[nvestr]

Hey guys,

My M40i arrives in a few weeks. It is Alpine White with 21" OEM wheels (Cerium).

I really love the look of the black (M PErformance or equivalent) grills but do not feel like deleting all of the cerium, especially the wheels. I lease my cars and do not want to do too much modification. I feel like I can live with swapping the grills but doing everything (boomerangs, side vents, mirrors, wheels, etc.) is a bit more than I'm willing to do (i.e. $$ to modify, risk of breaking OEM parts as they will need to be put back on prior to lease return.

What are the thoughts on only doing the grill and leaving the remainder in Cerium. Does it clash?

To me, I feel like the grill can be done without doing the rest, since there is already gloss black all over the vehicle (lower grill, roof rails, rear valance/diffuser, window surrounds, etc.) - what's one more piece?. It's not like you are introducing a color for the first time on the vehicle.

Just thought I would hear everyone's opinions on this...

[chicagofan00]

I believe a few others have done only the grille and it looks fine.

To be honest though, doesn't matter one bit what others think. It's all a matter of what you like and what you'll be happy with/comfortable with as you are the one that is paying for it and driving it every day.

[Jayf30]

I've done the mix n match mod with the black/cerium grill combo and think it looks great. I will say most of the time it looks a lot better in person where as the all-black grills are more photogenic.[IMG][/IMG]

[MechX3M40i]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

I believe a few others have done only the grille and it looks fine.

To be honest though, doesn't matter one bit what others think. It's all a matter of what you like and what you'll be happy with/comfortable with as you are the one that is paying for it and driving it every day.

Well said! Who cares what other think of your car? Do what you like and enjoy the car however way you want!

By the way, I think the black grill alone will be just fine. No clash at all.

Enjoy the ride when it arrives

[rem40i]

Ive changed the grills & side vents. Waiting on other manufacturers to come out with CF mirror caps and black boomerangs. After all is said and done, the only cerium will be my wheels until I find some wheels I really want.

[IM_ALL_IN]

I have AW too and thought about doing exactly this, however, with this color specifically, a cerium grill looks best IMO. Obviously opinions will vary.

If I was going to change, it would be the grill and mirror caps. I'd leave the vents and possibly leave the boomerangs too.

[XGoober]

Originally Posted by nvestr

To me, I feel like the grill can be done without doing the rest,

That's all you need to know, right there ;-)

It's your car, do whatever you like. Don't worry about anything else.

[ParadigmDawg]

I say "murder it out" or leave it alone.....

A car should be two colors only. Whatever the paint is and black....

Mine for example:



And yes, I have a black license plate coming.

...oh and red....I like blacked out lights but not the inherent danger they can bring.

[IXVXI]

Originally Posted by ParadigmDawg

I say "murder it out" or leave it alone.....

Agreed!

We have an alpine white m40i too. Personally for us it was all or nothing.

We choose to do nothing. More money in our bank accounts and less stress in our lives.

[OttoMobilia]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

I believe a few others have done only the grille and it looks fine.

To be honest though, doesn't matter one bit what others think. It's all a matter of what you like and what you'll be happy with/comfortable with as you are the one that is paying for it and driving it every day.

Totally agree here and well said.

Do what you like...you will be looking at it and enjoying it the most..

Congrats

[SROC3]

On white - the Black Grill and Cerium accents look good Gives the car that just little bit of aggressiveness and still retains the classy look. I'd do it. Just don't black out the side mirrors....it would narrow the car down.

[Richierich32]

Originally Posted by nvestr

Hey guys,

My M40i arrives in a few weeks. It is Alpine White with 21" OEM wheels (Cerium).

I really love the look of the black (M PErformance or equivalent) grills but do not feel like deleting all of the cerium, especially the wheels. I lease my cars and do not want to do too much modification. I feel like I can live with swapping the grills but doing everything (boomerangs, side vents, mirrors, wheels, etc.) is a bit more than I'm willing to do (i.e. $$ to modify, risk of breaking OEM parts as they will need to be put back on prior to lease return.

What are the thoughts on only doing the grill and leaving the remainder in Cerium. Does it clash?

To me, I feel like the grill can be done without doing the rest, since there is already gloss black all over the vehicle (lower grill, roof rails, rear valance/diffuser, window surrounds, etc.) - what's one more piece?. It's not like you are introducing a color for the first time on the vehicle.

Just thought I would hear everyone's opinions on this...

I have a white 40d and was looking to get the following for starters
.maybe add grills later.

https://shop.bmw.co.uk/INTERSHOP/web/WFS/BMWUK-21972-Site/en_GB/21972-responsive/GBP/ViewProduct-Start?SKU=PID_598681&CatalogID=Zubehoer_Welt-UK&CategoryDomainName=BMW-Zubehoer_Welt-UK&CategoryName=StructureGroup_903886542955269

https://shop.bmw.co.uk/INTERSHOP/web/WFS/BMWUK-21972-Site/en_GB/21972-responsive/GBP/ViewProduct-Start?SKU=PID_598695&CatalogID=Zubehoer_Welt-UK&CategoryDomainName=BMW-Zubehoer_Welt-UK&CategoryName=StructureGroup_903886542955269

[FreeMarcal]

I have dark graphite and did IND grill, mirrors, and side vents but left the front trim & side reflective markers -- the "boomerang" front trim pieces stick out like a sore thumb as do the side markers. I've got both coming in the mail tomorrow and plan on taking a bunch of pictures. Only thing left to do after that is wheels/tires ...

[MrPorter]

You're getting about the responses I would anticipate from a question like this - either people pushing whatever they did or want to do on you (ignoring what you want), or telling you to do whatever you want.

Do the latter. Sometimes it's nice to please others and get compliments, but you want to be the one staring at your car when you walk away from it.

Additionally, other people have already done what you're looking to do - either deliberately standalone or as part of their longer process. Take a look at some of the photos, see if it looks the way you think you want it to, and go from there.

[chicagofan00]

Haha, I had to stop and turn around to look at my X3 this morning. Even took a photo as it just puts a smile on my face each day.

[No1Cares]

about to murder out my x3 today...will let you know. except like everyone else buying the black mirror caps and boomerangs, I have opted to buy faux carbon fiber vinyl wrap from vivid for the caps and boomerangs. saw another forum member post the carbon fiber wrap and it looks outstanding. I'll post pics if it looks good. I figured I'd try vinyl first because if it looks terrible and ends up peeling and looking cheap, I simply take it off and its only a 45 dollar whoops plus time wasted.

I agree with all colors same or none of them. can't have some cerium and some not. it'll look super ghetto.

[nvestr]

Originally Posted by Casotakar

about to murder out my x3 today...will let you know. except like everyone else buying the black mirror caps and boomerangs, I have opted to buy faux carbon fiber vinyl wrap from vivid for the caps and boomerangs. saw another forum member post the carbon fiber wrap and it looks outstanding. I'll post pics if it looks good. I figured I'd try vinyl first because if it looks terrible and ends up peeling and looking cheap, I simply take it off and its only a 45 dollar whoops plus time wasted.

I agree with all colors same or none of them. can't have some cerium and some not. it'll look super ghetto.

Let us know how the vinyl goes - that sounds like a low risk, low cost option!

That being said, re: your comment about mixing being ghetto, wouldn't that imply that the M40i stock is ghetto since it's already a mix of cerium and gloss black?

[Bmock17]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

Haha, I had to stop and turn around to look at my X3 this morning. Even took a photo as it just puts a smile on my face each day.

Looks great!

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by Bmock17

Looks great!

Thanks!

[IM_ALL_IN]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

Haha, I had to stop and turn around to look at my X3 this morning. Even took a photo as it just puts a smile on my face each day.

Do you have frontals? This vehicle looks great in silver.

[TX3M]

Originally Posted by IM_ALL_IN

Do you have frontals? This vehicle looks great in silver.

Here is Chicagofan00's thread with pics of his stunning Silver X3:

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1589089

[No1Cares]

Originally Posted by nvestr

Let us know how the vinyl goes - that sounds like a low risk, low cost option!

That being said, re: your comment about mixing being ghetto, wouldn't that imply that the M40i stock is ghetto since it's already a mix of cerium and gloss black?

I’m taking about all cerium grey parts. If you change one of those parts to black, you should do all black. Not some parts cerium, some parts black.

I got the front grille, side gills, wheel spacers, and my summers installed yesterday. Ran out of desire to do the wrap. Will work on that next week when off at work. It’s super ghetto looking right now with cerium mirror caps and boomerangs and everything else gloss black....