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      12-31-2012, 09:39 AM   #1
maitrimk
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Has Anyone Blacked out Aluminum Running Boards?

Hi Everyone,

I just wondered if anyone has blacked out the aluminum running boards to Matte Black or any black for that matter? I have a platinum Grey 2012 X5 and have been trying to get rid of all chrome and metal on the car. (emblems, exhaust tips, etc...) The last item is the aluminum running boards. Does anyone have any pictures? experience? What did you do to black them out? Powder Coat? Take it off and spray it yourself with matte black paint?

And lastly, What is your opinion on making them black to blend in with the car?
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      12-31-2012, 10:26 PM   #2
Sylvan Lake V35
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Have seen a few guys do it, not sure what they used but I would think you need something durable like powder coat. It looks pretty good I'll try to find a few pictures of a couple I have seen.

A quick look all I could find was a photoshop.... Second picture down in this thread.

http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=723196


Here is one that is real.

http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...&highlight=Bbs
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Last edited by Sylvan Lake V35; 12-31-2012 at 10:50 PM..
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      01-01-2013, 12:31 PM   #3
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I blacked mine out, all i did was remove all debris and oil, taped it up then put 3 layers of rocker panel paint. They have been on for about 3 months now and perfectly fine.

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      01-01-2013, 12:45 PM   #4
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nice
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      01-01-2013, 07:39 PM   #5
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Now my next question is, how do we take off the aluminum part of the running boards off the car?

Edit:

I just saw the DIY guide to install it.. boy it seems painful. But I dont want to have aluminum showing on the car. Hmm... Don't know what to do. Since its been installed, uninstalling it should be fairly simple right? Has anyone taken it off after install?

Last edited by maitrimk; 01-01-2013 at 07:50 PM..
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      01-01-2013, 10:48 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nigxdoof View Post
Now my next question is, how do we take off the aluminum part of the running boards off the car?

Edit:

I just saw the DIY guide to install it.. boy it seems painful. But I dont want to have aluminum showing on the car. Hmm... Don't know what to do. Since its been installed, uninstalling it should be fairly simple right? Has anyone taken it off after install?
Its basically the same process backwards, but taking the aluminium off the plastic will be difficult, i think its held in by special rivets.
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      01-02-2013, 11:52 AM   #7
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Actually, the aluminium is screwed on I believe, and mostly just held in place by the other parts and a hooked lip. I'm going off of memory, but I do know that there are no rivets holding on the aluminium. the only rivets involved are those for the fender flares or inside wheel well area.

I had to take the aluminium off of the first side I had installed because I forgot to place the foam pad under it. So i did the uninstall of the sidestep that I was working on and put it in. it wasn't fun, but nothing too difficult if you have the time and drive to do it. Then just taking the aluminium pieces (2 of them) to a powder coat company would be all you need to do.

Good luck and post pics if you do it. Happy New Year!
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      01-02-2013, 12:31 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JKM320 View Post
Actually, the aluminium is screwed on I believe, and mostly just held in place by the other parts and a hooked lip. I'm going off of memory, but I do know that there are no rivets holding on the aluminium. the only rivets involved are those for the fender flares or inside wheel well area.

I had to take the aluminium off of the first side I had installed because I forgot to place the foam pad under it. So i did the uninstall of the sidestep that I was working on and put it in. it wasn't fun, but nothing too difficult if you have the time and drive to do it. Then just taking the aluminium pieces (2 of them) to a powder coat company would be all you need to do.

Good luck and post pics if you do it. Happy New Year!
Ohh okay, thanks! i haven't seen it since it was installed, which was probably 6 years ago.
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      01-05-2013, 05:59 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by suttond20 View Post
nice
Not to my taste. I have been looking for some chrome items to ADD!
Anything except the post chrome which sticks out like a drunk taking a leak in an ally!

Would love to find some surround chrome for the rear tail lights. Anyone have a site I can go to let me know.
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      01-05-2013, 06:02 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWX54SFV View Post
Not to my taste. I have been looking for some chrome items to ADD!
Anything except the post chrome which sticks out like a drunk taking a leak in an ally!

Would love to find some surround chrome for the rear tail lights. Anyone have a site I can go to let me know.
It looks ugly but you can find them on eBay.
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      08-15-2022, 04:12 PM   #11
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Bringing back this thread from the dead, currently in the process of sanding smooth all the textured black plastic trim on my e70 and will be paint matching all of it. As for the aluminum running board trim, I’ll be blacking that out. Has anyone ever completed this? If so, can you post some pictures on here? Not sure if I want to do matte black, gloss black, was thinking maybe even bedliner type of paint on the runningboards just haven’t made my mind up yet.

Also, anyone wondering disassembly for the running boards, you have to pop all of the black plastic rivets off of the underside of the running board, pop the one plastic rivet off of each side of the running board and removal is just getting The back lip of the running board (that meets up against the car) to slide off near the bottom of each door but there is very limited access. Then once they are off the car there are five or six screws on the back of the runningboards holding the aluminum pieces on. Then those separate from the rubber molded ”traction dots”. You also must have the bottom portion of the fender flare removed as well to access one of the last Poppin style rivets to fully remove the running board. And to do that you have to remove some of the inner wheel liner.

Definitely not for the faint of heart lol but I had most of the car disassembled due to currently rebuilding my N55 so I figured while I was doing that I might as well color match the whole car.
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      08-16-2022, 12:21 PM   #12
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Why not use raptor liner? I'd think this would be durable enough to stand up to the abuse
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      09-22-2022, 05:28 PM   #13
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interesting!

Quote:
Originally Posted by GearHead335i View Post
Bringing back this thread from the dead, currently in the process of sanding smooth all the textured black plastic trim on my e70 and will be paint matching all of it. As for the aluminum running board trim, I’ll be blacking that out. Has anyone ever completed this? If so, can you post some pictures on here? Not sure if I want to do matte black, gloss black, was thinking maybe even bedliner type of paint on the runningboards just haven’t made my mind up yet.

Also, anyone wondering disassembly for the running boards, you have to pop all of the black plastic rivets off of the underside of the running board, pop the one plastic rivet off of each side of the running board and removal is just getting The back lip of the running board (that meets up against the car) to slide off near the bottom of each door but there is very limited access. Then once they are off the car there are five or six screws on the back of the runningboards holding the aluminum pieces on. Then those separate from the rubber molded ”traction dots”. You also must have the bottom portion of the fender flare removed as well to access one of the last Poppin style rivets to fully remove the running board. And to do that you have to remove some of the inner wheel liner.

Definitely not for the faint of heart lol but I had most of the car disassembled due to currently rebuilding my N55 so I figured while I was doing that I might as well color match the whole car.
Pics and assessment once completed... would be appreciated!
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      09-24-2022, 11:38 AM   #14
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Here you go!
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      09-25-2022, 01:47 AM   #15
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That looks great!
Is it paint? would you kindly illuminating your method?
Thanks
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      09-25-2022, 12:38 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danno142000 View Post
That looks great!
Is it paint? would you kindly illuminating your method?
Thanks
Just disassembled the running boards entirely to get the aluminum part separated from everything else. Hit it with a scotch brite pad and 3m scuff paste which keys the surface and cleans at the same time. Next, I used some adhesion promoter so it doesn’t chip down the road, hit it with 3 coats of black paint and finished it with some 2k clear! Reassembled everything and Voilà
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      09-26-2022, 01:06 PM   #17
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Thanks!
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      03-02-2023, 05:27 PM   #18
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powder coating

Popping up an old-ish thread for others to reference....

I took mine off (40min endeavor) and in to the powder coater. Satin black to match the wheels. We shall see if the rubber "bumps" are impeded at all by the paint thickness, and I will post pics and cost once completed. I did order all new attachment hardware, just to make reassembly easier.
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      03-03-2023, 03:37 PM   #19
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Guessing they will disassemble b/c I believe powder coating involves a 400F+ oven curing process...
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