Recommending: Gloss Black Kidney Grilles

[Yankeefan]

Not 100% sure if this is the right place to recommend a part, but I purchased these kidney grilles a couple of weeks ago because both of the originals broke (and were strongly duct-taped). So far I love how they look. They snapped right in, the only modification I had to do was to cut out a notch so that the hood latch can fully extend. This took a little bit of work with the Dremel but I got it... would have been easier if I had done it before installing them, but I didn't expect the problem and I was afraid to pull them back out. Anyways, 2 weeks in and I like them so far, especially for $37.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EV0VG84/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Before and After:
3146631467

[danewilson77]

Thanks for the review!

Sent from my S8+

[Oltorf]

nice. that's what I wanted was gloss black instead of matte black.

[johnrando]

With the OEM ones NLA I sure people are looking for alternatives.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Yankeefan]

nice. that's what I wanted was gloss black instead of matte black.
I agree. Unfortunately now it makes me want to change all the trim pieces haha.

[danewilson77]

I agree. Unfortunately now it makes me want to change all the trim pieces haha.:dunno

Sent from my S8+

[Reasoned1]

They do look sweet, and I would love to replace mine to match the glossy window trim, but I have the matte black equivalents and, while they had the same latch interference issue, they have proven remarkably easy to recondition with emery cloth. Is the glossy finish achieved via high polish or paint?

[papa_g]

now get red/black bmw emblem :headbang

[papa_g]

With the OEM ones NLA I sure people are looking for alternatives.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

ECS tuning still has the right one for coupes: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-bmw-parts/bmw-performance-gloss-black-kidney-grille-right/51132158538/
and the left one for sedans: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-bmw-parts/bmw-performance-gloss-black-kidney-grille-left/51132158543/

[papa_g]

Ended up getting this one. I will try it out once the car's back from the shop and give my review:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0788VVFWL/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[SaltyNC]

Ended up getting this one. I will try it out once the car's back from the shop and give my review:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0788VVFWL/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm looking forward to your review. I actually wanted gloss black, but went with matte black from ECS for now. Finding gloss black for a facelift coupe/convertible isn't as easy as it used to be.

Salty

[papa_g]

Here is what i can say so far. You get what you pay for. It seems cheap quality, looks like it was painted in a non-sterile environment (looks like some dust settled on the grilles while they were drying), a couple very small scratches here and there, but this is only visible when you put it right up to your face. My main concern is that it holds up to environmental wear, and fits properly. More soon.

[SaltyNC]

Bummer. I will probably end up ordering another set of matte ones and prep them then have them professionally painted when I have the front bumper resprayed.

Salty

[papa_g]

Here is my review for https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Absolute garbage. Poor fitment (1/4" gap between grille and hood), so flimsy i thought I could rip it out with one hand if i tried, and like i said above, kinda crappy paint job. I will be returning these and inquiring with ECS Tuning if they can order some more of their gloss black kidney grilles for the facelift coupe.

[SaltyNC]

If ECS can order them, I'd like to have a set. Thanks for warning us about these.

Salty

[papa_g]

If ECS can order them, I'd like to have a set. Thanks for warning us about these.

Salty

Talked to ECS, they cannot special order them upon request, and have no plans to start selling them again. I am disappoint.
I am probably gonna order the genuine right side from ECS, and look for the genuine left on eBay or somewhere else. Or maybe someone knows of a way to 'wrap' my existing grilles and make them glossy black, but in such a way that I can revert back to the original chrome if I wanted.

[ZHPizza]

Wrapping the outer frames shouldn't be difficult but the inner slats would be a headache. I wouldn't be afraid of a permanent change. If you ever decide you want to go back to stock (you won't) then it's super easy to find a stock set. I have one in the garage as I'm sure many people do.

[SaltyNC]

Papa G, if you want to try wrapping, there is a company that sells rolls of "shadowline" gloss. I don't know enough about wrapping to know if this is a good price or not, but they offer a narrow roll. On the grill, I don't know if that would be better or if you'd want a sheet you can wrap over the entire grill and then cut out the middle. It looks like it would be a nightmare either way with the slats, as ZHPizza mentioned. Here is the company:
http://shadowlinetrim.com/

At some point, I may have my front bumper resprayed in Jet Black and clear coated. If I do, I plan to also have an ECS matte grill pre-prepped to be painted and clear coated at the same time. It will probably be some time later this summer before I get to it, but when the time comes, I'll post a message on ZHP in case anyone else wants a painted grill in Jet Black.

I wish you the best finding the other half of the gloss black performance grill. That's the holy grail, but probably going to be very hard to find.

Salty

[jonnyd330]

Has anyone found a good set of these? I need a pair for my sedan and I've looked at the options on amazon/ebay they all seem to be the same....

[cakM3]

I got my replacement glossy grills from AVIN. They came well packaged and look exactly the same as my Performance Grills on my ZHP.

https://avinusa.com/shadow-grille-for-bmw-e46-4-door-sedan-2002-2005.html (https://avinusa.com/shadow-grille-for-bmw-e46-4-door-sedan-2002-2005.html)

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/956/41279422905_e2deabcc6c_c.jpg

[slam]

my front right grill cracked so I ended up ordering this grill that the OP listed. $35 for the set vs $75 for one is a no brainer. fitment and finish is good, only thing is you need to dremel a notch for the hood release.

[Thatguy_JZ]

I ordered these

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Horse-Kidney-Grilles-2001-2005/dp/B01EV0VG84/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=gloss+black+e46+grill&qid=1552935870&s=gateway&sr=8-8

Fit and finish is good. You do have to dremel a notch for the hood release. Also once you put them in, they're not coming out without breaking.

[Thatguy_JZ]

Bump... a few months later and the passenger side grill only is starting to fade already

[Vas]

Bump... a few months later and the passenger side grill only is starting to fade already

Got a picture?

[Thatguy_JZ]

Got a picture?



https://imgur.com/a/cvchBYk