Kidney grilles in black?

The place to pick up tips on bringing that showroom shine back to your E30.

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rix313
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Post Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:49 am

It just a simple case of rub down and paint?

What colour/finish should I go for to make it look the same as the rest of the grillles?
ImysE30
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Post Sun Feb 08, 2009 1:05 am

Ideally you would paint all the grilles to give it the same look
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Post Sun Feb 08, 2009 1:18 am

Wash all 3 bits of plastic and leave them to dry
Rub down the chrome kidney's to give the paint something to stick to.

1 can of satin black should do the job.
Apply several thin coats,allowing each coat to dry before appling the next one
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rix313
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Post Sun Feb 08, 2009 6:17 pm

Cool cool, got some paint today will get em done
leeparkes
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Post Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:00 pm

just make sure you rub the kidneys down well or the paint will flake off and look gash!
Cypriotgeeza wrote:I done both my mates in my old 318is
felt so proud,even tried it with a E30 325i and got put in my place.. :o:
asmith88
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Post Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:14 pm

Stick some pics up when youve done, thinking about doing the same to mine.
rix313
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Post Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:29 pm

Priming it all first doing it proper :)

I'm using matt finish paint from Halfrauds will see how it comes out
leeparkes
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Post Sun Feb 08, 2009 11:10 pm

rix313 wrote:I'm using matt finish paint from Halfrauds will see how it comes out
not sure if matt would be too dull,id go satin or gloss!
Cypriotgeeza wrote:I done both my mates in my old 318is
felt so proud,even tried it with a E30 325i and got put in my place.. :o:
GrindCulture
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Post Sun Feb 08, 2009 11:13 pm

Satin looks best IMO. Might be worth taking the vents on the scuttle panel off and giving them a quick once over too, depending on how faded they've gone.
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Post Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:02 pm

Satin black is the color,and its best to do a light dust coat on the chrome first and then use a hot air gun or a warmish oven but dont melt it!!
I stuck all the bits in my oven after they were done. The missis wont like it but it has never flaked.
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Post Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:04 pm

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satin black!!! Need to do the side grills too though!
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Post Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:07 pm

I did mine recently. I removed the chrome parts from the grille and sat them in bleach for a week or so to completely remove the chrome.

I was left with a nice clean plastic surface to prime with halfords grey plastic primer then a few coats of satin black.

Put it back together and it looks mint. No chance of any horrible chrome showing through if it gets chipped. :cool:
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Post Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:39 pm

Why didnt I think of that :cursin:
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Post Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:11 pm

Its good if you're not in a hurry.

I used about 8-10 litres of Tesco value bleach. You need to replace the bleach every day or so because the reaction runs out.

It would be quicker if you could find some badass strong bleach and I've heard of people using oven cleaner/caustic soda. But seeing as it was sitting in a tub on my bathroom floor I didn't want too much of a chemical hazard going on.

Same result, just takes longer.
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Post Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:01 am

Glad I read that! I was going to give the bleach a go myself but thought it would only take a few hours for the chrome to come off.
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Post Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:33 am

For anyone looking to take the lazy route, I am selling a black grill for £15 posted in this thread - http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

Cheers,

Martin.
----------------------------------------------------
Lots of bikes, the odd modern BMW, and now an 88 e30 335i Cab project with E32 running gear
MrWhite
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Post Sat Feb 14, 2009 10:47 am

I thought i't take a day or so. It took more like a week. The result was worth it in the end though. I think I took some pictures, I'll try to look them out and post them up here.
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rix313
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Post Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:45 pm

The Halfrauds matt black came out really well.

The paint and body work is a state so ignor that but here they are:

Image

Image

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ImysE30
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Post Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:54 pm

Looks really good, i would spray the grills as well to give it a better look. Going to do this to mine soon as well :cool:
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leeparkes
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Post Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:57 pm

ImysE30 wrote:Looks really good, i would spray the grills as well to give it a better look. Going to do this to mine soon as well :cool:
+1

will make it look loads better!
Cypriotgeeza wrote:I done both my mates in my old 318is
felt so proud,even tried it with a E30 325i and got put in my place.. :o:
ImysE30
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Post Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:58 pm

leeparkes wrote:
ImysE30 wrote:Looks really good, i would spray the grills as well to give it a better look. Going to do this to mine soon as well :cool:
+1

will make it look loads better!
You reckon? I've been thinking about it but still in 2 minds :mad:
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DavieP
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Post Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:46 pm

MrWhite wrote:I did mine recently. I removed the chrome parts from the grille and sat them in bleach for a week or so to completely remove the chrome.
Crikey, you've got patience! When I did mine last year I rubbed the chrome with 150 grit paper, then 400 and followed with a couple of coats of acid etch primer. 3 coats of Plastikote satin black and the job was done. Took very little time - mostly waiting for the paint to dry :)
Dave in Torquay

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paulmitchell1984
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Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:04 pm

im going to do mine but tdo the hhole grills and mirror covers (they faided beyond recovery) the scuttle covers could do with a blast over aswell but can i buggery get them out, are they fastned in any way or just clipped in?

Looks sweet as above though :D
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MrWhite
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Post Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:49 am

The scuttle covers are just clipped in, spring clips at the bottom and held in at the top. They should come away with some careful prying with a flat screwdriver at the lower clips. Careful not to scratch the paint.
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