Matte VS Gloss Grills

[M0nk3y]

I apologize for the weird placement. Move accordingly.

I'm going to be replacing my stock grills with some black grills. I think it makes the front end much more aggressive. Especially on Red Paint.

Anyways, I've been lurking through forums and discovered that BMW makes a Grill that is called "Chrome Black". Essentially, it's Gloss Black Grill.

There are none of these grills available for purchase on the E86 frame. However. I've been thinking.

Jet Black is a color from BMW that has little to no Flakes in the paint, itself (Compared to Sapphire Black, which is completely different).



Anyways. I've been thinking....

I was going to buy Matte Black Grills (probably from Jlevi). I was then going to buy some JB Paint, and Clear. I have a spray gun at home...You get where I'm trying to go?

I am going to throw a couple of coats on the Grills with Clear and produce my own version of Gloss Black Grills...Sweet, right?

Anyways, Vote up...let me know what you think:

Matte:





BMW's "Chrome Black"





And my car:

[pyreguy]

Match whatever your lower mesh is IMO

I liked the matte for mine cause the sedan has matte black trim all over the place, it breaks up all the shiny black, and stands out better while tying the room together. Your car doesn't have all that trim, so I think whatever matches your lowers will look hot.

I am interested in your homemade gloss black idea as well. Do it!

[danewilson77]

I vote dhu eeet...but can't vote with TT.

Droid! Srs Legitness!

[az3579]

My vote goes to matte. You don't have any shiny/glossy black trim, so it wouldn't match anything. Painting a matte set JB is an additional cost for not really that much of a difference in appearance, so IMO it's not worth it.

[M54Dave]

I am voting for gloss back since that is what I am leaning towards.

Here is a pic of a 335is with the grill i am thinking about,

[M0nk3y]

Thank you for that photo...it helps alot.

Even though the lower trim is Matte Black (the mesh). I think it ties the whole front end together. It's like going from glossy paint to glossy grills, it seems to flow.

It makes the eyes appreciate the whole car, not JUST the front end. Makes sense?

[az3579]

Thank you for that photo...it helps alot.

Even though the lower trim is Matte Black (the mesh). I think it ties the whole front end together. It's like going from glossy paint to glossy grills, it seems to flow.

It makes the eyes appreciate the whole car, not JUST the front end. Makes sense?

Dunno, doesn't seem dramatic enough of a change to make it seem like that. Grills to me don't have that much of an effect when it comes to glossy vs. matte. Chrome vs. black is another story, but not the actual shininess of the finish.

[otto99]

I personally prefer the chrome kidneys on mine, but it's black and I don't care for the Darth Vader look, NTTAWWT, just personal taste. On red it's a different story, and I'd go matte black.

[pyreguy]

I think I will have to call my car Vader from now on

[mikeyb74]

I would go with the Matte Black