Hi all,

Like many here I have a deep disdain for chrome. I had a lot of fun with Plasti-Dip this weekend - did the crome grille surrounds and gas cap, side scuttles (just to see what it would look like - I have the black JCW side scuttles, as well as blackout beltline tape, on the way!), and I want to get all the rest of the chrome off ASAP.

What I'm wondering is if anyone with a dark silver R56 has blacked out the headlight/taillight rings and wants to share a pic. I think black circles around my MINI's eyes might look strange, esp. because I have the factory aero kit so no black on the fenders.

So, 2nd option: body color. I'm not comforatble with painting it myself - don't have the skill or the tools and I want it to look good. I found a post from a while back that pointed me to minispeed, but they seem to only offer painted rings for the R53. Anyone know of a vendor that offers body-color rings for the R56?

Sry about the length!

ROC

P.S. I know we all like pictures, so (from the day I picked it up - pre blackout mods):

 

Absolutely body color. And here's a vendor: www.lylesvinylstyles.net

 

Minispeed will do R56 - just call.

 

Do what I am going to do.
Body Color- grill, door handles, and beltline.
White(yours would be black)- head light and tail light rinds and gas cap and side scuttles.
And you got the body colr arches I might make mine white I haven't decided yet
Also minspeed does do the rings for the R56 or at least they did 2 or 3 days ago

 

Never thought about doing it that way...sort of the opposite of what most people tend to do but it sounds like it would look good. I'd be very interested to see pics!

Still worried a bit about making the headlight rings black...can't help but think it would look like bug eyes

 

I think the point of dechroming is to clean up the lines of the car (or at least it was for me). I still say all body color.

 

Body color, for sure.

 

Ya but at the same time opposite might accent a lot but in your case your car is white so it doesn't matter what color you go

 

Lyle is AWESOME!

 

I've heard great things about Lyle. If you are unsure on the black try PlastiDip first before you jump to body color. If you don't like it it peels right off and you are back to stock. I really wanted body color it's just not in the budget right now so I went with PlastiDip for now and it looks great. Plus I was not sure if I was going to like the total blackout look. It was the easiest way for me to find out. It I also got the satisfaction of doing it on my own.

 

Can anyone comment on the car wash durability of lyles vinyls?

I'm debating between painting my headlight rings/grill sorrounds and getting them vinyled, but am worried about durability with the vinyl option.

 

I don't think anyone has anything bad to say about Lyle, I'd surely go with his products if I were to do something like this.

I also vote for body color, it'll look great with your car!

 

Accenting it with the roof on the small stuff like door handles and side scuddles will look I'm telling ya

 

i've had his viper stripes since march. power wash once a week ---perfect !!!!!

 

I've been using his products for 2 years and haven't had any issues with the vinyl losing it's adhesive. You can wash and wax it as if it were painted (though if you get a satin finish wax would be a bad idea). I would highly recommend him.

 

Does anyone know anywhere in the South FL that can blackout the lamp rings/grill rings?

 

For something that simple you could just buy some black vinyl and try it yourself.

otherwise just look for a professional vinyl installer (or a Sign Pro or something of that sort). They should be able to do it too.

 

Is it a special kind of vinyl that is used ?

Do you think it would be better to just paint the rings black?

 

its very durable 3M stuff usually

had my rings and grill surrounds done by Lyle. my handles, gas cap, and scuttles are still chrome however...if i did them, id want them brushed







had plastidipped the grille surround for a while prior..




CHKMINI on here has a JCW very similar to yours too with nearly everything blacked out body color...dunno if i can find any pics though..

 

3M, MacTac, Avery, it's all good enough for what you're looking for.

 

Everything on my ride is body color.

I realized after I had done everything black that body color flowed much better and just looked much better...of course, thats my opinion.

One thing I wish I had done though, like Vic, was to get vinyl instead of paint. Although I think paint looks better, paint doesn't last as long on these cars and road debris is not your friend unfortunately.

 

If you are going to keep the doorhandles, etc with chrome then body color for the rings looks classier. Matter of taste really, if it was my car I would black-out all the chrome. :D

 

Exactly.

Classier and complete, like it should of looked from the factory.

For me, I hate chrome and got rid of it all

 

I just did mine white like the roof. Once I get it washed I will take pics that is probably tomorrow.

 

I am planning on doing my rings as well but cannot seem to decide between having them painted or wrapped. I am most concerned with color match and durability. I know if/when the paint gets chipped i can just touch it up. But i am assuming if something happens to the wrap you have to redo it. Please correct me if i am wrong....