Black Grills- '98 ti Jet Black

[theamazinghindu]

Well in a nutshell, I was thinking about painting my Chrome Grill Trim with Dupli-Colors Matte Black Auto Trim Paint. I was going to sand it with like 1200 grit and then use acetone and then prime with Dupli-Color Primer and then paint it Matte Black. With all that being said, has anyone done this, if yes, did it work, and tell me exactly what you did, and some pictures would be nice.

[spidertri]

Yeah, I did it a while back. I sanded it and bought a can of matte black spray. I only put on 5 coats, which I guess isn't enough, and it started chipping immediately. I then dropped some cash on the DDM blackout grilles, I should have bought them from the start.

If you do feel inclined to paint them, do a lot of coats.

[wolferj-RIP]

+1 for buying blacked out grills... but if you are going to try painting instead, find a paint specifically made for plastic applications...

[cooljess76]

Duplicolor makes an adhesion promoter for their Metalcast paints. Basically it's a primer for chrome surfaces. 1200 grit is way too fine for the primer to bond, 400 grit is recommended.

[spidertri]

Oh yeah, the paint I bought was for plastic applications but I don't think it was specific for chrome or the stuff Jess is talking about.

[cooljess76]

I swapped nose panels on my car, well I have the parts just haven't installed them yet. My Ti is a '97, but I liked the looks of the older style grilles. Anyway, I'm planning on popping the slats out of the grilles, then sanding the chrome frames with 400 grit, spraying them with the Duplicolor adhesion promoter, then finishing them with the Duplicolor Metalcast "smoke"(black) paint. It looks pretty cool, gives an anodized effect.

[marko]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

I swapped nose panels on my car, well I have the parts just haven't installed them yet. My Ti is a '97, but I liked the looks of the older style grilles. Anyway, I'm planning on popping the slats out of the grilles, then sanding the chrome frames with 400 grit, spraying them with the Duplicolor adhesion promoter, then finishing them with the Duplicolor Metalcast "smoke"(black) paint. It looks pretty cool, gives an anodized effect.

...and then you plan on selling them to me for $20 shipped, right?? LOL
paypal ready!

[spidertri]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

I swapped nose panels on my car, well I have the parts just haven't installed them yet. My Ti is a '97, but I liked the looks of the older style grilles.

I 100% agree and need to swap nose panels. I have been hoping that a morea green car with the older style would pop up on bimmerforums being parted out but no luck so far.

[rikdee]

I used Wurth Black Satin Trim Paint and Wurth Clear Coat. Did the requisite sanding and priming and then shot a few coats of each finish. They've been in service for more than a year, not a single chip.

_Rick

[Maverix]

If you're going to go with black, you're better off purchasing them like that, mainly because it costs the same if you painted it. Now if you want a different color besides black, go ahead and paint them.

I actually painted mine gun metal, and I followed a few different steps. I first used paint thinner on it. Primed it with 2 layers, sanded it with a 500 grit, painted with 2 layers of rustoleom gun metal, then put 2 clear coats for protection, which glossed them up also. And when you install them back onto the slats, use a needle nose pliers. When you put it back onto the nose panel, pull the tabs from the back of it to avoid touching the paint. Then drive around for a few minutes to let the coats harden up.

I just washed it the other day. Not a chip or anything. I even accidentally kneed it, and it still is fine.

Hint: If your slats are faded, spray a few clear coats to have them restored, and glossy.

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by Maverix

If you're going to go with black, you're better off purchasing them like that, mainly because it costs the same if you painted it. Now if you want a different color besides black, go ahead and paint them.

I actually painted mine gun metal, and I followed a few different steps. I first used paint thinner on it. Primed it with 2 layers, sanded it with a 500 grit, painted with 2 layers of rustoleom gun metal, then put 2 clear coats for protection, which glossed them up also. And when you install them back onto the slats, use a needle nose pliers. When you put it back onto the nose panel, pull the tabs from the back of it to avoid touching the paint. Then drive around for a few minutes to let the coats harden up.

I just washed it the other day. Not a chip or anything. I even accidentally kneed it, and it still is fine.

Hint: If your slats are faded, spray a few clear coats to have them restored, and glossy.

There's a couple things that you did that I wouldn't recommend. Paint generally doesn't stick to chrome plated surfaces, so regular primer isn't a very good idea. Second, paint is supposed to cure at a prescribed rate. It's not a good idea to drive around with soft paint on the front of your car. If you hit bugs, rocks/road debris or even dust, it'll in bed itself in the paint and make it rough. As for buying the already black grilles, they're just made of black plastic, so if the look you're going for is cheap plastic, then fine. Personally, I like the glossy look. Gunmetal w/clearcoat is similar to the look I'm going for on mine, just going about it a different way.

[theamazinghindu]

Well I wasn't expecting this many people to reply. I'm new to this website. Thanks For all the tips. What I am going to do is " I swapped nose panels on my car, well I have the parts just haven't installed them yet. My Ti is a '97, but I liked the looks of the older style grilles. Anyway, I'm planning on popping the slats out of the grilles, then sanding the chrome frames with 400 grit, spraying them with the Duplicolor adhesion promoter, then finishing them with the Duplicolor Metalcast "smoke"(black) paint. It looks pretty cool, gives an anodized effect. " Thank You cooljess76, I'm givin it a shot

[Maverix]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

There's a couple things that you did that I wouldn't recommend. Paint generally doesn't stick to chrome plated surfaces, so regular primer isn't a very good idea. Second, paint is supposed to cure at a prescribed rate. It's not a good idea to drive around with soft paint on the front of your car. If you hit bugs, rocks/road debris or even dust, it'll in bed itself in the paint and make it rough. As for buying the already black grilles, they're just made of black plastic, so if the look you're going for is cheap plastic, then fine. Personally, I like the glossy look. Gunmetal w/clearcoat is similar to the look I'm going for on mine, just going about it a different way.

Omg, you actually like my idea of gun metal grills?!
That's a first
Are you going to put a clear coat on the slats?

But yea, you're right. I ran the risk of having debris get stuck to it. I guess I just got lucky.

I don't think I used normal primer. I think it was rustoleom also. I'll go check tomorrow morning (to cold to step into the garage right now).

Oh, I also recommend more than 2 clear coats. I think I put 1 extra coat on the right grill, than the left. And it feels slightly softer, but at the same time it's harder. So probably a good 4 coats is good.

[96cali]

Guys, there is a big thread on bf.c about using spray plastidip product for exactly this with great results. In a nutshell:

1. no sanding or priming
2. wipe with alcohol
3. paint nice and wet
4. dries matte, they also sell a top coat (not sure of gloss)
5. peels off if you don't like it
6. very resilient against chipping

too late tired to find the link but the Mini guys apparently started it. It has gotten a lot of good feedback.