I'm leaning toward the m7 ultimate grille kit (in black) as one of my first mods for my soon to arrive brg mcsc sidewalk. do i keep the oem grill to maintain the original look, or go with blacked out grille that would match the trim, nighthawk rims and the black sport stripes?? see thumbnails, and opinions please!

 

the pic that you posted is an aero grill

 

I too like the M7 ultimate grills as well as the aero grill. I think if you want to make it look more stock, go with the aero. If you want to make more of a "Modded" statement, then go with the M7.

 

true, but i couldn't find any brg cabs with the m7....or any other cabs with a black m7 ultimate gille set up. i was just trying to give a "feel" for what oem vs. black would look like. so, which do you prefer?

 

I like the chrome surround to draw a line, but a black grill. On my 02 S, I used black vinyl from a sign shop to cover the stock slats. Good project, used heavy paper to make a template for each slat and then cut the vinyl and installed. The grill and surround come out easily.

 

I like the OEM aero kit, oxie.

 

Me too.

 

I vote OEM too. I had the aero kit grille and it turned gray after a few years.

Nice Sidewalk BTW! That was my second choice! The coupe was more practical for me with a small child.

 

My favorite grills are:

1. OEM aero grill with black honeycomb, but the surround painted body color. Actually this is recommended in the official MINI aero installation instructions. Most people don't paint the surround and leave it black.
2. Stock grill with black slats (what I have, pictured below). Unless you black out most of your external chrome, I think the chrome grill surround balances well with the other external chrome.

 

love the way this looks! it's my leading candidate (and least expensive) i'm also afraid that if i black out the whole grille, i'm gonna start looking at those headlight rings....once i black them out it's a slippery slope!


this is my least favorite aspect of the aero kit. i don't like plastic....thus the m7 ultimate grille idea.

thanks guys, keep your ideas comming! i never would have thought of uncle john's/rkw's look if i didn't post this thing!

 

RKW's #2 option is great looking. Depending on the condition of my stock grill, I might just do this (coming from doing the aero grill a few months ago).

 

Try OctaneGuy's Black Wow product.

A lot of people have had good success using black vinyl. Mine is an actual OEM black slat grill, information here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hp/photo/33754

 

I'd stay with the OEM.

 

aero with the surround body colored

 

I like the look of the honeycomb grille myself. it sets it apart from all the stock grills.
I think the chrome surround would look nice with it.

 

Don't know if this helps but here is a pic of a BRG (I think) MCS with M7 grills and splitter.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co.../size/big/cat/

 

i have the m7 grills and like the look...see my gallery

 

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wow, nice! never seen the m7 with the surrounds before. pm'd ya.

 

I have never seen this before. That is sweet looking

 

That's the M7 R56 grille. I wish their R53 grille had the surrounds.

 

Stock with blacked out slats is clean and semi-stock looking. Right now my upper grille is a stock jet black with a blacked out surround. see sig

Aero grille is nice plain on black, white and ds or silver cars. otherwise paint the surround body color. (or find some chrome vinyl for something totally different-they make it)

The r53 m7 grille needs a surround it looks unfinished for a street car and perfect for a track car.

that's my .02

 

Interesting thread, I have spent the past two years thinking about different ways to do the grill. Aero grill, aero grill with painted surrounds, M7, stock with painted surrounds. Lately I have thinking about how it would look if possible to take an '05 or '06 smooth grill surround and flushing it in to the bonnet, like the way some people have molded in their hood scoops, would probably have to grind it down so it's flush, but I think it would cool. I just like the slats.

 

Anybody got a pic of this?