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Step By Step: Blacking out your grill
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 941
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From: Atlanta
1995 S14
Step By Step: Blacking out your grill
First off, I would like to apologize for the crappy picture quality. I let my friend borrow my camera, so I had to use my phone.
To start off, run down to the auto parts store and pick up some Dupli-Color Textured metallic coating. I highly recommend this because it looks like the same finish as the stock W124 grey finish that should be on your current grill, except it has a deep black microflake sheen (not too shiny, just right).
The first step is the remove the grill completely from the hood, because you definitley dont want to risk getting unwanted paint on your cars insides and body paint. The hardest part of this is removing the four screws that are under the front lip of the hood and behind the top part of the grill.
Next, you will need to carefull clean and remove the "grid" part of the grill from the chrome frame. The grid is held on by four pressure pins that can be fought off with some needle nose pliers. After the chrome frame is removed, proceed to tape off the chrome strips (unless you want the "blacked out" look that ChrisDPham has).
After the grill is adequately taped off, lay the grill out flat to prevent paint from flying around in the wind. Start by lightly coating the front to provide somewhat of a base coat. After this dries, I recommend repeating this two morw times. I ended up spraying three coats on the front and on eon the back.
After the paint has COMPLETELY dried, put the grill back in to the chrome frame. This took me a good fifteen minutes, so don't feel dumb if it takes a while. Now put that bad boy back on the hood and take some snap shots.
To start off, run down to the auto parts store and pick up some Dupli-Color Textured metallic coating. I highly recommend this because it looks like the same finish as the stock W124 grey finish that should be on your current grill, except it has a deep black microflake sheen (not too shiny, just right).
The first step is the remove the grill completely from the hood, because you definitley dont want to risk getting unwanted paint on your cars insides and body paint. The hardest part of this is removing the four screws that are under the front lip of the hood and behind the top part of the grill.
Next, you will need to carefull clean and remove the "grid" part of the grill from the chrome frame. The grid is held on by four pressure pins that can be fought off with some needle nose pliers. After the chrome frame is removed, proceed to tape off the chrome strips (unless you want the "blacked out" look that ChrisDPham has).
After the grill is adequately taped off, lay the grill out flat to prevent paint from flying around in the wind. Start by lightly coating the front to provide somewhat of a base coat. After this dries, I recommend repeating this two morw times. I ended up spraying three coats on the front and on eon the back.
After the paint has COMPLETELY dried, put the grill back in to the chrome frame. This took me a good fifteen minutes, so don't feel dumb if it takes a while. Now put that bad boy back on the hood and take some snap shots.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 717
Likes: 1
From: Manassas, VA, USA
2011 VW cc, 2004 ML350
Those chrome strips on the grill slide right off. I found that to be a lot easier than masking them. Here's mine:
I just wish I would have remembered to paint the release latch. I'll do that the next time I have the grill off.
I just wish I would have remembered to paint the release latch. I'll do that the next time I have the grill off.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
1995 S14
i tried to slide one off, but mine are pressure sealed. I am not sure if the 91' 300E is different than yours, but I didn't want to risk breaking them.
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
1995 S14
)
