Back in the day I used to build and customize model cars. The best way to get the nasty chrome off of a model was to soak the plastic part in bleach overnight. Then I could paint it or send it off for some decent chrome.

I was thinking about this for the MINI's chrome plastic parts like the grill surround, side vents, etc…

Has anyone tried this technique?

If it works it could save a lot of painting headaches.

 

That sounds very interesting...but I am not going to be the one to test this theory out. Mini parts are too overpriced.

 

yes please let me know if or how this works out for ya lol i ended up butchering my headlight rings and ended up buying new ones

 

Ammonia, brake fluid, Easy-Off and Castrol Super Clean have also all been used to strip the vacuum plating off model car parts. Castrol Super Clean is the current favorite for stripping paint and chrome, and it seems to be pretty harmless to styrene plastic. Not sure what type of plastic the MINI's trim parts are made of, and I'd also assume that the plating is a LOT more durable than what you find in model kits.

Interesting theory, though, and one worth trying out. And just to be clear for anyone considering this: DO NOT apply the product(s) to the parts ON the car, or you'll take the paint right off the car. Remove the pieces and then soak them or spray them. And use care when handling or working with any of these caustic chemicals.

 

Better yet- Buy Muriatic acid by the gallon at your local hardware store.

Fill a plastic bucket (not metal!) & let the parts soak for 24- 48 hours.

All the chrome will be removed so you can paint or powder coat them.

I did this on my Jeep headlight rings & it worked great!

PS. Keep the bucket outside because the fumes are extremely dangerous & make sure that kids/animals won't be exposed!

 

Cool! Glad to know I'm not the only one who is thinking about this. Muriatic acid huh? That stuff is a little scary for me. I've read the MSDS on it. I think it said CANCER like 300 times. I've got a good orgainic vapor respirator that should block out the bad stuff. Were the JEEP headlight rings metal or plastic?

It would be nice to know what the heck the plastic is that the vents are made out of. I wonder if it's the same as the badges. I'm planning on taking my COOPER badges off (I'm leaving the S) whenever it stops raining here in Baltimore. I was planning on putting them up for sale in the market place but I'll sacrifice them for this instead.

Who has an old set of chrome side vents that they want to put up on the chopping block?

 

after 24hours, there would be nothing left of them if they were metal. Cancer eh? i hope not, ive gone threw countless gallons of it stripping rust off my classic car parts. I wouldnt use it full strength, water it down quite abit, i think i was running 4 water to 1 acid to clean most my parts, and a couple minutes was all that was required to remove rust.

Hope this helps

Beecher

 

If I have the time this weekend I'll de-badge the back and try bleach first. I'll move up the chemical ladder after that.

The muratic acid scares me, I don't know how to handle or dispose of it properly so I'll wait on that one.

 

UPDATE:
I finally got a chance to de badge the back this past weekend. I decided to sacrifice the R to testing. The bleach definitely removed spots of chrome but also pitted the plastic underneath. So I'd call it a wash. You'd spend as much time sanding the pits smooth as you would just sanding the chrome off. I'm still looking for a solution that doesn't use cancer chemicals…

 

I attempted to dechrome my MCS' front chrome around the grill yesterday. Wet to the auto store picked up some low gloss black spray paint. I sanded the chrome pieces, spray painted them. They came out OK, but then after all dry debris from driving chipped it and so I think I am just going to spring for the 60 bucks and buy the JCW pieces at outmotoring.com

I heard they dont fit correctly is this ture??

 

Good question, I don't know of fittment issues. But then again I don't have a 2nd gen Mini. Your best bet would be to send Aaron at OutMotoring an email asking him. He's a cool guy so I'd expect he would answer quckly.