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plastic dip or paint or buy midnight grill, that's the question.

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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 02:37 AM
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plastic dip or paint or buy midnight grill, that's the question.

After looking at some KAD colored G37 with black grill, I am sold thus, what do you guys recommend? plastic dip, get it professionally painted, or buy OEM mid-night grill?
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 02:58 AM
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what about vinyl? either matt or gloss. i have been thinking on this too.
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 03:07 AM
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I was going to vinyl wrap mine but I was afraid that if it got hit by a rock it would start to tear. I found a great deal on a OEM midnight grille. I have been happy with it ever since.
Attached Thumbnails plastic dip or paint or buy midnight grill, that's the question.-img_6994.jpg  
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 03:09 AM
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Painted

If your not sure what color or finish you want, then plasti-dip it and see how it looks. Then remove the plasi-dip and paint it. I bought the midnight grill for my G and didn't see or realize that the top and bottom fins are still chrome which took away from the look. Luckily I was able to get a painted grill which looks soo much better than the midnight grill. Hope this helps.
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 04:05 AM
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Personally, I think the chrome grill is better looking, especially since my car is wheat rather than black.
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 06:46 AM
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I've been thinking about buying a new grill and having it painted in a "reverse midnight" right now mine is all back, painted, and they did a great job. Unfortunately, I picked up a rock chip on my way home with it.... Isn't bad but I know it's there.
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 06:55 AM
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Don't plasti-dip it. Either have it professionally painted or buy the midnight black grill. Keep an eye on ebay, i picked up my midnight black oem grill for $200.
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by cali_g37
After looking at some KAD colored G37 with black grill, I am sold thus, what do you guys recommend? plastic dip, get it professionally painted, or buy OEM mid-night grill?
My first reaction to a noob post about plastidipping the grille...

But you know, I think almost everyone's first mod idea on this forum is what to do about that obnoxiously chrome grille. And certainly the easiest thing that you can do (and subsequently un-do) is plastidip it. So I can't fault you that thinking. But don't. Just... don't.

Vinyl wrap will look much better, and can also be un-done. But unless you have skills in this area, you're going to be practicing those skills on your grille. So good luck with that.

The OEM Midnight Grille is a huge improvement over the standard chrome grille. But it's crazy expensive new, for what it is. And although it looks clean and unique (relatively speaking to the other G's on the road), it's still OEM and unoriginal.

Your best choice (IMO), is to have the grille professionally painted. You can mimic the Midnight Grille at a fair paint shop for $100+. Or you could have it all painted the same color for less. Or for probably twice the cost, you could go with a two-color grille...

...and that's what what I did with mine: body color on the perimeter, and gloss metallic black on the slats. I think it's a good look on almost any color G37 Sedan. The first time I saw this idea on the forum, I just about freaked out. I knew it was exactly what I wanted. Printed out a picture, and set it here on my desk, to haunt me for about a year, until I finally had it done. No regrets whatsoever.

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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 11:46 AM
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$4 for a can of plastidip. or $200 for a oem grill ?

I plastidiped mine and think it looks good.
but a wrapped or painted one would look even better and cheaper than $200.
just my 02 cents
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 11:59 AM
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my vote would be for an OEM accessory grille. i got mine new for $217 shipped. having a second grille was a solid reason for me, especially at not much more than what professional painting would have cost. this way i have a spare grille if i ever want to change back (not likely) or for when i sell the car. i can then sell the midnight grille and recoup some of my expense.

plasti-dip looks cheap, and picks up road debris easily and is tough to clean. professional paint looks good, but costs almost as much as what i paid, plus you're stuck with it.
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 12:06 PM
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-1 for plastidip
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 03:05 PM
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Just was browsing and found the midnight black grill for sedan on sale for $180 plus shipping, came out to about $200 total for me:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-Midn...-/331090649758

you're welcome

UPDATE: Price was lowered to $140 plus shipping. That is CHEAP! I received mine and it is the correct part for 2010+ sedan, although the listing says 2007-2013, I informed the seller that the years are wrong. New listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-Midn...-/231184943208

Last edited by bri; Apr 1, 2014 at 07:34 PM.
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by bri
Just was browsing and found the midnight black grill for sedan on sale for $180 plus shipping, came out to about $200 total for me:
New

your welcome
Yeah, no... look closer. The years are all across the board, and the pictures are of both the early and mid-model Sedan grilles, as well as a Coupe grille, just because.

Typical ebay nonsense.
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 03:21 PM
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He does post the part number which in fact is a 2010+ grill
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Old Mar 6, 2014 | 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by socialconflicts
He does post the part number which in fact is a 2010+ grill


Yea that's how I found the listing is by searching part number. If they send me the wrong one they're going to get an eBay claim
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