So, anyone have their headlight rings color-matched to the body color on an R53?

I got in a front-end collision, so I'm considering color options.

Just wondering if anyone has any actual pics - I did a Photoshop preview and I think I like it, a lot:



chrome headlight rings - BRG
chrome grill surround - black
inner grills - BRG

I have mine done body color, my gallery doesn't have a very good pic of them, sorry. I also have my grille surround done in black now, i'll try to get and post an updated pic.

Check my gallery. It's a simple process, scuff, etch prime, paint, clearcoat.

Hey I would love to see a pic of your grill surround done in black, it's a mod I have been thinking of doing lately. Don't want to go to an aero grill because it looks kind of cheap and I like my stripes running through my grill. Also how did you do it, vinyl or paint? Thanks.

For a pic of color matched headlight rings, check out minjae's joey mod thread.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=114115

Thanks for the link Jahmills, looks great, I'm definitely doing it.

Later on I might get the inside chrome of the light painted black.

We have a bodyshop where I work, and they're getting the real BRG paint to do the new parts with, so they'll do it for me.

I'll share the final result when I get my car back, but that might be a couple/few weeks. :(

PARTSMAN: Looks good

I think the MOD looks good on black but beyond that... no so much. Of course, what matters is that YOU like it....

You could also wrap them in vinyl

Thanks for the pics everyone, good stuff.

This was my original idea:


Now I can't decide...

I like them body color instead of black, especially if you access to the proper paint for cheap.

My thoughts exactly, it should look a lot sharper than it does in my Photoshop mockup.

trackertracker: LOVE the hood stripes, and I'm not a stripe guy.

Thanks.
I had mine done in the body shop where I used to work. They match perfect and are holding up really well.

Definitely post some pics after you get it done.

IMHO unless you also de-chrome the side marker, door handle and gas door then it kills the flow of the chrome highlight line. That little bit of shininess at the front ties all the other bright bits together.

Good point. I want to get those blacked.

We carry a BRG vinyl that is an exact match. If you decide to go vinyl, we'll set ya up.

Sweet. I may still, if the color-matched paint doesn't come out good, or if there are problems painting them, I'll definitely look you up.

Thanks.

I say go with the green-out, it will look really good!

I went with paint because I was having the M7 Extractor Scoop done at the same time. I have seen Vinyl Styles products and he does excellent work.

Before



After

Very nice trackertracker and Motor On, I'm digging the color-matched headlight rings, I'm sold.

I had mine done along with the trim on the aero grills
Before:

After:

Another:

That is really nice, subtle, but different I've been looking for a new grill solution, and not really sold on just the aero grill, but that looks really cool painted.

This is my current style, and your solution is just what I am looking for, thanks for the inspiration!

Well.. I guess I'll be doing vinyl on the headlight rings after all. The body shop I took my Mini to didn't want to try painting the chrome pieces..... don't ask me, I don't know. I guess they haven't heard of sand paper.

They also mis-matched the chrome grill surrounds, I have the beveled design on the bottom and the smooth design on the top now... windshield broke some how.. they replaced it with an aftermarket one... and the person who replaced it broke the black cover on the A pillar, and then glued it back on in 2 pieces.... My hood wasn't even straight when I got the car, but that was an easy fix, the gap was off 1/4" from driver to passenger side. They also didn't even put anything over my wheels/tires when they painted, and got a lot of overspray on my wheels, on the lips as well as on the painted black parts.......

The only positive thing I have to say is the paint job came out great and matches perfectly.

thats rough man. Ive been threw it before, i know exactly how you feel.

Mini USA had a white mini with black color headlight rings at limerock for MTS. It looked a little Panda-ish but overall I really liked it.
Black was going to be an option but they desided against it for some reason.

I'd love to get all the crome on mine backed out or possibly white-out... but with how poorly the stock paint is chiping due daily driving I think it would be a waiste of money.

Warning
I saw a lot of mini's at MTS with blacked out crome and 90% of them had the paint flaking off because the chrome hadn't been properly preped for paint.