In the brief time I've been on NAM (and checking nearly every day ) I notice a trend of folks removing chrome from their MINIs in place of something else (usually black) Why? What is it about chrome that is not aesthetically pleasing?

I for one revel in the chrome that Hobbes has, and the chrome bonnet scoop in particular. I know it's probably just a matter of personal taste, but am I really the exception? FWIW, I don't want to 'chromify' the entire car but I like the accented look it gives. What do you think?

 

Chrome sucks, it is a think of the 90s and at best early 2000s. Black is the new chrome.

This is of course IMHO.

I don't hate those with chrome but to me it usually is to "cutesy" or need lots of cleaning. Black is mean and lean.

 

I'm 100% with you, Spicy. I especially like the first generation, pre-facelift R50 models with the chrome bumper strips that evoke the tiny bumpers on the original Mini (as you can tell from the picture below0:



This was taken shortly after I got my car and I haven't added any chrome things (most of the aftermarket things you can add look kind of cheap and plastic) or taken anything away. I think this car looked great from the factory and that's how it's going to stay. I need to replace the chrome license plate frame and I added a chrome/checkerboard one to the rear. The only additional change might be the checkerboard side scuttles now that they are available- not sure if the surround is chrome or black, but they would be even better with the chrome.

Long live shiny things!

Val

 

If it were real chrome it would be different but, sadly it is just cheap plastic crap. Adding real chrome would add some weight though. I am not into the black but I am into removing the chrome, that is why all of my chrome is transforming into white like the roof or body color. Black clashes too much other then my grille surround because it matches the CF hood scoop, the black lines on the bonnet stipes, and the pillars.

 

I love the chrome look on my MINI. It's one of the things that sets is apart from other cars. It actually fits the design.

 

I don't really like the blacked out rings on every color of car but I LOVE body color rings, like mine.

I changed them up because stock is boring, on every car. I don't want my MINI to look like every other MINI I pass on the street.

 

I've had vehicles with real chrome before; personally, I'd rather have the cheap plastic stuff. Real chrome is a pain in the *** to maintain.

That said, I'd black out all the chrome on my car if I could. My only issue would be the ring that surrounds the front headlight; it makes the headlight look odd.

 

I had blacked out most of my chrome, but ended up re-chroming. It just looked cheap. If I had done a better job, or had paid someone to properly vinyl wrap it, maybe it would have looked nicer. I think Porthos has it right with the body color stuff, that looks a lot better. Blackout looks great on a BLACK car, but on other colors I'm not sure it looks quite right. I'm not a fan of the raccoon-eye looking blacked out headlight rings.

 

I like both. still torn about how i want to do mine. I will probably keep the chrome for a while and then change it up.

 

"I wanna be different so I'm going to black out my chrome just like everyone else!"

I like the chrome on the MINI, I don't think they've gone excessive with it, and for those who complain about "cheap plastic chrome", why is painting it with plasti-dip better? It just really looks cheap when they do that..

IMHO of course.

I guess it's like the manual vs auto debate, to each his own....

 

I'm obviously not in agreement...

 

It's easier to paint plastic chrome, it is harder to chrome plastic after the fact... So it is good to have the chrome from the factory so that we can go either way. But IMHO, black is the easy way, out so it is starting to be the "cheap" way out to be different.....

 

Personally, I really think it depends on the car itself. I like a little chrome to throw off the matte black accents on mine.

As long as it's a MINI it's all good.

 

Chrome is a bit out of style - even chrome king Harley is making blacked-out versions of their bikes. I have an R52 with chrome grill, mirror covers, rear boot handle and rear hinge covers I would be willing to swap for hyper blue parts if anyone is interested.

 

its a retro car and its supposed to have some chrome

I'm getting red matched hd lite rings,to replace my blacked-out ones


" I'm not a fan of the raccoon-eye looking blacked out headlight rings"
+1

 

I've seen some comapnies mixing the two. Black Chrome. It's does give a new look compared to the standard chrome but it looks more sleeker.

 

black chrome is very tasty

 

What black chrome might look like, to save others the trouble:

 

When I said getting rid of the cheap plastic chrome I did not say plasti dip. All of my pieces so far that are not chrome are painted with actual paint. I am having Orangecrush paint and and clear wrap my headlight rings so that they don't chip again. I need to do a touch up on a door handle because the paint was to thin and I would like to get those wrapped also. I took off the chrome "S" scuttles and went with the +11 Cooper scuttles because the look really good. I know real chrome is a pain to take care of but, every once in awhile I have to take polish to the belt line because I get some discoloring and light rusting. that is just me and how I want my MINI. I just wish MINI would come out with both chrome and colored options.

 

They did, it's chrome plastic and your option to paint it.

 

Im with the OP...I kinda like the chrome. Saw a flawless black R50 last week, and the chrome really popped against the dark color. Was playing on the configurator last night and built myself what I considered a very retro and British roadster--BRG, wood dash, lots of chrome.

 

i'm not a huge fan of blacked-out cars. especially rims because it just looks like there's a huge void in the wheels. but to each his/her own i guess.

 

Looked at your gallery, nice photos and I like the look.
I had an all black pu one time (lots of chrome) and swore I'd never own another black auto.
Hard to keep clean (looks great right after you clean it) but hard to keep clean.
Hot Hot Hot! Especially with the weather down south here.
You should know, you're in Fl.

 

That black chrome is mighty hot!

 

I solved the dilemma by chroming out my R50 while leaving the chrome off my R53. They're both in my gallery if you want to see pix. It all comes down to personal taste, which is what the MINI experience is all about, right? "Youification" is what corporate calls it, I think.