to throw out three quarters of the can anyhow, making it even less of a value.

In conclusion, I say smart move going with gloss black grilles

Besides, one could make the argument that if one has enough money for a BMW what the hell is a 50 spot for some decent grilles?

Some of the home grown atrocities and shortcuts people post on these forums truly horrify sometimes

There are just as many creative and smart ones too.

[RW Carbon]

Looks great! Adding some gloss black grilles always helps to freshen up the front.

[BMB063]

Originally Posted by randi41

Looks a lot better than the shiny chromes. I'm thinking of using plastidip on mine and will put 4-6 coats to make it durable.

If you do, don't tell anyone because there is a lot of hate on the forums if you dip it instead of buy a new one. Which makes sense in a way, if you decide to drive a sporty luxury car, you should only have parts on it that are reflecting that status.

I personally think it can look sorta cheap although some may not be able to tell the difference.