[Mat77]

Here are my first set of mods on my newly acquired R52.
Changed the stereo from factory to an Alpine dab unit. Hardest part was routing the dab aerial, the rest was pretty easy. You do have to undo a lot of the dash compared to other cars but it was still pretty easy. About 2 hours altogether.
Next was the K&N cold intake. Again pretty easy just tight access for getting the old box out.
Finally I changed the front grilles for some black gloss ones. Getting them off was a pig because of the clips which were rusted. New clips were horrible to fit but I found a trick on YouTube which worked well. Use a 6mm socket to push inside of the new clips whilst pushing with other hand from the outside.
Waiting for my new strut brace from BigJim to finish things for a while.

 

[big jim]

Paint the silver bar in the centre of the grille black. Will look loads better, I did it on my R53 after putting an aero grille on

Bet the 57i sounds good, loved mine on the r52

hopefully the strut brace will be with you tomorrow or Tuesday

 

[Mat77]

Paint the silver bar in the centre of the grille black. Will look loads better, I did it on my R53 after putting an aero grille on

Bet the 57i sounds good, loved mine on the r52

hopefully the strut brace will be with you tomorrow or Tuesday

Cheers
I’ve been looking for a black one on fleabay but no luck.
did you strip the chrome off first when you did yours?
The 57i is nice. 😁 couldn’t get the resonator box out though. It’s in there tight as a mackerels ring piece

 

[big jim]

Sorry no I mean the strengthening bar on the bonnet in the centre of the upper grille, do that black

On my r56 though that chrome bar on the lower grille I just painted with plasticote, it’s held up pretty well and when it does get marked I’ll just peel it off and reapply

 

[Mat77]

Sorry no I mean the strengthening bar on the bonnet in the centre of the upper grille, do that black
View attachment 107763

On my r56 though that chrome bar on the lower grille I just painted with plasticote, it’s held up pretty well and when it does get marked I’ll just peel it off and reapply

Oh yeah, see what you mean. No way I’m taking it off as it was bitch to fit. I’ll paint through the bars and get some plasticote 👍