What color kidney grills for my space gray e90

dman918 · 03-14-2013, 08:28 AM

I have a 2009 LCI space gray e90 with shadowline trim. Going to be tinting the windows and thought about painting my kidney grills either matte black or gloss black. Just a quick poll to see everyone's preferences.

Pics of car for reference: http://web.automarksolutions.com/wa/br/?ID=1112276

Thanks!

N9dyxuk · 03-14-2013, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dman918

I have a 2009 LCI space gray e90 with shadowline trim. Going to be tinting the windows and thought about painting my kidney grills either matte black or gloss black. Just a quick poll to see everyone's preferences.

Thanks!

Gloss black

Carl64 · 03-14-2013, 12:37 PM

This is the one colour where stock doesn't look terrible.

Matte black though.

techwhiz · 03-14-2013, 07:58 PM

match the grill to the trim.

melenkae90 · 03-14-2013, 10:31 PM

Gloss black looks more finished!!!

adriang · 03-14-2013, 11:48 PM

since you have black leather interior and aluminum trim I would go with matte black grill to give it that subtle 'reversed' detail

inthikmelody · 03-15-2013, 12:02 AM

gloss black. I have the same color and that's what I went with to match the trim.

fresh_LA · 03-15-2013, 12:22 AM

I have a space gray myself... went with matte black grills, than ended up changing to OEM gloss black performance 2 months later.

so gloss black for sure!

Amini77 · 03-15-2013, 01:08 AM

like psmittys!

Drrncour · 03-15-2013, 08:22 AM

+1 for gloss black

dman918 · 03-15-2013, 09:29 AM

Wow, didn't anticipate 50/50 voting. I will have to go and take a closer look, but what is the shadowline trim? Gloss or matte? Anyone have pics of space gray with both gloss and matte to compare?

Thanks so much for your feedback so far!

MrDummy · 03-15-2013, 09:44 AM

Looks like I'm alone so far in keeping it stock.

Blindside_137 · 03-15-2013, 09:57 AM

I have a vert. So my mirror trim is matte. My window trim I wrapped matte. So I kept the theme with a matte grille.

Here's my take:

Matte - looks more aggressive and since it doesn't shine, it is clearly identifiable. However can look cheap in bright sunlight.

Gloss/black chrome - classier and shinier. However because it is so shiny it can be difficult to distinguish from oem chrome in bright sunlight.

I may go with black chrome in the future. But I'm fine with matte for now.

Go with whatever matches your trim.

psmitty95 · 03-15-2013, 02:22 PM

I've had both on my e90. Here's two pics I just grabbed from my build thread. First is plastidipped matte black and second is oem gloss black

dman918 · 03-16-2013, 07:29 AM

Thank you so much for the pics. Your car looks great! I think I should probably go with whatever matches the shadowline trim best?

DC_Oldboy · 03-17-2013, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dman918

Thank you so much for the pics. Your car looks great! I think I should probably go with whatever matches the shadowline trim best?

Yes.

Drrncour · 03-17-2013, 05:38 AM

Shadow line trim is all gloss back, I have it on my tiag. Am also getting gloss black grilles to watch.

psmitty95 · 03-17-2013, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dman918

Thank you so much for the pics. Your car looks great! I think I should probably go with whatever matches the shadowline trim best?

No problem and thanks! If you want to match the shadowline trim get the oem BMW performance grilles. It's a perfect match

moorlander · 03-19-2013, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dman918

Anyone have pics of space gray with both gloss and matte to compare?

Thanks so much for your feedback so far!

Hey guys. I'm new to the forum. Just picked up this 2011 CPO last week. I voted for gloss black.

I had the dealership throw in the tint and then I added the gloss black performance Kgrills. It matches great with the glossy shadowline trim.

dman918 · 03-19-2013, 04:25 PM

Looks great! I will be tinting my windows as well, so I think that I've decided to go gloss to match the shadlowine trim. I am also thinking of spraying those reflectors above the wheels.
Wish my stock wheels looked like yours; those look awesome on the car!

moorlander · 03-19-2013, 04:44 PM

Thanks for the wheel love. I really like your aluminum interior trim!

I think it's key to be consistant. I really wanted to do matte black but since I have shadowline trim I went with the gloss grills.

Soon I'll do the gloss black 335 badging on the trunk next and add larger black exhaust tips. Then maybe some white angel eye bulbs and i'll be done.
The yellow reflectors don't bother me.

dman918 · 03-27-2013, 09:40 AM

UPDATE: I painted them gloss black. They look great. I will have pics shortly in another thread. I've had the car for a couple weeks and will show before and after of some of the changes I've made so far.

View Poll Results: What color for kidney grill
Gloss Black	20	47.62%
Matte Black	18	42.86%
Keep it Stock	4	9.52%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll

03-14-2013, 08:28 AM	#1
dman918 Captain 80 Rep 699 Posts Drives: 2014 335i x-drive m-sport Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Algonquin, IL iTrader: (1)	What color kidney grills for my space gray e90 I have a 2009 LCI space gray e90 with shadowline trim. Going to be tinting the windows and thought about painting my kidney grills either matte black or gloss black. Just a quick poll to see everyone's preferences. Pics of car for reference: http://web.automarksolutions.com/wa/br/?ID=1112276 Thanks!
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03-14-2013, 12:37 PM	#3
Carl64 Private 0 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Edmonton, Alberta iTrader: (1)	This is the one colour where stock doesn't look terrible. Matte black though.
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03-14-2013, 07:58 PM	#4
techwhiz Colonel 453 Rep 2,973 Posts Drives: e90 335i Sedan - Arctic Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Bay Area, Ca iTrader: (4)	match the grill to the trim.
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03-14-2013, 10:31 PM	#5
melenkae90 Private First Class 8 Rep 155 Posts Drives: 2007 e90 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: YEG iTrader: (0)	Gloss black looks more finished!!!
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03-14-2013, 11:48 PM	#6
adriang ****** 64 Rep 750 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW X2 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: GTA iTrader: (0)	since you have black leather interior and aluminum trim I would go with matte black grill to give it that subtle 'reversed' detail
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03-15-2013, 12:02 AM	#7
inthikmelody New Member 1 Rep 27 Posts Drives: 17 M2 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (2)	gloss black. I have the same color and that's what I went with to match the trim.
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03-15-2013, 12:22 AM	#8
fresh_LA First Lieutenant 14 Rep 360 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 SG 6MT Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (4)	I have a space gray myself... went with matte black grills, than ended up changing to OEM gloss black performance 2 months later. so gloss black for sure!
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03-15-2013, 01:08 AM	#9
Amini77 Brigadier General 186 Rep 4,732 Posts Drives: Alpine White '13 550i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tarzana, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2013 BMW 550i [0.00]	like psmittys!
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03-15-2013, 08:22 AM	#10
Drrncour Captain 30 Rep 614 Posts Drives: E92 M Sport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Surrey, England iTrader: (1)	+1 for gloss black
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03-15-2013, 09:29 AM	#11
dman918 Captain 80 Rep 699 Posts Drives: 2014 335i x-drive m-sport Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Algonquin, IL iTrader: (1)	Wow, didn't anticipate 50/50 voting. I will have to go and take a closer look, but what is the shadowline trim? Gloss or matte? Anyone have pics of space gray with both gloss and matte to compare? Thanks so much for your feedback so far!
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03-15-2013, 09:44 AM	#12
MrDummy →сяuisiиg iи му вмш← 66 Rep 1,642 Posts Drives: 2010 Space Gray 328i Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Unemployment Capitol of America iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW 328i [0.00]	Looks like I'm alone so far in keeping it stock.
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03-15-2013, 09:57 AM	#13
Blindside_137 Lieutenant General 6719 Rep 10,600 Posts Drives: 2011.75 SSII E90 M3 ZCP Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (2)	I have a vert. So my mirror trim is matte. My window trim I wrapped matte. So I kept the theme with a matte grille. Here's my take: Matte - looks more aggressive and since it doesn't shine, it is clearly identifiable. However can look cheap in bright sunlight. Gloss/black chrome - classier and shinier. However because it is so shiny it can be difficult to distinguish from oem chrome in bright sunlight. I may go with black chrome in the future. But I'm fine with matte for now. Go with whatever matches your trim.
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03-15-2013, 02:22 PM	#14
psmitty95 Brigadier General 580 Rep 4,393 Posts Drives: '23 M340i xDrive Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (11)	I've had both on my e90. Here's two pics I just grabbed from my build thread. First is plastidipped matte black and second is oem gloss black __________________ < Click picture for photoshoot E90 335i xDrive 6spd, Nav, Prem, Cold Weather, & Sports package - Msport Conversion Mods: JB4 + MHD, Doc Race ST, Pure 6266, AD-Eng PI/Mounts, Fuel-It st. 3, Custom Exhaust, Tuned by TwistedTuning More Pictures: Build Thread /// 683AWHP/675AWTQ
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03-16-2013, 07:29 AM	#15
dman918 Captain 80 Rep 699 Posts Drives: 2014 335i x-drive m-sport Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Algonquin, IL iTrader: (1)	Thank you so much for the pics. Your car looks great! I think I should probably go with whatever matches the shadowline trim best?
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03-17-2013, 05:38 AM	#17
Drrncour Captain 30 Rep 614 Posts Drives: E92 M Sport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Surrey, England iTrader: (1)	Shadow line trim is all gloss back, I have it on my tiag. Am also getting gloss black grilles to watch.
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03-19-2013, 04:25 PM	#20
dman918 Captain 80 Rep 699 Posts Drives: 2014 335i x-drive m-sport Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Algonquin, IL iTrader: (1)	Looks great! I will be tinting my windows as well, so I think that I've decided to go gloss to match the shadlowine trim. I am also thinking of spraying those reflectors above the wheels. Wish my stock wheels looked like yours; those look awesome on the car!
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03-19-2013, 04:44 PM	#21
moorlander Private First Class 10 Rep 163 Posts Drives: 2024 x5, 2024 x3 on order Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: the moorlands iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the wheel love. I really like your aluminum interior trim! I think it's key to be consistant. I really wanted to do matte black but since I have shadowline trim I went with the gloss grills. Soon I'll do the gloss black 335 badging on the trunk next and add larger black exhaust tips. Then maybe some white angel eye bulbs and i'll be done. The yellow reflectors don't bother me.
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03-27-2013, 09:40 AM	#22
dman918 Captain 80 Rep 699 Posts Drives: 2014 335i x-drive m-sport Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Algonquin, IL iTrader: (1)	UPDATE: I painted them gloss black. They look great. I will have pics shortly in another thread. I've had the car for a couple weeks and will show before and after of some of the changes I've made so far.
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