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Thread: has anyone ever seen gold kidneys or wide grills on an e34?

  1. #1
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    has anyone ever seen gold kidneys or wide grills on an e34?

    I can't say I've seen it done before. I have gold badging so I'm thinking this would possibly look nice and wouldn't tarnish

    by gold, i mean gold plating. As apposed to chrome plating.
    Last edited by lucasshughess; 02-17-2012 at 09:35 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  2. #2
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    Umm, the BMW is not a Lexus.....

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    mehhhhhh. personal opinion = black. can't really get down with the bling, sorry sir.

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    What color is your car?

    The kidneys are too big for gold trim. The only way to pull off gold trim is in very small areas..and even then it is dubious.

    e34 540i/6 :: e30
    M62/6 :: e30 318is :: c5 Z06

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by jbondbmw View Post
    Umm, the BMW is not a Lexus.....
    Having owned three new lexus cars since 2000, not quiet sure what is meant by this?
    SOLD: '92 525i/5spd/S52B32

  7. #7
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    no
    gold looks tacky, even if its real, its still looks tacky
    only good place for gold is protecting equipment going into space....

    Quote Originally Posted by BDR View Post
    Having owned three new lexus cars since 2000, not quiet sure what is meant by this?
    they use gold instead of chrome.....
    Last edited by uk525td; 02-17-2012 at 09:54 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
    Long time E34 owner
    Now E39 530D touring Sport Auto

  8. #8
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    Thankfully not.

    Quote Originally Posted by BDR View Post
    Having owned three new lexus cars since 2000, not quiet sure what is meant by this?
    Gold-plated trim was (and maybe still is) a popular option for many Lexii and Toyotas in the '90s/early '00s.
    Last edited by BoldUlysses; 02-17-2012 at 09:56 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
    Current: '94 MX-6 V6/5 • '72 240Z • '10 Mazda5
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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by BDR View Post
    Having owned three new lexus cars since 2000, not quiet sure what is meant by this?


  10. #10
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    Quick web search yielded this from our own forum:


    Not an e34 i know, so here's a photoshop to compare:


    J/K. I wouldn't do it, like someone said, the grill is to big an area for gold. I can even get on board with some gold colored wheels, but on the grill i feel like it would just be really obviously a piece of black plastic with spray paint on it. Just my $0.02

  11. #11
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    There are more interesting options than gold plating the chrome pieces.

    There aren't many car manufacturers who continue to do it.

    Toyota/lexus and lincoln are 2 of the very very very few who still gold plate chrome accents from factory.

    My take on it is this.

    I wouldn't wear a gold plated ring. So why gold plate the chrome on the car.

    Besides nothing attractive about a fake gold ring turning your pinky finger green.

  12. #12
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    Just saw one at the junkyard with gold kidneys. Looked horrible

    Sent from my iPhone using BF.com

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by HotRodBimmer View Post
    but on the grill i feel like it would just be really obviously a piece of black plastic with spray paint on it. Just my $0.02
    I think you misinterpreted the OP - he's was wanting to go with the gold on the normally chrome kidney rings, not the plastic section. At least, that's what I gathered from the post. That said, I wouldn't do it myself - it would look kinda funny. A really really clean black car would be the only way, and I don't think it would be even half as good as a clean silver color (brushed aluminum is what I"m thinking, for contrast). Most people here go for the 'shadowlined' look, which means painting the chrome bits satin black like some cars came from the factory.

    Fox


  14. #14
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    I thought I remembered there was a 540 A edition with Gold centers on the wheels and gold kidney trim.... I remember seeing one thena sking and thought I read there it had been an option at least..gold badge too..

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by jbondbmw View Post


    LOL I guess that was before my time We only had silver and black pearl... I opted for Black Pearl emblems.

    SOLD: '92 525i/5spd/S52B32

  16. #16
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    Yes.
    My uncle had a 93 525i that I was going to grab as my first car, after they dubbed it dead.

    Has a bad tranny, and a few other problems.

    It was only gold in some areas, and I can only guess it was done at a pretty sketched out shop out in Alhambra, CA.

    It was an Alpine White on Cream (Maybe).
    The gold was only found on the kidney ring, the badge, and the BMW outer ring (inside was still white).

    It wasn't too bad, but had I nabbed it off of them would have definitely changed it out for chrome.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by K Fox View Post
    I think you misinterpreted the OP - he's was wanting to go with the gold on the normally chrome kidney rings, not the plastic section. At least, that's what I gathered from the post. That said, I wouldn't do it myself - it would look kinda funny. A really really clean black car would be the only way, and I don't think it would be even half as good as a clean silver color (brushed aluminum is what I"m thinking, for contrast). Most people here go for the 'shadowlined' look, which means painting the chrome bits satin black like some cars came from the factory.

    Fox
    Fox, you're spot on. Not sure how many people misinterpreted the original post. I honestly don't think shiny gold would look too faggot-like considering they are shiny silver to begin with. But on second thought, I do agree that it would look a bit funny.

    Quote Originally Posted by HotRodBimmer View Post
    Quick web search yielded this from our own forum:


    Not an e34 i know, so here's a photoshop to compare:


    J/K. I wouldn't do it, like someone said, the grill is to big an area for gold. I can even get on board with some gold colored wheels, but on the grill i feel like it would just be really obviously a piece of black plastic with spray paint on it. Just my $0.02
    You, misunderstood, but I still had a big laugh at those 2 photos!

    Quote Originally Posted by 1989325ii View Post
    Just saw one at the junkyard with gold kidneys. Looked horrible

    Sent from my iPhone using BF.com
    Good to know! I was just curious, that's all. I guess we've all come to a general consensus here haha

    I'd still really like to see a photo of just the kidney grill rings gold plated, out of curiousity if anyone has a photo?
    Last edited by lucasshughess; 02-17-2012 at 11:37 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  18. #18
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    Taken on my env touch phone (not great pictures, at all).

    Body was immaculate, had tranny problems, though.

    May be hard to see, but kidneys are gold.
    Last edited by rawfuls; 04-14-2019 at 11:48 PM.

  19. #19
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    not impressed.

  20. #20
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    Last edited by imae30driver; 05-02-2013 at 12:41 AM.

  21. #21
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    Please no

  22. #22
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    There is a maroon e32 around with complete gold trim package and for the crowning glory, ///M badges and V12 badges.

    Looks pimptastic, I don't remember there ever being a ///M750iL?
    my version of a midlife crisis: 20 year old spray painted, lowered BMW station wagon.

  23. #23
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  24. #24
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    Worse thread resurrect ever! That gold grilled E30 just made me puke a little in my mouth.

    1992 525iT, Manual Swap, Bilstien Sport struts, H&R springs, Style 32 17" wheels (17x8 fronts, 17x9 rears), ACS exhaust, Euro cluster, Wilwood SL6R BBK on E38 rotors

  25. #25
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    My black on black e34 non-wide grille has gold kidney grilles, I don't have any pictures but I could go snag one if I need to.

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