As some of you know im looking at a BM saturday and i want to change the kidney grill to a black one, ive seen them on ebay.

But the car im looking at on Saturday morning is an 52 plate, but when was the facelift and how can i tell if my car to be has it.

save yourself a small fortune and spray it yourself. its really easy. i can talk you thru it if need be B)

save yourself a small fortune and spray it yourself. its really easy. i can talk you thru it if need be B)

Wont it peel off, if not i will give it ago.

not if you do it right

Im listening.

youll have to listen hard, il be typing it :lol:

im guessing your ones will be chrome?

you need to take the grilles apart, very easy just be carful not to brake the clips

theres around 6 of these on each grille side

grille will then come apart in two pieces.

ignore the black bit for now as your not painting that bit.

first thing to do is get a grey scotch pad, or 800 wet and dry. flatten the chrome down to its all roughed up .

clean and bits off, microfibre cloth will work good enough.

spray on a plastic primer, few coats will be needed with a few mins between coats.

leave to dry for a few hours/ overnight.

flat down with 800 wet to give the paint a nice key and to remove any marks etc.

clean off again.

spray a black base coat down leaving few mins between coats, dry off , can use the wifes hairdryer if need be ;)

once thats dry spray on your clear coat again leaving a few mins between coats. leave to dry in a dust free place, airing cupboard is a good place. id leave over night myself.

once dry you can either leave it like it is with a glossy coat are grab the scothc pad to make it matt. then clip it all back together. SIMPLES B)

Top job m8, what sprays do you recommend.?

any paint factors will do or evan halfords. its all down to the prep really ;)

any paint factors will do or evan halfords. its all down to the prep really ;)

Somebody has just told me about a velos or something like that that goes wrong on bm's, is that something I should worry about and how much does it cost if it goes wrong.

Nice write up Andy

YEAH BABY i got it, !Removed! hell that was great fun coming back down the M4, the only thing i have to do is sort the front bumper out, some of the lacquer is peeling off, but the paint is fine, but apart from that its sweet.

Does anybody have an idea how much it costs to re-lacquer a front bumper.

were are you again?

im a painter ;)

were are you again?

im a painter ;)

I little bit to far im in Staines.

How would they redo the lacquer surely they wouldnt have to respray it, would they just relacquer it, and how much would it cost do you think.

it will be more expensive were you are than here, it will color going over it again if done right.

best thing to do is get a few qoutes

well done andy nice :rolleyes:

staines thats not to far from me

Ive had 2 quotes, one for a full strip down respray £300+vat, and £180 for light sand to get the lacquer off and spay and lacquer.

second one will be a 'smart repair' as long as a warrenty/guarentee with it , all should be good.

company i work for does a lifetime ownership one ;)

The way I drive it will cost me £200 to get there.

awsome post on kidney grills mate i was looking into buying them myself but im defo giving that a bash what type of paint gloss or matt? .kris