I have searched the forums and didn't really get a solid answer as to how I should go about de-chroming the headlight rings, door handles, etc. Im seeing a few people with blacked out headlight rings, a final verdict on what i should do would be great.

 

http://www.lylesvinylstyles.net/

 

I saw that, but i think id rather have it painted. Tho that is a good plan B if the de-chroming turns out to be too much work. thanks.

 

Reading your later post, it sounds as though you have been more successful with your research than I thought. If you can afford (professional quality) painting, I think that's best, as long as you are sure you like the look. Harder to go back after the spraying's done!

Good luck.

 

Good point, markldriskill, ill seach it up thx. at the moment tho i cant really do that because one side of my hood is crumpled to no return, i have a carbon fiber hood on the way, and have plans for a custom paint scheme on the front of my mini, I ordered an aero front bumper, and an aero grill along with the hood sense my bumper, and, basically left side of my car is smashed. (i wont say how but I'll just say there was a tree involved.) basically I'm painting the hood body color (dark silver), leaving one big stripe down the middle of the hood in carbon fiber, following the same lines that bonnet stripes would.

So after loosing the chrome grill trim due to the aero grill and adding some darker color into the hood, it just seems right to black out the headlight trim. Ill be sure to see how it looks with some electrical tape. on the right side of corse.

 

I went with Lyle's work at http://www.lylesvinylstyles.net/. Very happy with the results. I only have door handles and side repeaters to go. Painting is a good way of going if you can afford it but as markldriskill said, it's nice to be able to go back to stock with the vinyl. Here's a shot of my head lights,black belt line tape and my tail light mod. I did the tail lights with Lyle's ruby red vinyl which took away the chrome back there. I also debadged the rear and just the other day, removed my rear wiper for a now completly shaved rear.

This shot is taken from Lyles web site before I debadged the car.

 

Like others have already said, vinyl gives you the option of going back. Also from what I have seen and heard, vinyl is a better choice for the HL rings because of durability. I does not chip as easily as paint does. I have wrapped almost every piece of chrome on my car, and could not be happier. I did however paint the door handles as I could not get a satisfactory result with the vinyl. Passenger side no problem, driver side PITA. Lyle is a great guy and very helpful. If you go with vinyl, he is the guy to talk to.

 

Another vote for vinylstyles. I have a jet black cabrio with the factory with the black grill slats. Lyle wrapped the chrome grill surrounds with gloss black vinyl and it's perfect. I can't tell the difference from the paint and the vinyl even up close. Well, except for the lack of rock chips.

 

If you do decide to paint...I painted my rings, as well as my side repeaters with Krylon spray paint designed for plastic. Looks GREAT and has held up very well so far.

 

x2

Vinyl will stand up better to the inevitable rock chips that your front pieces are bound to encounter.

 

Hmm.... sound's like vinyl is the way to go for the headlight rings. I do have intentions of blacking out my side markers at a later date, i think ill spray them with that Krylon you where talking about, noles825, 1) because its cheaper. and 2) because i dont have to worry as much about rock chips. Thanks for the info every one.

 

You can spray the sidemarkers with black tint rather than black paint so that they still work but appear black

 

Another option would be to buy the Cooper side repeaters so you don't ruin your chrome ones if you ever decide to sell it.

 

The cooper side markers look like a good idea, but I like the red S on the chrome ones too much. I think ill use the krylon black spray, and make an attempt at masking off the red S and the light itself.

 

You can just take the light out....it pops out with ease.

 

Yeah, once you've disassembled it you'll see that the S is a separate piece altogether.

 

oh... cool!