Black Kidney Grill
Contributors
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,084
Likes: 0
From: Thousand Oaks, California
My Ride: 2008 550i Jet Black on Black Leather, SAT with Paddles, Logic 7, Comfort Seats, NAV, Sport Package, PDC, Xenons, Sirius, Trinity 12W LED Angel Eyes, RPi GT Exhaust, M rear spoiler, ACS Roof Spoiler, Tinted Tail Lights, Bimmian Carbon Fiber Pillar Trim, Bimmian Shadow 550i emblem, RPi Scoop, E60 Forum Cling, Mtec bulbs in fog lights, Mtec 2W LED for License Plate Light Bulbs, K&N Filter, Bimmian LED Smoked Side Markers, Blackout roundels, Carbon Fiber Kidney Grills.
Retired Rides - 1989 325i convertible, 1995 M3, 2002 X5, 2005 545i, 2008 X5 (Lemon)
Originally Posted by DRANGED' post='837317' date='Apr 5 2009, 05:59 PM
Ebay is hit or miss in regards to grills. Contact member Trinity Autosport for OEM quality matte black grills. They offer the option of paint matched grills as well. 
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showuser=16681
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showuser=16681
Contributors
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,998
Likes: 1
From: St. Louis Burbs, USA
My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Coversďż˝ from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
You can get a high quality, guaranteed to fit matte black grille from Trinity shipped for about $65. I'd rather spend my money with someone who knows my car better than I do, stands behind their products, and know I won't have to spend two weeks screwing around on a return with some yayhoo from eBay. Now I sell and buy on eBay as well, so I'm not saying eBay sellers are inherently bad or anything, but when it comes to parts for my car, I'd prefer to go with a proven winner. I guess we all have different philosophies. If you choose to buy that $30 grille, more power to you.
Members
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Venice, FL
My Ride: 2007 550i Auto, monaco blue met., black Dakota leather, burl walnut trim, sport package, active steering, Navi, HUD, cold weather package, comfort access, heated rear seats, rear sunshades, rear side air bags, rear deck spoiler, Logic 7 w/CD changer,
Model Year: 2007
Originally Posted by CWS530' post='837399' date='Apr 5 2009, 10:18 PM
+1 for about twice the untested cheapie price, you can get a quality product from a trusted vendor like Trinity. BTW the product will arrive in excellent condition. I'm not kidding when I say I've ordered Swiss watches that weren't packed as securely.
E-mailed Trinity Autosport immediately, but the boss is out for the next week and a half. So I have to keep waiting. This was my first order with them and I'm NOT happy at all. Hope they'll replace it and improve the packaging.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 19,460
Likes: 0
From: Anaheim, CA
My Ride: F13 M6
Originally Posted by Felix' post='885641' date='May 21 2009, 09:56 AM
You probably got lucky. I ordered the black kidney grills 10 days ago from Trinity Autosport and just got them delivered by UPS. The right one was okay, but the left one had 3 of the 7 plastic tabs broken off. No way I can install it like this. The "packaging" was was very poor, the grills just wrapped in clear plastic bags, thrown in a flimsy cardboard box with "Fragile" tape on the outside - no styrofoam or any cushioning at all. :thumbsdown:
E-mailed Trinity Autosport immediately, but the boss is out for the next week and a half. So I have to keep waiting. This was my first order with them and I'm NOT happy at all. Hope they'll replace it and improve the packaging.
E-mailed Trinity Autosport immediately, but the boss is out for the next week and a half. So I have to keep waiting. This was my first order with them and I'm NOT happy at all. Hope they'll replace it and improve the packaging.
Members
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Venice, FL
My Ride: 2007 550i Auto, monaco blue met., black Dakota leather, burl walnut trim, sport package, active steering, Navi, HUD, cold weather package, comfort access, heated rear seats, rear sunshades, rear side air bags, rear deck spoiler, Logic 7 w/CD changer,
Model Year: 2007
Originally Posted by Felix' post='885641' date='May 21 2009, 12:56 PM
You probably got lucky. I ordered the black kidney grills 10 days ago from Trinity Autosport and just got them delivered by UPS. The right one was okay, but the left one had 3 of the 7 plastic tabs broken off. No way I can install it like this. The "packaging" was was very poor, the grills just wrapped in clear plastic bags, thrown in a flimsy cardboard box with "Fragile" tape on the outside - no styrofoam or any cushioning at all. :thumbsdown:
E-mailed Trinity Autosport immediately, but the boss is out for the next week and a half. So I have to keep waiting. This was my first order with them and I'm NOT happy at all. Hope they'll replace it and improve the packaging.
E-mailed Trinity Autosport immediately, but the boss is out for the next week and a half. So I have to keep waiting. This was my first order with them and I'm NOT happy at all. Hope they'll replace it and improve the packaging.
Received the replacement grill form Trinity Autosport today - well packed in bubble wrap and in perfect condition.
Installed them right away. However, it took quite some effort to remove the old ones because it is hard to reach the lower tabs through the grill without breaking the ribs. The upper ones are easy to reach after you remove the plastic rail with the rubber seal for the hood. As soon as one side is out the second one is a piece of cake because now you can easily reach behind. But anyway, well worth the effort, see photos below!
Felix
Senior Members
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach, VA
My Ride: 2007 X3 LCI
Originally Posted by flyingpuck' post='839456' date='Apr 7 2009, 04:10 PM
To use Ebay effectively, you MUST do your homework....check out the seller etc. I have always been VERY careful, and have VERY rarely been surprised with what I have purchased!
Senior Members
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 0
From: B-Ham, AL
My Ride: '06 550i
'84 Nissan S12 Turbo
Originally Posted by Felix' post='885641' date='May 21 2009, 11:56 AM
You probably got lucky. I ordered the black kidney grills 10 days ago from Trinity Autosport and just got them delivered by UPS. The right one was okay, but the left one had 3 of the 7 plastic tabs broken off.
Thats the bad thing about buying anything from Ebay.....if there is an issue, you may or may not hear back from the seller.
Stick with a reputable company like Trinity, and you be glad you did...especially if there is a problem
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ucsbwsr
E60, E61 Parts, Accessories and Mods
26
Feb 26, 2025 08:22 AM