[bichoo]

Which one do you think looks better? (Sorry for my horrible editing skills on the blacked out grill)

[dandanio]

Silver. Do you know there is also an M-Performance version with black slats and the frame?

[ianfp]

Silver!

In the UK, black = 4 cylinders and silver = 6 cylinders

[bichoo]

This is actually interesting as I was sure that everyone would prefer the black. Even friends and colleagues I spoke to, the overwhelming choice is the silver. Strange, because I personally think the black is better as it gives a more aggressive look.

And ianfp, here I Canada on pre-LCI XLine, the black was actually on the 6 cyl and the silver on the 4 cyl; the opposite of UK.

Keep voting please

[Barbera335]

I guess I am in the minority. Black for sure. The first thing I did on my black F25 was swap the kidney grilles from silver to black.

[bichoo]

Originally Posted by Barbera335

I guess I am in the minority. Black for sure. The first thing I did on my black F25 was swap the kidney grilles from silver to black.

Did you go all black (the M Performance Grills)? What color is your X3?

[clivem2]

Silver. It integrates better with the silvery headlights. Plus my Space Grey has silver.

[Barbera335]

Originally Posted by bichoo

Did you go all black (the M Performance Grills)? What color is your X3?

Mine is Jet Black. And I have the black grille with the chrome surround. I feel the chrome surround integrates nicely with the satin silver roof rails.

[nonagon]

All silver or all black. I've personally never liked the black/chrome look. I have all silver on my X3 M Sport and the black grills on my M3.

[Portimao318]

silver of course.

[drewxnyc]

So weird that randomly a fellow BMW owner was chatting with me and telling me how he really likes how the silver grills look on the X3 this weekend. Made me start to like it more and abandon all plans to buy the black grills or plastic dip them myself.

[atrueb]

I personally prefer the black and silver. Fortunately that is what I have on my saphire black 4 cylinder (and proud of it;-) F25.

It just looks better, is the traditional color combination of BMW and is the color that all M-Models come with. I think it just always looks good, no matter what color the car is.

[clivem2]

Originally Posted by atrueb

I personally prefer the black and silver. Fortunately that is what I have on my saphire black 4 cylinder (and proud of it;-) F25.

It just looks better, is the traditional color combination of BMW and is the color that all M-Models come with. I think it just always looks good, no matter what color the car is.

Yours is pre-LCI. With the LCI the silvery lights merge into the silver grill surrounds. This makes the colour balance different.

[bichoo]

I just updated the picture to have the proper shade of black for the fins. My X3 arrives next week so I'll see how i like the silver but i'm still leaning more towards the black. With so much black in the M sport front skirting, I find that the front looks more balanced with a black fins. With the silver, the front skirting just seems to be "hang" there. If there was some chrome in the front skirting (like in the X5), then I think the silver fins would be fine.

By the way, I did consider the all black grills but I found that it does not blend in in the headlight silvery. There needs to be some silver in the grill (as clivem2 mentioned) and I think that with the silver border, it blends in nicely with the headlights as well as the skirting below.

When i put this poll up, I was sure that most folks would vote for the black..wow was I wrong!

[brainy]

i've been asking friends for opinions on this as well. It seems that for space grey specifically, black grills aren't popular at all.
However, for other coloured X3's black seems to be popular.

[ChicagoNorthShore]

Silver!

[bichoo]

Originally Posted by brainy

i've been asking friends for opinions on this as well. It seems that for space grey specifically, black grills aren't popular at all.
However, for other coloured X3's black seems to be popular.

Interesting and lessens my confidence in the black..what to do:

[Lotus99]

Originally Posted by bichoo

Which one do you think looks better? (Sorry for my horrible editing skills on the blacked out grill)

I vote black myself. I hate excessive chrome on cars, especially on the front. It's a European thing also. Look at all the American cars with overdone chrome trim etc. Black is understated, and stealth looking also, and gets one more vote for being different.

Hence why BMW Performance offers those grills as an upgrade, and the M Sport package gives you the Shadowline trim around the windows, when the chrome trim is default.

And if the voting results are anything to go by, black is winning.

[FSociety]

I would plast-dip black with a gloss finish the whole grill

[Lotus99]

Originally Posted by ROBNYC

I would plast-dip black with a gloss finish the whole grill

I actually bought the matte and gloss plasti dip, because I was going to do the outside ring in gloss, and the slats in matte black.
.

[FSociety]

Originally Posted by Lotus99

I actually bought the matte and gloss lastly dip, because I was going to do the outside ring in gloss, and the slats in matte black.

Perfect!
My current grill are Satin and my Wheels are Gloss =D
Next car in a few weeks will have Super Black Gloss Front Grill and Wheels

[atrueb]

Originally Posted by Lotus99

I vote black myself. I hate excessive chrome on cars, especially on the front. It's a European thing also. Look at all the American cars with overdone chrome trim etc. Black is understated, and stealth looking also, and gets one more vote for being different.

So true;-)