Black Kidney Grills?

Hark

Active member
Are these a direct fit?

How are they removed/changed?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-NEW-Z4-BLACK-KIDNEY-GRILLS-ALL-MODELS-Z4M-03-08-/360295206404?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item53e3448e04
 
Yes - I think I got mine from there. To remove just lift the grill upwards and the bottom comes out forwards - reverse to insert - 10 secs to change.

CopyofIMG_0825.jpg
 
I quite fancy changing mine - do you think they'd look ok against carbon black (one with blue hue)?

cheers.......

p.s. Half Colin - I do like your black 108s!
 
Thanks - I think they will look great on yours. But at the end of the day if you don't like the look you can always put them back on fleabay. :D

Hope you've got carbon badges!
 
Just a thought... why don't you just pop out the grills, un-clip the chrome, give the plastic a light key up with some very fine wet and dry, then give them a flash over with some satin black paint. You won't be able to get the paint to stick to the chrome bit though so you can only do the actual grill like this. Could save you some pennies.
 
Agree with Chris, that's exactly what I did with Satin black, think they look pretty good, especially at that cost :)

http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g406/Carl_White/FrontView4.jpg
 
Glad someone else has had this thought... i was only looking at mine earlier thinking i didn't like the silver/grey grill so took them out and realised the chrome unclips easily. I'll be painting mine at some point this week.
 
My grills are already black, it's the chrome bits I was thinking of getting rid of. I thought it was all one piece?
 
I might even try painting the chrome surrounds when weather permits, I'm sure a plastic primer of some sort will do the job 8)
 
carlosfandango said:
I might even try painting the chrome surrounds when weather permits, I'm sure a plastic primer of some sort will do the job 8)

I've tried painting various chrome finishes... plastic or the real thing; you have to really key it up deep, then use a decent etching primer so it sticks. Then as it's keyed up deep you'll be able to see the scratch marks so need a "filler primer" on top of the etching one which you have to build up and rub smooth. Then finally the top coat colour.
Bit too much hassle for this i reckon.
Some sheet vinyl would be easier if you wanna cover the chrome. Cut it roughly to the hoop shape you need use water with a tiny bit of soap in it and lay the vinyl on... then heat gently with a hair dryer as you mould it to shape. Could use a carbon effect vinyl if you wanted a trick finish.
 
carlosfandango said:
I might even try painting the chrome surrounds when weather permits, I'm sure a plastic primer of some sort will do the job 8)

I did paint the chrome sorrounds- did it about 2yrs ago, no flaking or any problem, somewhere in the HOW to section it might be there. What I did was used wet and dry paper, then a primer(std halfords), satin black(halfords), then lacquer(halfords again). after the primer i did 3 quotes of satin black with a drying time of 30mins in between. then lacquer let it dry and off i went. all in all a 10-15min but overall 3hrs for letting it dry and there u r. total cost about a tenner.

before
DSC08244.jpg

after
DSC08297-1.jpg

after- better picture
DSC08289.jpg
 
chetalien said:
I did paint the chrome sorrounds- did it about 2yrs ago, no flaking or any problem, somewhere in the HOW to section it might be there. What I did was used wet and dry paper, then a primer(std halfords), satin black(halfords), then lacquer(halfords again). after the primer i did 3 quotes of satin black with a drying time of 30mins in between. then lacquer let it dry and off i went. all in all a 10-15min but overall 3hrs for letting it dry and there u r. total cost about a tenner.

That's good to know, it's always chipped and flaked easily when I've tried it before, hence the requirement for deep key-ing. I might just give it a go if yours lasted. I have never put a lacquer on a satin paint before though. Did you get a satin lacquer, or a standard gloss one?
 
Do you reckon you could vinyl wrap them instead of painting?

Is there a guru on here who has access to part numbers? On the TT site someone used EKTA or something when I need part numbers for bits.

I wonder if those chrome surrounds have a seperate part number to the resr of the kidney grill?
 
Chris_Geezer said:
chetalien said:
I did paint the chrome sorrounds- did it about 2yrs ago, no flaking or any problem, somewhere in the HOW to section it might be there. What I did was used wet and dry paper, then a primer(std halfords), satin black(halfords), then lacquer(halfords again). after the primer i did 3 quotes of satin black with a drying time of 30mins in between. then lacquer let it dry and off i went. all in all a 10-15min but overall 3hrs for letting it dry and there u r. total cost about a tenner.

That's good to know, it's always chipped and flaked easily when I've tried it before, hence the requirement for deep key-ing. I might just give it a go if yours lasted. I have never put a lacquer on a satin paint before though. Did you get a satin lacquer, or a standard gloss one?

I seriously cant remember, Will have a dig in the garage to see sometime tomorrow.
 
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