I decided I want to black my chrome grill. I tied some black electrical tape to see how it looks and am ready to do it. I don't want to paint, but can't find a flat black tape that is wide enough. Anyone know of wide tape to use?

Has anyone done this? I did a search and it seems it is easy to do if you take out the grill. How does it come out? I only want to do the bars not the chrome surround.

 

Have you measured the slats? Will anything here work? They have a 2" wide
http://www.autopaintersupply.com/Mer...ory_Code=3m727

Or talk to Bullfrog. He's done it and may have some of what he used leftover.
-G

 

I bought an extra grille and had it painted so I wouldn't have to spend time with no grille.
To remove the upper grille, open the bonnet and look at the back. There are a bunch of "one-time" cheap looking tin nuts on the plastic of the grille backing. Take them all off (you might want to put a small flat-head screwdriver behind them as you turn them).
Then you have some clips to release and the grille comes off.

The lower grille is MUCH easier if you remove the front bumper. The obvious screws and nuts under the bonnet need to be removed, then there is a screw at the back of the bumper, only accessible from the wheel well. Once you have the bumper off, tabs and double-sided tape hold the slat on.

 

I did not realize he had done that. Maybe I'll see him Sunday.

 

Yeah he was the one who told me about the beltline/grill stuff way back at the first Mini's @ Denny's. His looks awesome. A few knicks here and there but you can always re-do it for far less than a paintjob.
-G

 

use this stuff, i think it is vinyl, or some other synthetic plasticy material, you can get it at the hardware store, i used it to black out the under side of the middle grill.
con-tact all purpose covering

 

That look good. I'm going by a sign shop and see what they might have. If I could find wide electrical tape that would be perfect.

 

If you are willing to spend about $60, you can buy a brand new OEM black grille. I described it in this post: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...7&postcount=46
Here was the complete thread about painting the grille: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=48483

 

That looks like a no brainer. I'll probably contact my MINI dealer next week.

 

I used 3M black out tape from PEP boys was about $4.00 for a roll perfect fit took about 15 min to apply only had to trim it at the ends, had plenty on the roll if you make a few mistakes plus it looks like factory wasnt too flat more of a matte finish. PM me if you want me to take a picture of the 3M packaging with part # (ha I keep everything) or the finished grill.

 

Post pictures when done (mine are in my gallery).

I should note that the OEM black grille has a glossy finish. I wish it were matte to match the black plastic exterior trim on the rest of the car. However the price is fantastic (I could hardly believe it at first) for factory quality pieces. The great thing about the upper grille is that it is a complete drop-in assembly. In the other thread, people described painfully undoing all the attachment tabs to remove the slats for painting. Although it can be done, the parts were really not designed for disassembly.

 

the worse part for me was removing the self threading bolts, is was such a pain, i was so frustrated taking them off when i was doing the aero mod.

 

I am looking for a matte finish, but for the price, I guess I can go with gloss. How does the single slat mount?

 

Double-sided tape.

 

The slats are made of black plastic. I had a thought that lightly sanding the surface might turn it into a matte finish, but I didn't want to risk doing it directly without a chance to experiment first on something else of the same material. The gloss still looks good as it is.

The single slat comes with double stick tape already attached, just peel off the backing. The problem is getting the old slat off. The double stick tape they use is a very strong industrial strength variety. I finally got one end lifted off by using a LOT of force, and then it was not bad pulling off the rest of the slat. Some good suggestions I heard are to soften the adhesive with a hair dryer, and/or try to slide dental floss under it to cut through the tape.

 

I didn't have to remove my grill when I used the tape here is a picture of the final result

Trimbrite Part # T-9005
1 3/8" X 20 feet. Black

 

Looks great! If I had the choice again I might consider using tape, but at the time I was a real newbie and ignorant about different options.