Hood grills -- repaint or replacement?

[E9Wayne]

Hey folks, one of the last projects I want to tackle this season to get my E9 ready for the shows are the hood grills. These were replaced with new when I had my coupe redone at Coupeking back in 2011. Both grills have some wear on the chrome on the inside slats that is uneven -- but probably hard to see in these attached photos. I think I had a minor point deduction last year at the Vintage in Saratoga last September...and the comment was "scalloping" or a word to that effect.

Anyway, is this an easy DIY to remove, strip the paint and/or repaint chrome over existing grills or should I just bite the bullet and get new from Wallothnesch for about $200 for the set?

And my side grills are are slightly worse but those will be tough to get off as I have fender liners on the other side.

Thanks in advance!

Wayne

 

[Stevehose]

Can't paint them silver and look good, W&N new ones will be less $$$ than finding someone who can chrome plate plastic (if there is anyone left that can). I think I saw that Maximillian was selling them also.

 

[tdgray]

Just bought some from WN. Pretty nice I will say.

 

[vince]

Can't paint them silver and look good, W&N new ones will be less $$$ than finding someone who can chrome plate plastic (if there is anyone left that can). I think I saw that Maximillian was selling them also.

Agree with Steve. Since they are plastic, there's really no way to get them to look better and still have a chrome finish. $200 for new ones seems like almost a gift.

 

[E9Wayne]

thanks, all, off to W&N...

 

[Stevehose]

thanks, all, off to W&N...

Try Max too to see if their price + shipping is less than W&N

 

[Wobdog]

I got new ones and it was worth it

 

[rsporsche]

i bought 2 sets a while back, just in case something happened to mine. i think i may still have an old metal set that i ought to rechrome ... that would be cool to have on the car.

 

[bavbob]

Makes me happy to know my Taiga came with black ones, can re-do those fairly easily.

 

[eriknetherlands]

@E9Wayne
To be honest, I think your grilles should have scored you extra points.

What I see are original BMW supplied grilles. No repro's from W&N as many others have.

Recognizable by the delicate two tone chrome; shiny on top, and matt on the sides, with a very distinct separation line between them.

It Doesn't photograph well, so that's why it may not have recognized by other posters above. Do your side grilles also show the gloss difference?

They are rare. Very rare.
I have one left hood and one R side grille with this style, and haven't been able to find matching R hood and L side grille in the past 10 years...

If you ditch them; I want to buy them off you. But just keep em and laugh about the Vintage.

(Happy to be corrected if anyone knows more about it)

Some additional pics and info in this thread: Post in thread 'What did you do to your E9 today?' https://e9coupe.com/forum/threads/what-did-you-do-to-your-e9-today.17735/post-323295

 

[E9Wayne]

Thanks, Erik, I had never thought about the patina effect nor questioned if these were original or replacement...I will keep my grills for now with the W&N as backup. It's also interesting how less experienced judges can interpret the same part differently as my grills have never been called out before, positive or negative point wise. Much appreciate your perspective!

 

[D-jetronic]

Hi,

I confirm what eriknetherlands says . Your photos show original BMW grilles matt gray between and shiny chrome on top .
W&N sells only full chromes side and top grilles .
Here are photos of a new original BMW hood set I got 15 years ago, showing what the first pix of this thread show .

E9Wayne

Clean and keep !!!!!

 

[D-jetronic]

Hi again,

On the same line, I found this side grille, which I think is 2800 CS, showing that the same deco pattern was used for fender items . Edge chromed and inside Matt alu painted.
You will also notice that vertical parts at the rear, are painted matt black to match the black sticker going under it .