100% better in the "after" shot, IMO!

The bar across the bottom of the bumper needs putting back to grey/silver now the grille is no longer black IMHO

both 'versions' look fine, and its a good looker for a 2005..  ... - .- -.




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Yea going to buy the bottom silver trim off dan very soon

Looks lovely Mr Taylor, I was just going through the same deliberations re grille, my S/C is in the paint shop for a full re spray to Fuji White at the mo, had asked for the grille colour coded and then changed my mind after looking at lots of pics of white Fullfats etc, for inspiration.
Don't paint the washer jets, I am pretty sure they are black on all cars, I think there is a reason for this, perhaps they don't take paint well. If you want a good match, Halfrauds can mix you a spray can to any paint code for £12 - they did one for me and it was spot on.
I have painted my door handles too, what a faff stripping the handles to component parts, but well pleased now they are done . I will have the car fully back together in about two weeks, will post some pics then.
When you paint the sensors, remove the fine rubber washer/seal thingy, or it will crumple up from the solvent in the paint.
You can very easily spray the splitter trim - and the 'ring' around the spotlights yourself - with a can of BMW Titan silver spray, just mask up the spotlight surrounds carefully. Flat down the plastic with 600 wet and dry, then use plastic primer or adhesion promoter before you spray. I have done this on a few now, and it's never given any trouble eg flaking etc. I changed the colour of the bonnet vent from Brunel to Titan at the same time...

+1 for the dont paint the headlight washer jets They are in black from factory and have never come colour coded so i.m.h.o. DONT paint them or it will look silly in white

The silver strip in the bumper is exactly the same, both in colour & in gloss level as aerosol alloy wheel silver

And finally, if you really want the factory look then paint the lower splitter/under spoiler back to black! With the bling it was fine but on a standard FF it looks like a bodyshop did the job wrong in painting it