Hey all, I'm getting some chrome trim pieces on my car powder coated black. I want to get the door handles powder coated black as well, but I don't even know where to start on getting them off.

I assume that you have to take the door panel off from the inside, and then there are screws of some type from the inside, but I'm not sure.

Anyone have a clue or done it before?

Thanks!

 

Here’s a good link for how to’s. Including removing the door panels

http://www.tech-esq.com/MINI/main.htm

Once you get them off you will see that the parts are plastic welded together. You will need to break the welds and the door handle parts will come off.

Here is another thread that talks about doing this:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...epaint+details


I have also been thinking of doing this so if anyone else has some tips for separating the door pieces once the door pannel is taken off please comment.

Thanks

 

Thanks, I'll check out those how-to's forsure.

 

I just did this to my MINI last week. I did not do a how-to write-up, but you can check out lots of pics I took of the door pieces in various stages of assembly. Please also see my comments in some of the "description" fields in the gallery. Here is the link: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...er=7739&page=1

Warning: you will need to cut into 26 melted plastic rivets per door to remove these parts, and then glue each one back together after painting. It's not too hard, but takes a long time, and you will probably break one or two in the process. You will need a T8 torx screwdriver, which is smaller than those included in most torx sets, and I recommend 2-part epoxy rated for ABS plastic for glueing the rivets back together.

One tip: there are lots of rivets you will not need to remove, for example those connecting the big speaker grill. While you are working with the epoxy, take the time to check all of the rivets to see if any are loose, which will cause rattles, and go ahead and put some epoxy on them to secure.

Hope this helps. :smile:

 

...and here's a shot of the finished product:

 

Thanks for the picts. So I guess you just used your cutting tool and got in there and ground down the plastic rivets huh?

The finished product looks really great. Did you do the paint yourself? This is what I want to do but in BRG.

 

Looks great.... Thanks for the pics, however what I'm looking to do is paint the exterior door handles.

Bright though! Stands out

 

Yes - I just used the dremel tool shown in one of the gallery photos and ground down the rivets until I got to just the stalks and could pop them out.

I did not do the painting...I gave the parts to a body shop that does work for a local MINI dealership. I didn't want to risk painting by myself.

 

Whoops! Sorry about the unintentional hijack!

 

Haha, no problemo!

So... Anyone know how to remove those door handles? :D

This is a quick photoshop mockup of what my car will eventually look like (or it gives you a rough idea anyway)... picture courtesy of RallyMINI.

 

I had the gas cap on my blk. blk. s powder-coated
black.looks great.
when it came to the door handles(out-side) i
was informed they are plastic therefore, all you can do is
use regular paint on them. I could be wrong.maybe someone
could jump in here &clear this up.
doug

 

They are indeed plastic...and kilo knows that now, so he is gonna get everything painted instead of powdercoated He just needs to find a way to get those handles off :smile:

 

just looked up in the new bentley manual.
page 515-6 complete with pictures.
(which i can't post because of my s---'y computer
doug

 

I might just have to go get one of those.

 

Hey Kilo,

What might set off your idea is if you crack open the headlights and paint the inner housing's black also or have the people who are painting your parts (hopefully a bodyshop) paint the chrome with a slightly diluted black paint which will make the housing look like black chrome.

I've never seen anybody do this but i think it would really set off the entire look!

Good job

 

Thameth,
Do you have any ideas on how to get the headlight open?

Everyone on our team, including Kilo , has been trying to achieve this for over a year...i have been in contact with a few Japanese MINI companies who have them on their show cars, but am unable to get a proper description through the language barrier....I want black chrome headlights as well...

 

Sweet! Yeah, you're on the same lines as Rally and I... We're all trying to find out the best way to go about it.

I just ordered my service manual, so hopefully that will give some insight...

Thanks!