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DISCUSSION => Exterior => Topic started by: Isamemon on February 15, 2009, 10:52:19 AM

Title: vent grills
Post by: Isamemon on February 15, 2009, 10:52:19 AM

91 318 ic
the vent grilles in front of the windshield are plastic and very dull
the rest of the car shines ( is black) so the dull grilles are ....sad looking

can I remove them...how...so I can paint them or do I have to paint them in place

Title: vent grills
Post by: ak96ss on February 15, 2009, 11:58:02 AM

They are held in with tension on some little plastic stubby clip-things...  :) There, that cleared it up, didn't it?

You can very carefully pry them out and repaint, or buy new ones - they were pretty cheap, IIRC. Use a plastic pry tool, and start at the top edge, next to the windshield. Of course, you will also have to remove the wiper arm on the driver's side to get that one out. Don't forget to index it on the stud so you can out it back on in roughly the same position.

Title: vent grills
Post by: ak96ss on February 15, 2009, 12:12:23 PM

OK, here's a crappy picture. Four clips along the top, just push them back and pry up.

(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_GVjhH8d20fE/SZhY0-MX4MI/AAAAAAAAF6A/Ikl9PK1C4HU/s800/Dashvent.jpg)

Title: vent grills
Post by: Voluted on February 23, 2009, 11:53:41 PM

I repainted mine and the paint adhered very well to them. Mine were very faded from sitting in the sun for the life of the car. If i remember correctly i used BBQ rust paint or something along those lines. The finish isn't matte but it isn't very shiny either.

**edit**

For comparison, i did the front grill too:


BEFORE:
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh235/voluted/P5250116Large.jpg)


AFTER:
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh235/voluted/Finished/IMG_0009.jpg)
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh235/voluted/10.jpg)