rockndabox

I am thinking of painting my OEM billet grill (3 piece) black. Has anyone already done this, and how does it look?

bugandxbandme

I was thinking of doing this also...would like to see some pics.

xBHAWK

The OEM set-up is not 'billet'. The two lower grills are a honeycomb shape and are flat black. The upper grill is made to look like a billet grill but is a false or closed grill. I bought a set of aluminium billet grills for the two lower grills. The color was silver and it did not look so good on Polar White, so I had them powercoated flat black. (After I tried to paint then black myself, paint would chip off.) The upper grill is an OEM grill that is Black Sand Pearl in color.

bugandxbandme

I like that. Where did you get your fogs?

spr0k3t

Those aren't fogs. Those are the BSP fog-hole covers.

xBHAWK

Top photo shows the after-market fogs that I got off e-bay for about $208 at the time, three years ago. Prices have come down. Search e-bay for Scion XB fog lights and get the EOM type. With a switch, relay and wires that plug into the pre-wired XB. Later, I put amber decals over the fogs.

Lower photo: Sprock3t is correct... Black Sand Pearl covers shaved to fit over OEM fogs.

Thanks for noticing, I think that I am the only one to have working fog light covers in black and white that fit over the fogs. These and the variable speed intermittent wiper stalk that I installed off aN 05 VIBE, give me a feeling of uniqueness.

bugandxbandme

Ahhh! What I would do for a variable wiper switch! Honestly, the wiper settings are either infuriatingly slow or too fast. The last few days we have been driving in the rain(as you prob know) and it has been driving us crazy!
I like how dark the tint on your fogs in the first pics are.
Since most of the fogs an ebay right now are soooo cheap I'm afraid of what the quality will be like...

Goblin

If it is a true billet grill I'd have it powder coated. It will be much less likley to chip.

Kevin

bugandxbandme

Yeah, the grille I was talking about really is billet, its the one the RS 1's came with. But powder coating is really expensive in my area. I've looked into it before. Know of any chemical that will black aluminum?

Goblin

You could have it Anodized.
I can't imagine that grill runing more than 40 to have it powder coated. That's what I charge to do it anyway. You should shop around your area some more.

xBHAWK

If it makes you feel any better, I had my two lower billet aluminim grills power coated flat black for $100 in Manassas, VA.

bugandxbandme

Is anodizing cheaper than powder coating? And which is more durable when it comes to rock chips and stuff?

Goblin

Hard ano is very durable but it's not that cheap. Powder is pretty darn chip resistant too if it's done right.

ifi0nlykn3w

some friends and i painted the 2 honeycomb grills on my 06 xB white. will post pics as soon as i can.