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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > DIY Guides > DIY - blackout "shadow" (black) kidney grills



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      08-28-2005, 05:21 PM   #1
Jason
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DIY - blackout "shadow" (black) kidney grills

Tools/Parts/Supplies:

- Torx-20 screwdriver
- 220 grit sandpaper
- 230 grit sandpaper
- 400 grit sandpaper
- Black paint (any black paint suitable for exterior use - get flat or gloss depending on desired finish)
- Clearcoat (not pictured here, but you should probably clearcoat the paint with a few layers as it will leave the paint less prone to chipping)






Removing Grills:


1) pop open hood
2) to remove top two grill pieces (the two pieces that are attached to the hood), remove all 6 torx screws using a Torx-20 screwdriver (as diagramed below)









3) to remove the two main grill pieces, grab a hold of 2-3 slats with each hand and pull out straight towards you (as diagramed below). The attachment points for the grill is shown below.









Sanding and Painting:

4) separate the chrome trim from the slats by lifting the tabs that connect the pieces and pulling the parts apart (see picture). This eliminates the hassle of having to tape up the slats (note: If you have a 325, using the bumper trim paint I used will result in a finish that is very close to the plastic finish of the slats, so no real need to also paint the slats; therefore it's easier just to remove and paint the chrome trim pieces. However, if you have a 330, you may consider keeping the entire grill (slats and chrome trim) together since you will be sanding and painting both the slats and the chrome trim.)









5) using the coarsest grit sandpaper (220), sand the surfaces you will be painting. The chrome should begin to turn into a coarse and scratched aluminum piece. Continue sanding with the next coarsest sandpaper (320) and finish with the (400) grit sandpaper. The final piece should resemble the brushed aluminum trim you can order with the E90 (see picture).







6) paint each piece using a total of 2-4 light layers so as to prevent dripping and uneven coverage. Wait a few minutes between layers to allow some drying between layers.

7) finish with a coat of clearcoat spray (I personally didn't clear coat because I liked the flat/matte look), but a coat of clearcoat shouldn't add too much shine and will add an extra layer of protection.





8) reinstall parts the same way they were removed.

VOILA!

Before:




After:











Blackout grills on richp's black e90

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      08-28-2005, 09:42 PM   #2
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I don't think I'll do this on my TiAg, but the write-up is most excellent!!
.
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      08-28-2005, 09:48 PM   #3
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looks cool on black.
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      08-29-2005, 01:47 AM   #4
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The Black one looks hot.
I am picking up my Black/Black 330i this week.
I would like to do this to all the chrome trim (front and sides) but I would be worried about screwing it up...
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      08-29-2005, 06:18 AM   #5
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GREAT DYI!
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      08-29-2005, 07:25 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRMilliob
The Black one looks hot.
I am picking up my Black/Black 330i this week.
I would like to do this to all the chrome trim (front and sides) but I would be worried about screwing it up...
Have you considered swapping all your chrome pieces with a 325 owner's black pieces? I'm sure there would be plenty of members interested in swapping with you. Might be easier than sanding/painting each and every last chrome piece.
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      08-29-2005, 07:31 AM   #7
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All DYI's should be this detailed
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      08-29-2005, 10:16 AM   #8
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Hey Jwocky....that was awesome! How much do you charge?
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      08-29-2005, 10:30 AM   #9
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On my Jet Black this would look nice...with tinting...I knew some great E90 cosmetics would come along, this is fun.
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      08-29-2005, 10:33 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y
Hey Jwocky....that was awesome! How much do you charge?
Pro bono It's a fairly straight forward DYI, but if anyone in the NYC area ever needs help doing this, I'd be glad to assist.
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      08-29-2005, 01:00 PM   #11
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another great detailed DIY
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      09-07-2005, 08:33 AM   #12
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But what about the chrome pieces at the tope of the grill? Aren't they attached to the hood? What's the best way to go about removing those without damage?
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      09-07-2005, 11:43 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdeads
But what about the chrome pieces at the tope of the grill? Aren't they attached to the hood? What's the best way to go about removing those without damage?
uhhh, seems to me that part was covered in the first step. get a torx 20 screwdriver and unscrew it
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      09-07-2005, 10:17 PM   #14
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Oh, I wasn't paying attention. Thought the screws were for removing the grill itself. Guess i'll look twice before asking next time.
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      09-08-2005, 01:03 PM   #15
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when your seperating the chrome trim the tabs break off pretty easily, so be careful with them. I think i broke two off (one from each) but they still went back together easily. Thanks to your diy i had no difficulties with this mod. thanks!!!!
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      09-08-2005, 08:32 PM   #16
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Look very cools on Black and thanks for the detailed instruction!!
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      09-26-2005, 06:03 PM   #17
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wow that looks great on black!
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      09-26-2005, 07:06 PM   #18
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looks great on black. Any SG with blackout kidney grills?
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      10-18-2005, 06:57 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by n21k
looks great on black. Any SG with blackout kidney grills?
Its coming soon....
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      10-20-2005, 01:09 AM   #20
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where can i get a extra grill, because i want to keep the original part in perfect condition. and how much would it cost?
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      11-03-2005, 10:21 PM   #21
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Wow.. makes the front end of the e90 look 100 times better.

I have a pair of extra grills for sale if anyone is interested so you don't have to mess up the ones on your car.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=80152
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baller ass e36.

Last edited by redv; 11-03-2005 at 10:32 PM..
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      11-03-2005, 10:30 PM   #22
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One of the best DIY writeup. Very detailed instructions!!!!

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