Ok. So I bought a set of door handles and a petrol cap cover that I want to get powdercoated black. The petrol cap cover is no problem, but the door handles need to be disassembled before the shop will touch them. There has to be a trick to getting the actual handle part off the chrome cover part.
Anyone?

 

I briefly rememeber speaking to a body shop about this. I believe that you have to remove the door pannel. Infact, I'm nearly positive thats it. Now, how to remove the pannels? I dont really know.

I guess that was kind of counter productive, but it was worth a shot.

 

I'm trying to get a set to paint too. So, whoever figures it out first, meet the other back here and lay it out. Sound cool?

 

First, you cannot powder coat the door handles. They are primarily plastic.


Second, it is a royal PITA to remove the door handles.


Third, instructions on removing the door handles from what I remember. First, you have to remove the door panels (fairly easily). With a flat head screw driver, first pry off the reflector on the door panel to reveal a torx screw. Then, pry off the plastic piece which surrounds the handle to open the door. If your MINI is 05+ read on, otherwise skip to the next paragraph. You then have the insert a longer flathead screwdriver, and wedge it between the plastic of the grab handle, and the armest. There is a tab which holds the armrest in place towards the rear of it. Once you have the tab depressed, the armrest is removed by sliding it towards the front of the car.

Now, just remove all the torx screws which are visible. Once you do this, get a flathead screw driver (preferably with a microfiber over it to protect the paint) and pry the door panel off. Don't worry if you hear lots of clicking and cracking, it is just the tabs coming out of the door, they should not break (they didn't when I removed mine). Now, from the bottom of the door handle, just pull it straight up and remove it from the door. You will also need to disconnect the wire from the reflector on the bottom of the door.

To remove the door handles now, I believe there are two screws of some sort holding it in. Sounds easy, but one of the screws is nearly impossible to get to. I have never been able to do it, but I know some have, so hopefully someone can help you on that.





If you need further explanation of removing the door panels, or maybe want some pictures, I'd be glad to help you out with that. Just let me know .

 

Thanks for the input, skitelluride.
But I think Agro is trying to separate the actual handle mechanism from the plastic chrome that covers it.

 

Agro,

I think this is why everyone I have heard of doing black door handles has had them painted rather than powder coated.

Hope you find a solution.

FWIW, koolmini has had his painted handles for several years and they look perfect.

 

Yes, I can work out how to remove the existing door handles from the car. The handles are off the car as we speak (since I bought new ones).

What I want to know is how to disassemble the door handle unit itself for coating or painting. Or, if I take it to a painting place instead of a coating place, will they just mask off the bits that don't need to be painted?
And if I get the handles painted, should I get the petrol cap cover that IS metal painted too, or would I be better off going powder which should be tougher but might not match perfectly?