Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

A different approach to painted kidneys

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    A different approach to painted kidneys

    I recently got a set of euro kidneys with my euro grilles from Mikeedler (I see no difference in the kidneys, lol), and decided that I wanted to try something different with them. I don't really care much for blacked out kidneys, and I really can't stand chrome, so I was trying to think of some other way I could do them.

    I always really liked the silver ones that Jordan had on his car, but I didn't want just a basic silver, I still wanted something a bit brighter than that. So on a recent trip to Home Deopt, I found a Rustoleum paint that is Metallic Silver, and comes out looking kind of like anodized aluminum. Here's the result (frames are not snapped all the way down onto the housing yet):





    After I separated the chrome frames from the black grille part, I sanded the chrome frames down with 80 grit, and applied about 3 coats of SEM Self Etching primer, and then 5 coats of the Metallic Silver paint on top. I also repainted the black grilles with SEM Trim Paint. Upon first viewing, they appear pretty sparkly. It's been getting less sparkly as they dry though, and I'm sure they'll look different once they're on the car, from a distance. At this point, I really like the way they turned out. It's very different, and that's what I was going for. So I'll try them out on the car for a while, and if I don't like them, I'll either sell them or try something else. But I thought everyone would be interested in seeing something a little different.

    #2
    Looks like you covered it with glitter. . . .


















































    or pixie dust.
    Current Cars
    2014 M235i
    2009 R56 Cooper S
    1998 M3
    1997 M3

    Comment


      #3
      It's mostly the flash reflecting off the metallic paint, they aren't that sparkly in person.

      Besides, all I need now is a happy thought, and maybe my E30 will fly. :D

      Comment


        #4
        no, Josh, you need faith and trust . . . . . .
        Current Cars
        2014 M235i
        2009 R56 Cooper S
        1998 M3
        1997 M3

        Comment


          #5
          It looks like you did a good job. That silver has some heavy metalic in it.

          1992 BMW 325iC
          1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
          1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 140hp

          Comment


            #6
            I think that once they're on the car, it won't be as noticeable. I got right up close to them for the pics. :D And like I said, most of that is from the flash.

            Comment


              #7
              I want to see it on the car right now

              Comment


                #8
                i used that paint on some of my model cars as a base and used dupli color metel-cast as a candy clear, it looked nice when in the sun or under light.

                1992 BMW 325iC
                1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
                1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 140hp

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Hatchman View Post
                  I want to see it on the car right now
                  I'll put them on the car tomorrow, once the paint fully dries. I don't want to get any fingerprints in it pushing the frames down onto the grilles.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    "Euro" kidneys have a cutoff from the top, you can see it behind the grilles themselves how the top 1/4 portion of it is blocked. The US ones are completely open.

                    Now, oddly enough, all early 318i's I see have that "Euro" kidney. Go figure.

                    - Erick
                    Erick Mahle | FullOpp Drift | YouTube
                    EurostopUSA | Dunlop Tires | Ireland Engineering | EnthusiastApparel | Ground Control

                    ..::Support FullOpp::..
                    FullOpp Stickers for sale!
                    NEW | Enthusiast Apparel T-Shirts! | NEW
                    Feedback Thread

                    Originally posted by Mr. Anderson
                    ...one of the most hardcore E30's around. :D

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Looks good!

                      As far as the paint goes, I've used the same stuff. It isn't nearly as flashy/glittery as it looks in the pics.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by rwdrift View Post
                        "Euro" kidneys have a cutoff from the top, you can see it behind the grilles themselves how the top 1/4 portion of it is blocked. The US ones are completely open.

                        Now, oddly enough, all early 318i's I see have that "Euro" kidney. Go figure.

                        - Erick

                        my 85 e has the "euro" kidney, i thought it was stock. And what about the kidney's that are blocked off completly.

                        1992 BMW 325iC
                        1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
                        1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 140hp

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by rwdrift View Post
                          "Euro" kidneys have a cutoff from the top, you can see it behind the grilles themselves how the top 1/4 portion of it is blocked. The US ones are completely open.
                          Ah, well now that I know what I'm looking for, I see it. :D

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by rwdrift View Post
                            "Euro" kidneys have a cutoff from the top, you can see it behind the grilles themselves how the top 1/4 portion of it is blocked. The US ones are completely open.
                            Sorry but that's not correct.

                            Anyway, looks good Josh.
                            BimmerHeads
                            Classic BMW Specialists
                            Santa Clarita, CA

                            www.BimmerHeads.com

                            Comment


                              #15
                              I'm saying what my observations were from many junkyard runs. I have never seen a US Spec later model with such kidneys. After E30 Reaktionaer09rasdlkahsoeiu (way too late for me to spell that shit properly) mentioned his has it as well, I'd assume it's an early model (84-85) thing here in the US.
                              Erick Mahle | FullOpp Drift | YouTube
                              EurostopUSA | Dunlop Tires | Ireland Engineering | EnthusiastApparel | Ground Control

                              ..::Support FullOpp::..
                              FullOpp Stickers for sale!
                              NEW | Enthusiast Apparel T-Shirts! | NEW
                              Feedback Thread

                              Originally posted by Mr. Anderson
                              ...one of the most hardcore E30's around. :D

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X