F54 Blacking out all the Chrome...
Blacking out all the Chrome...
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 145
Likes: 63
From: Lexington, Ky
Blacking out the Chrome choices for Clubman
After looking at a ton of YouTube videos on this topic and comparing prices everywhere, today I took the plunge and ordered things from a UK seller Kill All Chrome. Lordy, what would I do without YouTube as it is my only way to "see" the choices right now. They also sell on Ebay. I had looked at both how to install and the cost of the piano black handles. It was going to be at least $355. (EOB pair listed on Ebay right now) for the set of four replacement handles, but after watching the how to install video decided I would have to have someone do it for me which would be added cost. Also there is not a black out option for the rear barn doors from Mini. There are bunches of "click on" ones which you can get as a package including the rear doors and with other dechrome items. There appears to be a big difference in quality so make sure you watch a video of the actual item you order being installed. PetrolPed on You Tube has really good videos on dechroming and he gives you a discount code for another UK site if you purchase from the place he did. I found the other site had a better price and also found a 20% off promo code by searching.
Doing the handles with Vinyl should in my opinion be left to the professionals unless you already have skills with that kind of fabrication.
For getting rid of the chrome around the beltline, pretty much everyone uses a tape which you have to do yourself. All of the dechroming options came in piano black, matt black and/or carbon fiber, so there are a bunch of choices. Where I ordered gave you the option of purchasing a second roll of tape for a reduced price so I did that as well. (I have arthritis and nerve damage in my neck that affects my hands and that is my excuse for being a klutz and I am sticking to it!)
I had already ordered my car with all black badges, but if I had not those were also available.
There are also bonnet scoop replacements. As your bonnet scoops are the same color as the body of your car in some instances replacing will add to the black effect. (I have Pepper White coming with black roof, so choose the piano black bonnet scoop to replace the pepper white one.) Again watch the videos both as to how to install and to see whether your cars color will look better with that element changed. I feel comfortable I can do all these installations although I plan to put an old sheet over the motor when I do the bonnet scoop as I just know I will drop either the one screw or the many plastic clips holding it on the car when removing the old and putting on the new.)
I highly recommend you get trim tools. They were only about $10. They are soft plastic so as to not nick your paint and designed to remove trim pieces.
Lastly I purchased piano black covers for the wiper nozzle covers that are on the hood. All of that together full handles, bonnet scoop, beltline tape +extra, tools, covers for nozzles came to 272 pounds (includes shipping slowly and VAT) after the 20% deduction. So that translates to $372. U.S. which sounds like a whole lot of money until I think gee, that would have barely covered the 4 OEM handles with nothing else. (This store ended up being about $50. cheaper than the other UK site I visited, although both had higher quality handles than those offered on Ebay direct from China which were half the cost.)
If you want to continue dechroming inside both sites and Ebay offered tons of choices there as well. As I have Piano Black interior accents, I didn't feel the need to change anything until I actually have my car! But there are decals, trim pieces, keychains, tire accessories, different side shuttles and mirror covers and on and on depending on how far you want to take it. I didn't go for the cheapest price once I started to compare the different handles, but feel pretty confident that what I purchased will look great and still be less than I otherwise would have spent. When my car actually gets here I will post before and after photos. Hope this helps you guys who are blacking out the chrome. (Oh and you can find things on Amazon and Etsy as well. There are Mini accessories everywhere & lots are for blacking out trim.)
Doing the handles with Vinyl should in my opinion be left to the professionals unless you already have skills with that kind of fabrication.
For getting rid of the chrome around the beltline, pretty much everyone uses a tape which you have to do yourself. All of the dechroming options came in piano black, matt black and/or carbon fiber, so there are a bunch of choices. Where I ordered gave you the option of purchasing a second roll of tape for a reduced price so I did that as well. (I have arthritis and nerve damage in my neck that affects my hands and that is my excuse for being a klutz and I am sticking to it!)
I had already ordered my car with all black badges, but if I had not those were also available.
There are also bonnet scoop replacements. As your bonnet scoops are the same color as the body of your car in some instances replacing will add to the black effect. (I have Pepper White coming with black roof, so choose the piano black bonnet scoop to replace the pepper white one.) Again watch the videos both as to how to install and to see whether your cars color will look better with that element changed. I feel comfortable I can do all these installations although I plan to put an old sheet over the motor when I do the bonnet scoop as I just know I will drop either the one screw or the many plastic clips holding it on the car when removing the old and putting on the new.)
I highly recommend you get trim tools. They were only about $10. They are soft plastic so as to not nick your paint and designed to remove trim pieces.
Lastly I purchased piano black covers for the wiper nozzle covers that are on the hood. All of that together full handles, bonnet scoop, beltline tape +extra, tools, covers for nozzles came to 272 pounds (includes shipping slowly and VAT) after the 20% deduction. So that translates to $372. U.S. which sounds like a whole lot of money until I think gee, that would have barely covered the 4 OEM handles with nothing else. (This store ended up being about $50. cheaper than the other UK site I visited, although both had higher quality handles than those offered on Ebay direct from China which were half the cost.)
If you want to continue dechroming inside both sites and Ebay offered tons of choices there as well. As I have Piano Black interior accents, I didn't feel the need to change anything until I actually have my car! But there are decals, trim pieces, keychains, tire accessories, different side shuttles and mirror covers and on and on depending on how far you want to take it. I didn't go for the cheapest price once I started to compare the different handles, but feel pretty confident that what I purchased will look great and still be less than I otherwise would have spent. When my car actually gets here I will post before and after photos. Hope this helps you guys who are blacking out the chrome. (Oh and you can find things on Amazon and Etsy as well. There are Mini accessories everywhere & lots are for blacking out trim.)
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: LA
- Window Trim
- Chrome around grill and headlights/tailights
- Door/Trunk handels
- Rims
not sure if wrapping is a good option... or painting... i like the wrapping idea better because it cane always be removed.. but not sure if it will last
- Chrome around grill and headlights/tailights
- Door/Trunk handels
- Rims
not sure if wrapping is a good option... or painting... i like the wrapping idea better because it cane always be removed.. but not sure if it will last
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: LA
What are the pros and cons for this from experience and does it cost more vs wrap? Mines Red too so black will look nice!!
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The biggest problem with wrapping is that it's tough to do curves. The most common approach I've seen on here is electrical tape for the belt line--you could custom cut vinyl, but it would be a pain.
For the remaining parts, plasti-dip is probably the easiest and cheapest. Or if you don't like the look of plasti-dip, sand and paint the parts, but that's a lot more labor intensive.
For the remaining parts, plasti-dip is probably the easiest and cheapest. Or if you don't like the look of plasti-dip, sand and paint the parts, but that's a lot more labor intensive.
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 145
Likes: 63
From: Lexington, Ky
MINI selling beltline trim in piano black
Just watched a YouTube video (my way to learn about all things car related these days) & the guy had purchased from Mini a trim set in piano black for his MINI. It wasn't the F54 & when I searched through Mini's product pages I couldn't find a product number for a trim kit.
My questions: Do you think if lots of Mini owners emailed Mini requesting that they provide such a trim kit for all current models at least, that they might be inclined to do so?
If so where do you send the emails where they actually get read by a human as opposed to generating an automated response?
Am I the only person who would pay $500. for a beltline trim kit?
(I think that is the cost the guy in vid quoted and before you judge me, consider I have arthritis and nerve damage in my hands & that I just ordered TWO rolls of the tape because the do it yourself tape method may prove more than a bit difficult!)
My questions: Do you think if lots of Mini owners emailed Mini requesting that they provide such a trim kit for all current models at least, that they might be inclined to do so?
If so where do you send the emails where they actually get read by a human as opposed to generating an automated response?
Am I the only person who would pay $500. for a beltline trim kit?
(I think that is the cost the guy in vid quoted and before you judge me, consider I have arthritis and nerve damage in my hands & that I just ordered TWO rolls of the tape because the do it yourself tape method may prove more than a bit difficult!)
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 221
Likes: 82
Just watched a YouTube video (my way to learn about all things car related these days) & the guy had purchased from Mini a trim set in piano black for his MINI. It wasn't the F54 & when I searched through Mini's product pages I couldn't find a product number for a trim kit.
My questions: Do you think if lots of Mini owners emailed Mini requesting that they provide such a trim kit for all current models at least, that they might be inclined to do so?
If so where do you send the emails where they actually get read by a human as opposed to generating an automated response?
Am I the only person who would pay $500. for a beltline trim kit?
(I think that is the cost the guy in vid quoted and before you judge me, consider I have arthritis and nerve damage in my hands & that I just ordered TWO rolls of the tape because the do it yourself tape method may prove more than a bit difficult!)
My questions: Do you think if lots of Mini owners emailed Mini requesting that they provide such a trim kit for all current models at least, that they might be inclined to do so?
If so where do you send the emails where they actually get read by a human as opposed to generating an automated response?
Am I the only person who would pay $500. for a beltline trim kit?
(I think that is the cost the guy in vid quoted and before you judge me, consider I have arthritis and nerve damage in my hands & that I just ordered TWO rolls of the tape because the do it yourself tape method may prove more than a bit difficult!)
Cheers
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 31
Likes: 14
From: Netherlands
Maybe unnecessary, but maybe you can check out this website: https://www.killallchrome.co.uk/
Saludos.
Saludos.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 75
Likes: 39
Does anyone know the exact width of the belt line? In particular F57 conv. I am thinking to just order gloss black 3m tape rather than the place in the UK. Shipping pretty pricey. I did this to my older Mini but forgot the width. Also can't measure myself as have not collected it yet.
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 145
Likes: 63
From: Lexington, Ky
Per my level which has inches at top/mm at bottom, it is slightly more than 2mm on both the 21 Clubman and 15 Roadster. (Because the trim curves and the level obviously doesn't, I had to roll it to get the width) BUT to make life easier, i went and measured my left over black out tape. One roll is one slightly less than 2mm and the other is exactly 2mm. I can take photos of the ones I have left over showing what is printed on the back (it looks like an O and a 6, with nothing written on the cardboard roll it is wound around. Another has OF 65 and Interr on the back of the tape and written on the interior of the cardboard roll it says "made in Germany". The third roll which is brand new has nothing on the cardboard OR on the back of the tape!
I also purchased a roll of pinstripe tape that is thinner in width which has the same red emblem and "made in Germany" on it.
Most of these were purchased from KillAllChrome, who gave a discount if you purchased the second roll at the same time as purchased the first. Their tape had no air bubbles come up when applying. The other roll came from a dealer in the states and it had air bubbles constantly and I don't know how many times I had to chuck a piece and start over. So there is a clear difference in quality and it was worth it to buy from the UK KillAllChrome site because I ended up having to redo the Roadster a second time, which ultimately made the cheaper tape a waste of time and money. They also supply YouTube how to videos which are enormously helpful.*
I finally broke down and purchased a cheap heat gun (dealing with a hair dryer is a pain in the butt) and I also purchased trim tools for applying vinyl decals on Amazon. The heat gun is tricky as it can stretch the tape and it never recovers if you get it too hot. A second pair of hands would have been most helpful for me!
The tools were from Amazon: "Gomake 7 in 1 wrap stick vinyl wrap magnet micro squeegee Tool kit" for 18.00 For me they were worth the money because first they have magnets embedded so they would just stick to the car and second because I can't feel the ends of 5 of my 10 fingers, I was able to use a tool, especially at the ends to tuck it under before cutting with a razor blade,
Even with the extra tools this was way cheaper than having it done professionally and I am determined to become proficient! Best thing to do is check the reviews from folks who have actually purchased the tape and tried it out in selecting which one to get.
Let me know if you would like me to upload photos of what I have which might help you identify the manufacturer.
*Just to explain why I don't mention the dealer who sold me the crappy air bubble tape: I try really hard to not be negative in my statements. For all I know I may have gotten a one time dud and everyone else may have gotten great rolls. If I was leaving a review of the product on the selling site I will bend over backwards to be honest about the bad points and the good ones. But on a site like this, I just don't feel it is good karma to list the seller of a product that isn't so great. It is after all the manufacturer who is at fault. There is just too much blasted nastiness online and I have no desire to have any part of it. On the other hand if I purchase a great product, I will mention the seller's name because apparently they did their homework on products they sell.
I also purchased a roll of pinstripe tape that is thinner in width which has the same red emblem and "made in Germany" on it.
Most of these were purchased from KillAllChrome, who gave a discount if you purchased the second roll at the same time as purchased the first. Their tape had no air bubbles come up when applying. The other roll came from a dealer in the states and it had air bubbles constantly and I don't know how many times I had to chuck a piece and start over. So there is a clear difference in quality and it was worth it to buy from the UK KillAllChrome site because I ended up having to redo the Roadster a second time, which ultimately made the cheaper tape a waste of time and money. They also supply YouTube how to videos which are enormously helpful.*
I finally broke down and purchased a cheap heat gun (dealing with a hair dryer is a pain in the butt) and I also purchased trim tools for applying vinyl decals on Amazon. The heat gun is tricky as it can stretch the tape and it never recovers if you get it too hot. A second pair of hands would have been most helpful for me!
The tools were from Amazon: "Gomake 7 in 1 wrap stick vinyl wrap magnet micro squeegee Tool kit" for 18.00 For me they were worth the money because first they have magnets embedded so they would just stick to the car and second because I can't feel the ends of 5 of my 10 fingers, I was able to use a tool, especially at the ends to tuck it under before cutting with a razor blade,
Even with the extra tools this was way cheaper than having it done professionally and I am determined to become proficient! Best thing to do is check the reviews from folks who have actually purchased the tape and tried it out in selecting which one to get.
Let me know if you would like me to upload photos of what I have which might help you identify the manufacturer.
*Just to explain why I don't mention the dealer who sold me the crappy air bubble tape: I try really hard to not be negative in my statements. For all I know I may have gotten a one time dud and everyone else may have gotten great rolls. If I was leaving a review of the product on the selling site I will bend over backwards to be honest about the bad points and the good ones. But on a site like this, I just don't feel it is good karma to list the seller of a product that isn't so great. It is after all the manufacturer who is at fault. There is just too much blasted nastiness online and I have no desire to have any part of it. On the other hand if I purchase a great product, I will mention the seller's name because apparently they did their homework on products they sell.
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