Mine was painted with a black texture paint. I tried a two tone look with the square where the letter were done in a gray color but I didn't like it. I did all the work myself. I tried to figure out what went in that hole at the front that you patched over. Took it to a Mercedes dealer and we looked it up and it was an oxygen sensor. There was no cap that filled the hole. I used a piece of PVC pipe and an cap, painted them black and it fit just fine. But I was after a more finished look, I was gonna patch it eventually just like you did. Instead I kinda got this new intake (has a new car under it).