So I have been looking into dulling down the beak of the 2010 TL. I have a Mayan Bronze Metallic and I'm wondering what you guys think about painting the bottom half of the grill black.



I would leave the top part of the beak the stock color but would paint the bottom and outside black. Burn my idea if you think itll look terrible...want honest opinions here.

 

I would color match it instead. It'll give it more of a oem look. Like what CarrieLynn did to her whip.

 

Others have done this, User Error and CarrieLynn come to mind. I honestly didn't like it at first but it has grown on me.

EDIT - just realized you are wanting to paint the outer portion a color other than your car...I don't think that would look good. It would make it look too busy IMO.

 

color match it all

 

Thanks for the opinions...Is there any issue with color matching and the paint chipping? The grill is a different material than the body and that concerns me that there will be a problem with the paint chipping off with small rocks and such hitting it. Anyone have any problems with this?

 

+1

 

haaha some of the things you guys come up crack me up..

if you do go that route.. you will essentially have 3 different colors on your car.. and that sir is a big no no

 

my thought originally was to take the chrome/grill/rear reflectors on the car and paint them black. Looking at different renderings of it though the bronze with the black accents would look atrocious.

 

Have you even seen nexsons mbm tl? look at his thread..

 

I haven't had any real significant problems with color match or excessive chipping when I paint the grilles. Key is to sand down that finish with 80 grit, then use an epoxy primer, let it sit for a day or so and then seal and topcoat.

 

I threw a clear bra on mine and its held up very well.


I will say when it was initially painted i didn't let it cure long enough and took it through a carwash that stripped off the edge of it. had to be repainted. But that wasn't necessarily a defect, I shouldn't have taken it through the wash that soon.

 

^^your problem wasnt that you took it too soon.. its that you took it to a car wash place instead of washing it yourself

 

Remind me to take some pics of my painted grill (since removed as I no longer have the car). There are chips, but these aren't due to Brian's process ... just a fact of driving any car on any road where the possibility of cars/trucks are in front of you heading in the same direction as you are.

 

How about I buy it back from ya! I can always use a grille, let me know a price and I will compare it to ebay.

 

You could also go the RonJon route for your MBM.

 

I have the same car, just painted the whole grille and very satisfied

 

Ron Jon looks fantastic, they're so pricey though

 

We have discounts available. Email or call me for more info.

Rondy.

 

If you're REALLY wanting to tone down the "beak", give serious consideration to the RonJon option. In my opinion, it completely changes the look of the nose.

 

Thats whats so great about this board and community, so many options, The RJ grille, the Nexon grille, painted option, etc, and you get to see it before you decide. Really awesome! And we are all here to answer questions at a moment's notice.

 

Yours looks nice

 

Would probably benefit by running on something other than the stock 18's.

 

+1

+1

Your idea would turn the beak into a buck tooth for sure.

 

+1 on the Nexson painted grille! he does great work