How to remove the silver kidney surround?

[Vanne]

Hi, how do I remove the kidney from the car and then remove the silver outline for painting?

Cheers

[WAMz4]

If I recall correctly, the silver surround simply snaps off, about 6 plastic clips hold it in place. You can use a small flat screw driver to un-clip them but take care not to break them.

[Vanne]

Lol thanks, exactly as you said. Much appreciated.
V.

[Dalecan]

Yeap, just pull it out gently. I found that pulling the upper portion first helps.

[RADRACR]

I would recommend just buying black ones instead of painting.

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by RADRACR

I would recommend just buying black ones instead of painting.

X2. The paint will end up coming off and looking bad. I would Plasti-dip if I went that route.

[Dalecan]

Or carbon fiber look!

[RossBMWZseries]

I plasti dipped my OEM kidneys and they have a matte black look, they don't look bad.
I also have a set of fake carbon fiber kidneys. They look OK but comparing to my real carbon fiber parts in the car, you can really tell them apart. A set of real carbon fiber kidneys run you for about $180, and it's only the outside perimeter that's carbon fiber, the inside is plastic/abs/or something else.

Vanne, I'm glad you got it done! show us some pics!

[Westersund]

I painted the chrome frame on my DD, I sanded it with low grit papers first. After I used plastic primer, several coats. Then I sprayed it with flat black. Been brushing snow and ice away from the kidneys many times this winter and all of the paint is still there.

[RADRACR]

^ You must have a lot of time on your hands.

[Vanne]

Thanks Ross, it was my first time ever working with plastidip , and it turned out great. Just gives the car that accented look, very happy with it. I have to take some pics of the car today...

[Vanne]

Originally Posted by RADRACR

I would recommend just buying black ones instead of painting.

Cheers Rad, but I wasn't looking for black ;-)

[Westersund]

Originally Posted by RADRACR

^ You must have a lot of time on your hands.

The sanding took some time but the other stuff didn't take long. Still cheaper than buying new (even with labor).

[2006E85]

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1052044

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by Vanne

Cheers Rad, but I wasn't looking for black ;-)

What color did you go with then? Red?

[Vanne]

there ya go Gunmetal Grey

[RossBMWZseries]

It was my first time using plasti dip as well but it looks like I sprayed it way more times than you did. Good job though, looks even everywhere, but were you aiming for that black/greyish color?

Mine came out really black which is what I wanted (to black out the car), but if I recall correctly, I used about 8 layers of plasti dip on the entire kidney, not just the perimeter.

[RossBMWZseries]

and one more thing, your car is awesome, everyone knows that, but it looks even better in that 2nd shot! For the life of me, I can't take good pictures of my car, no matter what I do.

[bgeorge0049]

Originally Posted by Vanne

there ya go Gunmetal Grey

Looks great!

[chickdr]

I thought you said you weren't going for black...