I've been thinking about replacing the chrome surrounding the grill slats on my HB / W MCS. I would get the aero grill, but I've never through that it looked quite right on a Mini with a white roof.
I was just looking for opinions on how I should do it.
1) Buy a used chrome surround, get it painted and replace my old chrome surround
2) Remove mine and get it painted (I've heard of people's grills breaking or something, but that may be just limited to the slats? I really don't know as I haven't tried to remove it.)
3) Get it painted while still on the car (quality problems?)

 

you can remove the chrome without much problem.
If you get it painted get it done professionaly. I did mine before moving to the aero grill and it chipped very easy. I preped the surface will and used good quality paint, but it did not hold up.
Others have used tape rather than paint and that has held up well.

 

Would you happen to have any simple DIY instructions or helpful threads? Thanks a bunch.

 

bump

 

I just called a paint shop and they told me that the chrome of the mini can't be painted. I'm not sure if he was talking about all the chrome in general or just some of it. I don't think the gas cap and door handles are the same type of chrome as the grill, right? Can anybody confirm or refute the shop's claim that the chrome can't be painted?

 

Sounds to me like they don't want to be bothered. The chrome grille surround can be painted, it just needs to be prepped correctly. Actually, my grille surround and door handles are the only things left for me to do.

 

When you say prepped correctly, what does that entail?

 

The chrome will have to be scuffed, what comes after that depends on who is painting it. Some guys use an etching primer before the color. I have all my stuff done by a friend in the body shop at work. I know he mixes an additive to the color to prevent chipping if it's going on the front of my car, like he did with my headlight trim.
Our paint booth is also an oven, so after the clear, it gets baked.

 

I got this done awhile back, but I finally got a chance to put up the pictures. What do you guys think? I'm thinking I might use the same guy to paint my plastic trim and then get stripes down the middle.

 

That looks really, really good. In fact, it looks factory. Very clean and tasteful.

Are you going to do the headlight surrounds as well?

 

Nah, I actually like the chrome on the headlight surrounds. Although, it would be interesting to do the inside... a bit risky though... so I'll probably chicken out.

I'll probably just stick with painting all the plastic black trim and some stripes.

 

That looks flipping sweet

 

Thanks.

 

look great!! well done.

 

Whoever did your paint did an excellent job! It looks awesome, nice job!
Now I have to get off my a$$ and do mine.