aces2412

Hello I just purchsed my 09 TL sh-awd and decided I wanted to Plasti Dip the front grill, to see how it would look:/Users/scotthealy/Desktop/IMG_0401.JPG

/Users/scotthealy/Desktop/IMG_0402.JPG

I also have a little buyers remorse for passing on the cpo 2010 BMW 328Ix. The main reasons that I passed were, the BMW was harder to steer and readability plus resale value. What do you Think?





[IMG]Users/scotthealy/Desktop/IMG_0402.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]/Users/scotthealy/Desktop/IMG_0401.JPG[/IMG]

Img_0401.jpg

Ok the first thing i need to learn is how to add an image

MoAbbas

go to photobucket, or any other photo sharing site, upload your pictures there, and then you can get the links from there to post as links here.

Pseudomaniac

iTrader: (1)

tinypic, picgarage, flikr ....

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Then also know that you don't have to post single pictures in a single post. You can post multiple pictures in a single post.

aces2412

[IMG]www.flickr.com/photos/88104294@N05/8058448804/in/photostream[/IMG]





I give up

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Scott-Dude.......


You're using Flickr....stop!

Switch over to PhotoBucket.com-it's free of charge.

Download the pics there. Then, copy the IMG code (it's the last one available to copy). Then post here to Acurazine.

aces2412

Ok sorry I am an idiot.

Hogan9166

iTrader: (1)

What is the inconsistency in finish caused by? Are those shadows or glare or issues with the finish? I am considering doing this, too but not if I can't get a consistent finish out of the can.

aces2412

The finish does look more like a black bumper. The waves in the texture is poor application. My first try. I would prefer a paint job but that is forever and would decrease the resale value.

MoAbbas

that looks like plastidip to me. you'll never get amaaazing results using that, might aswell get a paint job. Talk to a forum member here, his name is Nexson, if you see his work, you'll understand why. he can paint it for you and it'll look OEM.

anyone buying the car after you will appreciate that it was done, the grille is probably the least loved part of this car, and when painted all black, it actually looks really good.

pimpin-tl

Actually yes you will if you do it right. I did mine and it fine and has a matte finish. Nexson doesn't paint for people any more.

Pseudomaniac

iTrader: (1)

I think I threw up a little.

I'd suggest getting on ebay and ordering a rattle can of CBP if you're gonna try that. Hit it with some adhesion promoter first. At least you'll get a single stage enamel shine with color and flake match. You can always get on ebay/acura parts and order a new grille when you're ready to go back stock.

aces2412

Ha, nice. That is what is great about plasti spray. If you do not like it just peal it off.

pimpin-tl

If done right it looks fine.

My grill now till it gets painted and emblems





My GTI with the rear part done and sides.

MoAbbas

the difference between the 2012 grill and the 09-11 grills is really apparent right here. https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ghlight=Ack+TL

scroll down a bit and see Ret3ro's grill... night and day difference between plastidip and having it actually painted.

it looks perfectly fine on pimpin's 12 grill, but awful on the 09-11. gotta agree with psuedo here.

aces2412

I removed some of the plastic dip. I do like this look better.

birdy*feet

I'm sorry. That still doesn't look good. If I were you, I'd go back to square one and have it done right. If you want a black grill, have it painted to match.

Hogan9166

iTrader: (1)

Or...you can do what you want, since it's your own car. If you like it, that's what matters.

birdy*feet

The OP asked for opinions. Read the title of the thread.

potmilkz

dont cheap out on your 35k car.. painting the grill is like less than 200 bucks..

you want quality... unless your really that cheap..

Hogan9166

iTrader: (1)

But by saying "do it right", you imply it is wrong. Just semantics I'm sure.

potmilkz

i can truthfully tell you 1 or 2 years down the line, you can get a grill for less than $150 bucks.

so if thats the case, you can either choose to take the loss of how many dollars for the decrease resale value that you calculated, or you can just fork out $150 bucks to get another oem grill once you want to sell it, or trade your OEM Color matched grill with someone, or sell it and get your money back.

Not painting the grill properly due to decreased resale value is a dumb reason because the grill isn't really expensive to begin with. i could imagine a set of wheels as it cost hundreds but not a grill.

birdy*feet

I totally missed this post at first, but who told you that a colour matched grill will absolutely decrease resale value, and in that vein, why are you concerned about resale value when you just bought the car anyhow?

Hypothetically, even if a colour matched grill did decrease the resale value, like Pot said, a grill is a couple hundred bucks should you decide to sell or trade in down the line. And if you really want to know something funny, here is the TL I recently traded in; note that the grill and emblems are painted to match the CBP body. I had my dealership do this and didn't mind paying a bit extra for perfection:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ighlight=birdy

So you think this might decrease resale/trade-in value? Well, the Audi dealership actually LOVED the fact that the car looked so slick with the grill & emblems done and found it to be more desirable. I got exactly what I wanted in trade value for that car. FYI, my old TL sold before it even hit the lot. So definitely have fun and ENJOY your car. Don't be concerned with resale value or you'll drive yourself crazy every time you get a little nick in the paint or when you really want to mod it but just can't because it might devalue it. You don't know what's going to pull away from resale value and what won't, and really you should be loving every second of your car while you have it.

potmilkz

also some acura dealers already have the grill painted when you buy the car.. so to my understanding there is no decrease resale value involved at all.

Mr Marco

OP, that looks like shit IMHO.
C'mon you can do better, you're from Maryland, not Arizona.

The front of your car looks like this:


When it should look like this:

KarKraze

Op,i know you are looking at something reversable but i suggest that you take a look at Fyah's Tl who has painted his grille black/silver,it looks superb.

You will have your car for a while,paint it and enjoy it because it will look so much better than original and even the dealers will agree.

jspagna1

Had the grille painted WDP to match the car on my 2010 TL by the dealer. Then I had it clear bra'd. It will look great and will not effect re-sale. If the guy buys the car and doesn't like it, he can just buy a replacement grille from E-Bay for like $25.00 like I did for my 2010 just to have an extra grille.

aces2412

You are correct i ask for opinions. What i learned from the plasti spray is exactly how i want the real paint job to look. I do not like the whole grill painted black to match. I like it the way i have it now. The shield is not so pronounced. Perfect for me. So yes plasti dip is the cheap way but it give me the ability to play without screwing up. So now i will look into painting the part i want black.

Resale issue. Its good to here some of you have not had trouble with resale value after changing the appearance of stock. But carmax and some other places dont like modified vehicles. And yes i use carmax for there trade in value estimates. I will have other dealers beat there quotes. Works well.

Thanks for the strong opinions. I asked for it

potmilkz

ehh he will eventually give in and paint it.. i give him a few months before we see pictures of it.

HeartTLs

iTrader: (5)

Who buys a car and immediately there after worries about resale value, unless it's a beater? Is this your beater?

SrSquirrel

Can the grills be black chromed? That would look good on black and graphite grey cars.

potmilkz

black chrome already come as a optional accessory for the tl.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ACURA-OEM-FA...015043&vxp=mtr

aces2412

Someone who is smart about their purchases. That is why I past on the bmw. I did not want to be at 95k miles in a bmw and realize the resale value of this car is about to go into a free fall. "Who worries about resale" the answer is someone who works for a living.

potmilkz

By the time you hit that 95k mark or 60/70/80/120k mark.. the last thing i would think that would hurt the resale value is the grill. You should be more worried about how well the car is taken care of.. and by that time your grill will be chipped by rocks in many different places, maybe someone backs into your front bumper by accident.. anything can happen.

we all work, how else do you think we can afford these cars???

again.. the grill is about $150 used on ebay.. if you are content about what you did with your grill then by all means stick with it.. but to the members here that replied, it looks tacky..

Ask yourself.. do you really want two shades of black on your car?? its a 35k+ car and your using a $6 bottle of spray can on your car? i can understand emblems being flat black, but not such a large piece like the front grill.

Mr Marco

Looks like we need another comparison picture set.
There's a right way and a wrong way to do this car.

Your's is wrong...



This is right...

potmilkz

jspagna1

As I've mentioned before, dark colored cars look good with the whole grill surround and all painted where painting just the beak looks good on the light colored cars.

Mr Marco

If only in BRP...
Thought about painting the beak, but everytime I have the money another surprise bill comes up.

SrSquirrel

That second TL is sweet!!

pimpin-tl

Is this for a 09-10? What you thinking of letting it go for?