Custom grille effects
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Custom grille effects
I painted the upper grille and center bumper with matte black paint and added the chrome lower piece. This gives it a little different look.
#2
>This gives it a little different look.
Yes, it makes it look much more current. Whenever I see a '13-'14 in a light color I can't help thinking how "dated" the front looks with the big body colored bar splitting the front end in half.
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My karma just ran over your dogma
Current Hers: '13 Lexus ES350
Current Mine: '08 Jaguar S-Type
Yes, it makes it look much more current. Whenever I see a '13-'14 in a light color I can't help thinking how "dated" the front looks with the big body colored bar splitting the front end in half.
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My karma just ran over your dogma
Current Hers: '13 Lexus ES350
Current Mine: '08 Jaguar S-Type
#3
Lexus Test Driver
The pre-facelift cars wouldn't look dated if the top and bottom grilled were the same color. It's a weird mix with the satin gray bars on top, body color bar in the middle and black bars at the bottom. I'm going to get some matte black vinyl to wrap the top grille and middle bar.
#4
The pre-facelift cars wouldn't look dated if the top and bottom grilled were the same color. It's a weird mix with the satin gray bars on top, body color bar in the middle and black bars at the bottom. I'm going to get some matte black vinyl to wrap the top grille and middle bar.
#5
Lexus Test Driver
Man, that's a sweet mod. Did you paint the grille or use a wrap? I'm thinking of using a dark gray wrap instead of black, for a closer match to the 2016 cars.
Last edited by chromedome; 08-03-16 at 05:46 PM.
#6
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
custom grille
I painted mine. I thought about using vinyl wrap but was worried the parking sensors would not work. They work fine through the paint.
#7
I conducted a quick and dirty test of the front parking sensors covered with electrical tape. First with just 2 center sensors covered then all 4. The tape I have is thicker than most vinyl wrap (.006" vs .002") however the sensors still worked but maybe with slightly less range (Im guessing 6" less). This would indicate to me using black vinyl wrap on the bumper piece would not adversely effect the parking sensors.
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#8
Wanted to post a follow-up after wrapping my center bumper piece. Purchased 3M satin black vinyl wrap from e-bay seller and installed it myself (first time experience). Turned out good, but a little more difficult than I expected to minimize wrinkles. No pics of mine but it looks very much like Kenny's white Lexus shown in post #4, except mine has a required license plate in the middle. Also I noted no change in the operation of the parking sensors.
#11
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: New Jersey
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Just painted mine, multiple coats of black Plastidip, and 3-4 coats of Plastidip "Mettalizer," gives the flat black a metallic, glossy shine, definitely updates the front end's dated look. A+
#14
i like it. it looks really good. i like the "full" spindle look - more current, more aggressive looking. personally, i would not paint though i would use a wrap so you or the next owner can easily return to stock if desired.