Brushed Aluminum Kidney Grills

ExpensiveTaste · 09-08-2010, 02:04 PM

I know everyone is gung-ho for Carbon, but it's not quite my thing. So I was thinking

and noticed that there is some brushed aluminum trim on the lower grills, the window trim kind of looks like brushed aluminum, and my exhaust tips are brushed aluminum. What's the chance that there are some kidney grills out there with brushed aluminum trim instead of chrome?

By the way I did

but either the term "brushed kidney" is not commonly used or I just haven't been on here long enough to have read a thread about it 4 years ago.

ExpensiveTaste · 09-08-2010, 02:11 PM

For Example:

Noc57 · 09-08-2010, 03:20 PM

I'm sure you can find someone out there who can do it.

I bet they would chip like crazy though so for now I'm not a fan. Gloss, Matte, and Chrome are pretty much where it's at.

I'd have to see them though, not a terrible idea. There's no vendors I know of who sell them. But I'm sure they can customize your order. Call them and find out.

CIGARGUY · 09-08-2010, 04:09 PM

I'm willing to bet that an OEM chrome grill, some 2000 grit sandpaper, and a steady hand could produce the results you want. Now you've got me thinking....

ExpensiveTaste · 09-08-2010, 05:08 PM

I want something that lasts. Wouldn't a coat of clearcoat after the sanding fill the grooves and make it look silver instead?

bboy8282 · 09-08-2010, 06:14 PM

Not sure if the color is what you are looking for..but wouldnt wrappign with with matte silver work..or is the color totally off from what you are thinking

The_DDub · 09-08-2010, 07:04 PM

I thought about doing mine. I saw this DIY and if you look at step 5, it has the look you are trying to achieve. Just get some sandpaper and get to work.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3830

BMWjames · 09-08-2010, 07:07 PM

They make a brushed aluminum vinyl. Buy some of the vinyl and just wrap the OEM grills in it.

1QuikWS6 · 09-08-2010, 07:28 PM

Too bad you don't live in Western PA. The shop that has done all my chrome for my show cars over the years also plates plastic.

I have had several plastic items plated in the past with just a dull matte nickel - looks very much like brushed aluminum or ss

Since the grill rim can be seperated from the slats, you could have just the rim nickel plated, or just slats, or both

ExpensiveTaste · 09-08-2010, 07:55 PM

I'm looking for this finish:

1QuikWS6 · 09-08-2010, 08:02 PM

Yup, that would be what the dull matte nickel looks like. He does a copper plate first, polish, then the nickel

amgeater · 09-08-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpensiveTaste

I'm looking for this finish:

Thats pretty easy grab your stock chrome Kidneys, 1200 sand paper and wet sand them then clear coat the finish product.

ExpensiveTaste · 09-08-2010, 08:06 PM

Hmmm...You don't think the clear will fill the scratches? I may just try it this weekend if so.

Of course I would need to do the mirrors later as well to finish the look...

amgeater · 09-08-2010, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpensiveTaste

Hmmm...You don't think the clear will fill the scratches? I may just try it this weekend if so.

Of course I would need to do the mirrors later as well to finish the look...

The 1200 sand paper is going to take the chrome look off and give that machine finish is not going to make deep scratches on the surface, then the clear coat will protect the finish product, again you need to WET SAND THIS ( sand it with water)

NocturnalEVO · 08-03-2013, 03:38 PM

Bump to an old thread

Anybody tried this yet?

MDecals · 08-03-2013, 03:45 PM

Easiest way would be to wrap with Brushed Aluminum vinyl

09-08-2010, 02:04 PM	#1
ExpensiveTaste Poor Kid with Dreams 28 Rep 702 Posts Drives: BSM 07 E90 335xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Danbury, CT iTrader: (4)	Brushed Aluminum Kidney Grills I know everyone is gung-ho for Carbon, but it's not quite my thing. So I was thinking and noticed that there is some brushed aluminum trim on the lower grills, the window trim kind of looks like brushed aluminum, and my exhaust tips are brushed aluminum. What's the chance that there are some kidney grills out there with brushed aluminum trim instead of chrome? By the way I did but either the term "brushed kidney" is not commonly used or I just haven't been on here long enough to have read a thread about it 4 years ago.
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09-08-2010, 02:11 PM	#2
ExpensiveTaste Poor Kid with Dreams 28 Rep 702 Posts Drives: BSM 07 E90 335xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Danbury, CT iTrader: (4)	For Example:
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09-08-2010, 03:20 PM	#3
Noc57 Lieutenant Colonel 74 Rep 1,859 Posts Drives: e92 335 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0)	I'm sure you can find someone out there who can do it. I bet they would chip like crazy though so for now I'm not a fan. Gloss, Matte, and Chrome are pretty much where it's at. I'd have to see them though, not a terrible idea. There's no vendors I know of who sell them. But I'm sure they can customize your order. Call them and find out. __________________
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09-08-2010, 04:09 PM	#4
CIGARGUY Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 290 Posts Drives: '06 e90 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Jeffersonville, IN (unfortunantly) iTrader: (3)	I'm willing to bet that an OEM chrome grill, some 2000 grit sandpaper, and a steady hand could produce the results you want. Now you've got me thinking.... __________________ Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights make a left.
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09-08-2010, 05:08 PM	#5
ExpensiveTaste Poor Kid with Dreams 28 Rep 702 Posts Drives: BSM 07 E90 335xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Danbury, CT iTrader: (4)	I want something that lasts. Wouldn't a coat of clearcoat after the sanding fill the grooves and make it look silver instead?
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09-08-2010, 06:14 PM	#6
bboy8282 First Lieutenant 25 Rep 394 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pasadena, California iTrader: (1)	Not sure if the color is what you are looking for..but wouldnt wrappign with with matte silver work..or is the color totally off from what you are thinking
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09-08-2010, 07:04 PM	#7
The_DDub Mmmm torque 19 Rep 318 Posts Drives: Like a Boss, hard and fast Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Livermore, CA iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 328i Sedan [0.00]	I thought about doing mine. I saw this DIY and if you look at step 5, it has the look you are trying to achieve. Just get some sandpaper and get to work. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3830 __________________ Monaco Blue E90 328i with Nav, Sport, Premium and Comfort Access packages, 6FL with iPod cable SAE spec Depo with HIDs and HID fogs Depo AE replacement Album
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09-08-2010, 07:07 PM	#8
BMWjames Lieutenant Colonel 79 Rep 1,670 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (45)	They make a brushed aluminum vinyl. Buy some of the vinyl and just wrap the OEM grills in it.
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09-08-2010, 07:28 PM	#9
1QuikWS6 No 55mph 1622 Rep 8,476 Posts Drives: F32 435ix MSport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Blitzburgh, PA iTrader: (113) Garage List 2022 BMW M440ix Vert [0.00] 2015 BMW 435ix MSport [0.00] 2000 Pontiac Trans Am [0.00]	Too bad you don't live in Western PA. The shop that has done all my chrome for my show cars over the years also plates plastic. I have had several plastic items plated in the past with just a dull matte nickel - looks very much like brushed aluminum or ss Since the grill rim can be seperated from the slats, you could have just the rim nickel plated, or just slats, or both __________________ F32 435ix//MGM//M Sport-Prem-Tech-Driver Assist-Lighting-Cold Weather-Dyn Handling Pkgs//M4 Black Lthr Int w/M4 Alum Blade Trim//HK w/Bavsound Stg3//763M//M4 Euro LCI Tails//M4 Mirrors w/CF Covers//AWCarbon CF F/R Spoilers-Side Splitters-Diffuser 6WB/ID6 HU+HUD/IND M4 Alcantara Armrest//PURE S2 Turbo//AA FMIC+DP//ER CP+TIC//3.5bar TMAP/TS DV//AWE Tuning Exh w/Blk Tips//Turner MS CF Intake//BM3 Cary Jordan Tune//MPerf Diff//PrecRW Ignition Kit
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09-08-2010, 07:55 PM	#10
ExpensiveTaste Poor Kid with Dreams 28 Rep 702 Posts Drives: BSM 07 E90 335xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Danbury, CT iTrader: (4)	I'm looking for this finish:
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09-08-2010, 08:02 PM	#11
1QuikWS6 No 55mph 1622 Rep 8,476 Posts Drives: F32 435ix MSport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Blitzburgh, PA iTrader: (113) Garage List 2022 BMW M440ix Vert [0.00] 2015 BMW 435ix MSport [0.00] 2000 Pontiac Trans Am [0.00]	Yup, that would be what the dull matte nickel looks like. He does a copper plate first, polish, then the nickel __________________ F32 435ix//MGM//M Sport-Prem-Tech-Driver Assist-Lighting-Cold Weather-Dyn Handling Pkgs//M4 Black Lthr Int w/M4 Alum Blade Trim//HK w/Bavsound Stg3//763M//M4 Euro LCI Tails//M4 Mirrors w/CF Covers//AWCarbon CF F/R Spoilers-Side Splitters-Diffuser 6WB/ID6 HU+HUD/IND M4 Alcantara Armrest//PURE S2 Turbo//AA FMIC+DP//ER CP+TIC//3.5bar TMAP/TS DV//AWE Tuning Exh w/Blk Tips//Turner MS CF Intake//BM3 Cary Jordan Tune//MPerf Diff//PrecRW Ignition Kit
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09-08-2010, 08:06 PM	#13
ExpensiveTaste Poor Kid with Dreams 28 Rep 702 Posts Drives: BSM 07 E90 335xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Danbury, CT iTrader: (4)	Hmmm...You don't think the clear will fill the scratches? I may just try it this weekend if so. Of course I would need to do the mirrors later as well to finish the look...
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08-03-2013, 03:38 PM	#15
NocturnalEVO Stock 171 Rep 1,275 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (8)	Bump to an old thread Anybody tried this yet? __________________ '09 E92 335i (6MT) Jet Black/Coral Red '11 E90 328i XDrive (6AT) Jet Black/Saddle Brown (wife's car) '06 Evolution IX MR (sold) '06 R6 Anniversary Edition (sold)
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08-03-2013, 03:45 PM	#16
MDecals BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 64 Rep 587 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Glendale, CA iTrader: (9)	Easiest way would be to wrap with Brushed Aluminum vinyl __________________ Your Source For All Things Vinyl! Official Decals: Bimmerpost \| E90post\| M3post \| F30post
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