Where to buy PRE-facelift black grilles?

substream · #1 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 01:55 PM

Hey, guys. Sorry, I know this has been covered, but I couldn't find much in a search.
I'm trying to black out the grilles on my '92. I tried painting them and they look horrible, I don't know where I messed up, but I just want to buy a pair. But anywhere I search, all I find is the "wide-style" pre-facelift ones that fit the 1991-1996 E36, but are made to look like the facelift ones. I think the grilles actually looked better pre-facelift, and those are the ones I'm looking for, with the thin border and the recessed slats. Anyone know where I can buy those in high quality?
Thanks!

BadGTho · #2 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 04:30 PM

fleabay.. or paint yours

Roland H · #3 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 04:52 PM

DDM sells some for like $30. I've had mine for a while, no complaints, just be careful on the install.

substream · #4 (**permalink**) 09-23-2009, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadGTho

fleabay.. or paint yours

I'm so wary about the quality of anything ordered on eBay :-/ And, as I mentioned, I tried painting mine with a DIY and everything and they came out horrible. haha I've painted plastic plenty of times, I have no idea what went wrong, but I'm not messing with that again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland H

DDM sells some for like $30. I've had mine for a while, no complaints, just be careful on the install.

I actually spoke to someone at DDM on the phone before I ordered so I could make sure I was ordering the pre-facelift grilles, and he assured me they were exact OEM replicas of the pre-facelift grilles. I ordered them and, just as I suspected, they were only "wide style" ones made to fit the pre-facelift holes. What I'm looking for are actual PRE-facelift grilles in black, the kind with the skinny surrounds and recessed slats.

Xear0 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-23-2009, 07:27 AM

I'm not sure they make such a creature. You could always take your original ones to a paint shop. cant imagine itd be too expensive for just the grills.

substream · #6 (**permalink**) 09-23-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xear0

I'm not sure they make such a creature. You could always take your original ones to a paint shop. cant imagine itd be too expensive for just the grills.

That's a good idea... Thanks, I might look into that just to make sure they get done right. haha
I don't know why more people don't want the pre-facelift grilles... I personally think they look WAY better on the E36. *shrug*

Roland H · #7 (**permalink**) 09-23-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by substream

That's a good idea... Thanks, I might look into that just to make sure they get done right. haha
I don't know why more people don't want the pre-facelift grilles... I personally think they look WAY better on the E36. *shrug*

I like the 1996 grills the most. Too bad they are NLA....

substream · #8 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xear0

I'm not sure they make such a creature. You could always take your original ones to a paint shop. cant imagine itd be too expensive for just the grills.

When you say a paint shop, what exactly do you mean? Like a paint and body shop like Maaco or some shit? Who's good for that kind of thing? I thought about getting them powder coated, but I'm pretty sure they'd melt in the baking process. haha