[carinoj]

Thanks for the DIY detailed instructions, this is what I have been wanting to do for a while now.

[ericson112]

Nice instructions....i'm going to try doing this

[madcanadianboy]

Way too easy to do this modification.

1. Frustrating trip to Walmart to buy the Krylon Gloss Black Paint for Plastic for $5. Gloss black to match the gloss black window trim from the sports package.
2. Removed Grills without even opening the hood of the car. Required reaching through the grill to unhook the lower clips, and using a hook shaped tool to assist in unhooking the top clips. Way easier than I expected.
3. Separate the outer ring of the grill from the inner slats by unhooking the clips.
4. Wipe down the outer silver ring with denatured alcohol.
5. Spray on 3 coats
6. Reassemble in the morning and install.

Voila ...


Looks just like stock black kidney grills for the 335is but costs $5 instead of ~$130.


Thanks for the DIY, it helped a lot.

[slingr]

wow. I can't believe how much of a difference that makes. as our other members have shown, it can look amazing with the right colour schemes.

thanks for the DIY

[ilumo]

great write up guys!

[Trevendous03]

Originally Posted by JSH3

I can't get the Torx screws to come out - they just turn and turn and turn - as if there are no threads. Suggestions?

I had one like that... I ended up breaking the part by accident.

You'll have to pop up the trim so you can see the end of the torx screw. Have someone else hold a wrench or pliers around the assembly that holds the screw, and turn the screw at the same time. It takes considerable effort, but it works. I just broke mine because I was lifting too much on the trim.

[keny156]

+1

[Halligan]

thanks for this DIY post. I've done it once but didn't like the results so I sanded it back down and will apply primer first and see how it turns out. also I used a TORX 25 screw driver.

[iamsmarts]

Got my 328i and had to this asap! not supper happy with the outcome but works for now! will order some asap! any suggestions to where I can get buy them?

[Bonestock]

Just popped in the oem performance grille on my jet black e90 using these instructions and was done in less than 10 minutes. Thanks for the write up! Will post pics when I have more available light!

[LXXV]

Those who have had this done for a while now...How does it hold up? I was just told that it will not last on the chrome. I sanded well, couple coats of primer and three light coats of paint.

[BMWfromSD]

really good idea. looks great on the white!

[japukkila]

Great DIY - just installed OEM performance kidneys !

[R3D]

Do y'all paint the whole grill (e.g. the vertical strips) or ONLY the pieces that are silver?

Also, I'm guessing it's not good to drive around without the kidney grills on?

[R3D]

^Bumping my inquiries.

[SOL403]

Very good writeup, Thank you

[smacg]

Great DIY, Did this mod about 2 weeks ago and wes easy. Hardest part was finding the T30 torx screwdriver. Bit of a fiddle to get grill latches off but easy as. Just be careful not to put on too much paint and have run marks that have to be sanded down and re-done!!! Will add pic later

[Ryebread]

great, simple mod, thx for the diy.

lemans blue
with oem blk grills:

[Anon007]

Ended up trying this out and started out great in the beginning. Unscrewed the T-20 and removed grills without snapping any clips, then removed chrome piece from slats without snapping any clips. Sprayed on first two coats of Gloss black and it looked incredible and blended in perfectly with my black sapphire e90. This is when it went to hell... I decided to do one more heavier coat before I finished with a clear enamel (to protect against chipping). I sprayed on the last coat, not heavy enough to be runny, and left it outside for an hour to make sure it was completely dry before I sprayed the clear enamel. When I came back, the heat from outside completely ruined the spray and left ripples and weird markings on the grill and top piece coverings on hood. I tried to re sand it down and try again but by then it wasn't working. I should of thought to not leave the grill outside that long to dry, it was in SD yesterday and it was around 93 out. If it wasn't for the heat, the grill would of turned out perfectly. Oh well, I just ordered the piano black finish from modmy3 for cheap and should be here tuesday.

[Ryebread]

sorry to hear that. I guess if you are looking to save $100 bucks, have the time and decent diy skill, it's worth a shot. if it fails, you buy new ones. not the end of the world!

[Anon007]

Originally Posted by Ryebread

sorry to hear that. I guess if you are looking to save $100 bucks, have the time and decent diy skill, it's worth a shot. if it fails, you buy new ones. not the end of the world!

exactly, this is in no way a hard diy.. but if something does go wrong its not like the replacement is extremely expensive, easily find a grill under 70 in the color you were hoping for

[BMdubya]

When you are unhooking the clips are you doing something special? I reach in there but i'm afarid i'm going to break the clip if I pull up on it too hard??

Originally Posted by madcanadianboy

Way too easy to do this modification.

1. Frustrating trip to Walmart to buy the Krylon Gloss Black Paint for Plastic for $5. Gloss black to match the gloss black window trim from the sports package.
2. Removed Grills without even opening the hood of the car. Required reaching through the grill to unhook the lower clips, and using a hook shaped tool to assist in unhooking the top clips. Way easier than I expected.
3. Separate the outer ring of the grill from the inner slats by unhooking the clips.
4. Wipe down the outer silver ring with denatured alcohol.
5. Spray on 3 coats
6. Reassemble in the morning and install.

Voila ...


Looks just like stock black kidney grills for the 335is but costs $5 instead of ~$130.


Thanks for the DIY, it helped a lot.