Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim

ETCMSSJoe · 05-12-2008, 08:39 PM

I posted this in the 2008 STi general forum deep within a related thread already, but I think it fits here, too.

Many people don't like the silver colored upper front grille trim piece, and I'm one of those people, so I decided to paint it flat black to match the rest of the grille surround. I think it came out really nice, so here's how I did it:

Remove the entire front bumper cover - the whole grille comes off with it. Then remove the grille from the bumper cover (screws on the inside and pull gently). Then there are six screws holding the silver piece on. Remove it, scuff it with some fine sandpaper, wash and dry thoroughly, spray paint a couple times, and re-assemble.

I used 400 grit emery cloth for the scuffing, and plasti-kote #230 flat black engine paint. Painted once, let dry, scuffed that coat with the 400 grit, washed and dried, then sprayed again. No more sanding, just let it dry. This way the color and the texture are just about a perfect match. Total cost of this huge improvement: $7.00 for the paint and about two hours of my time. Here are the results (really, this is not a photoshop edit), what do you think?

AMTEXX · 05-12-2008, 08:45 PM

Looks awesome! Nice work!

unrequited · 05-12-2008, 09:40 PM

100% better!

fourseasonsandles · 05-13-2008, 04:53 AM

Cleans the front up well! Nice job!

GhoSStRyda · 06-05-2008, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ETCMSSJoe

I posted this in the 2008 STi general forum deep within a related thread already, but I think it fits here, too.

Many people don't like the silver colored upper front grille trim piece, and I'm one of those people, so I decided to paint it flat black to match the rest of the grille surround. I think it came out really nice, so here's how I did it:

Remove the entire front bumper cover - the whole grille comes off with it. Then remove the grille from the bumper cover (screws on the inside and pull gently). Then there are six screws holding the silver piece on. Remove it, scuff it with some fine sandpaper, wash and dry thoroughly, spray paint a couple times, and re-assemble.

I used 400 grit emery cloth for the scuffing, and plasti-kote #230 flat black engine paint. Painted once, let dry, scuffed that coat with the 400 grit, washed and dried, then sprayed again. No more sanding, just let it dry. This way the color and the texture are just about a perfect match. Total cost of this huge improvement: $7.00 for the paint and about two hours of my time. Here are the results (really, this is not a photoshop edit), what do you think?

thanks for the write up! im about to attempt this on my next mod day. your grill looks perfect now!

best of all, under $10 of materials!

wrxser · 06-06-2008, 04:52 PM

Very good job. That looks real nice.

12SecSTI · 06-07-2008, 07:10 AM

wow much much better! easy mod that makes a big difference

sticop · 06-09-2008, 01:07 PM

looks really good. i think it may look better color matched to body color

mofoSTI · 06-09-2008, 02:03 PM

I painted mine dgm. I dont have any pics of it yet tho

sleepsindirt · 06-09-2008, 02:11 PM

ah man,too sweet.that is my next mod thanks

csouth1017 · 07-06-2008, 09:31 AM

yo someone have any pics of doing this to the chrome on the rear of the new o8s? i wanted to remove it from the car completely but i quickly noticed it supports a tail light so painting it like this seems like it would be a good alternative

rmo55c · 07-06-2008, 09:46 AM

That looks so much nicer!!! Why couldn't subaru just see this from the start?

amg destroyer · 07-06-2008, 12:33 PM

Makes the front end look much sharper and more agressive. I like

UberWagon · 07-07-2008, 03:22 PM

Looks great, a good option to consider vs. the sport grille...

sujak · 07-07-2008, 03:23 PM

wow i really like that

05-12-2008, 09:40 PM	#3
unrequited Professional STI Racer Car: '06 WRC Blue Fav Mod: Nintendo Decal Posts: 663 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim 100% better!

05-13-2008, 04:53 AM	#4
fourseasonsandles Silver Member Car: 06 CGM Wingless Fav Mod: The Newest One! Location: Ra cha cha NY Posts: 3,311 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim Cleans the front up well! Nice job!

06-06-2008, 04:52 PM	#6
wrxser Spec C Club Car: 06 STI obp Fav Mod: My Wife Location: Newberg, Oregon Posts: 1,024 Join Date: Feb 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim Very good job. That looks real nice.

06-07-2008, 07:10 AM	#7
12SecSTI Spec C Club Car: 2007 STI Fav Mod: Perrin GT30R Location: Olathe, KS Posts: 1,306 Join Date: Jan 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim wow much much better! easy mod that makes a big difference

06-09-2008, 01:07 PM	#8
sticop Grassroots STI Racer Car: 04 WRB STI Fav Mod: 255's ftmfw Location: central NH Posts: 590 Join Date: Apr 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim looks really good. i think it may look better color matched to body color

05-12-2008, 08:45 PM	#2
AMTEXX STI Driver Car: black 05 Sti Posts: 295 Join Date: Jul 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim Looks awesome! Nice work!

06-09-2008, 02:03 PM	#9
mofoSTI Spec C Club Car: 08 STI,sr20det 510 Fav Mod: boob job for wife Location: springtuckey, OR Posts: 2,432 Join Date: Sep 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim I painted mine dgm. I dont have any pics of it yet tho

06-09-2008, 02:11 PM	#10
sleepsindirt Professional STI Driver Car: 08white sti gold bbs Fav Mod: emblem delete Posts: 410 Join Date: May 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim ah man,too sweet.that is my next mod thanks

07-06-2008, 09:31 AM	#11
csouth1017 Lurker Car: 08 black wrx Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 1 Join Date: Jul 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim yo someone have any pics of doing this to the chrome on the rear of the new o8s? i wanted to remove it from the car completely but i quickly noticed it supports a tail light so painting it like this seems like it would be a good alternative

07-06-2008, 09:46 AM	#12
rmo55c Silver Member Car: 05 WRB STi Fav Mod: PWT Points Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 960 Join Date: Dec 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim That looks so much nicer!!! Why couldn't subaru just see this from the start?

07-06-2008, 12:33 PM	#13
amg destroyer Iron Fisted Car: '05 STi Fav Mod: Sparco seat Location: OC Posts: 4,163 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (4)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim Makes the front end look much sharper and more agressive. I like

07-07-2008, 03:22 PM	#14
UberWagon Senior STI Driver Car: 2008 STi (Dark Gray) Fav Mod: Proper Alignment Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 386 Join Date: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim Looks great, a good option to consider vs. the sport grille...

07-07-2008, 03:23 PM	#15
sujak Professional STI Racer Car: 05' AW WRX STi Fav Mod: Passport 8500 X50 Location: Illinois Posts: 732 Join Date: Jun 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: Get rid of your 08' STi's silver grille trim wow i really like that This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.