Over the past year the hood vents on my silver XKR coupe faded quite noticeably on the wide flat areas. So while my car was in the shop, and my best friend's black BMW was being repaired and painted from a rear end collision, I pulled the vents and told the shop to paint them BMW black at the same time. I figured I'd put them on and if I liked them they'd stay and if not, I'd repaint them silver to match.

Any opinions? Yea or nay?

 

Looks good, matches wheels, now do front grilles in black, mirror covers and if you have the speed pack spoiler it too. Combination would look good with the silver.

 

You pretty much summed up what I was going to say. Oh also the side vents.

 

I prefer the monochromatic look, as IMHO the contrast detracts from the smooth flow of the XK's lines, but each to his own. That's why there are blondes, brunettes, redheads and everything else in between.

 

Sorry I'm in the nay group

 

I love it, but of course I would because I've got the same (cf vents from Mina). And cf side vents (wrap), black grills (also Mina). Looks great with silver, I think.

 

I don't mind and I certainly agree with powerhouse that at a minimum the grilles need to be black…… they will help with the transition to the black vents on the hood

 

I'm not sure yet if I'm going to keep them black. In a year a half I still haven't fully acclimated to the black wheels so I'm going to have to "digest" this for a little while before I make a final decision.

Thanks for all the input.

 

Looks a bit tacky in those photos. The texture of the two paints are at odds.

 

Ted - I think they look much better "au naturale". I agree with Stuart.

 

The black contrast looks good, but I would also paint a couple of other with the same paint to tie it all together as if it was meant to be black.

Seeing you have a body kit, how about a black rocker panel stripe or something (like Aston is doing on the Vantage GT)?

 

mosesbotbol,
I happened to see an Aston Vantage GT at my local Jaguar/Aston dealer while picking up some parts the other day with the black scoops, etc. and I was thinking about how similar it looked, driving by you would have been hardpressed to not think it was an XKR front end. It was white, however, and I thought the contrast of the black pieces on the white was a bit stark for me. I'll think about doing the other pieces if I keep the black scoops.

 

Red lipstick on the XK a little much.

 

But it's perfect on the right car!



Miss Piggy rides in style with Homer Simpson.

What is the difference between a pig and a fox? ... About 5 or 6 beers! :icon_banana :

 

Was thinking more like:

 

I think it looks great and does not take away from the styling at all. It also looks perfectly fine with the stock color, it isn't bad either way. If the factory had chosen to make them black you would get the same reply painting them the same color as the car.

I am thinking of the black rims also with my silver car but also am torn. I have never been a black rim fan, but with the silver I believe it works.

 

If you paint them, have them finished on the inside so the whole wheel has the same gloss and finish.

 

Sorry, I'm in the 'nay' group too. Never been a black wheel fan either but to each his own!

 

Just recently bought a Lexus RX 350 F Sport in White for my wife and it came with 19" black wheels. Actually to my surprise that particular vehicle looks pretty good with the stock black wheels. By the way. The 350 F Sport SUV handles much better than her old 08 Es 350 did.

 

Somehow the photo got deleted in my initial post; edit function no longer available to repost it so I decided to duplicate that post here with that photo. Sorry for the duplication.