I am considering having the door handels, gas cap & S trim painted black- any advice ?
Thanks

 

Your not allowed to, i'm the only one thats allowed to have black trim!

 

Since all the parts are chrome, you need to sand the parts w/22o or 320 grit sandpaper. Next apply a chromate etch primer on the parts. If you still have scratches showing, you need to prime the parts. allow to dry sand w/600 wet and apply your color and clear. If the etch prime covers well, just paint.

I sprayed my handles, gas lid, and side marker indicators almost a year ago and not a single problem. not a bit of wear on the door handles.

 

I used Krylon Fusion Plastic spray paint on my side repeater lights. I didn't sand or anything, but wish I would have. Krylon says "no primer or sanding required" but I would still do it. Go with what Lambspeed said, and you'll be fine.

-Cody

 

its a lot of work but I think it would pay off

 

I also blacked out the side repeater grills. Sanded them down just a little to give them a little bit of a rough surface for the paint to stick to. I also put some primer down on them, then applied several thing coats of gloss black paint on each one. Finished each one up with a nice layer of clear coat. I also found out that the "S" in the side repeater grills have red tape them in, so I just peeled the tape out, cleaned up the sticky residue with some Goo-Gone and then put them all back together. I did leave the "S" chrome though, just for a little offset to the black.

I've also obtained a spare gas cap and it is currently being powder coated gloss black.

As soon as I can find a spare set of door handles, I plan on having them powder coated gloss black as well (providing they are metal).

I also took a spare set of S-Lites and had them powder-coated gloss black.

I just received a spare hood scoop that I will be taking down and have it painted gloss black as well.

I'm also trying to find a spare boot handle (is it metal or plastic?) so that I can have it done in gloss black.

I also wanted to take all the black trim (wheel arches, side skirts, underneath front and rear bumper) and have it smoothed out and then painted gloss black. Only problem is that 1 place that I took it to wants $1500.00 to do all the work. Another place quoted me between $750.00 and $1000.00.

I could get a complete aero kit for that price, so I am debating on what to do with the complete spare set of trim that I have laying around now.

 

They are plastic. You can buy a set from Sterling for like $30. That's what I did.

 

$750-$1500 sounds like a broad range. But depending if they will be removing and reinstalling the parts and to what extent they are prepping them. Paint on its own does not stick well to raw plastic parts. And since the side skirts and wheel mouldings are textured as well, alot of labor goes into getting them ready for paint. Also several high dollar products are used in order to accomplish this for long term durability. All the parts are cleaned with a water born cleaner, then scrubbed w/ a very nasty smelling plastic parts solution. after it is flushed off with clean water, you have to make sure that you reached everything you want to paint(the release agent, and some of the chemicals used in plastics form a film almost like silicone, and in some cases the car owner uses silicone dressing that have to be removed) Another plastic anti static cleaner is used. Wipe it on, wipe it off. A spray on plastic primer, Then to cover the texture a high build primer is applied. Providing that all the texture is gone after prepping for paint you can apply paint. If not you have to reapply primer to continue.
Painting w/ a single layer enamel may be cheaper and easier for a shop(if you are painting them black) But basecoat/clearcoat is the way to go for long lasting shine and durability. So in short! Most shops charge by the piece. Some by the job. Owning a Mini myself, and being a custom shop owner, I would charge about 750.00 for a solid color (black,white), and about a 1000.00 for factory color match That would include removing and reinstalling. and replacing a couple of clips here and there.

www.lambspeed.com

 

Too bad you aren't close to me. The pieces that I have came off a MINI that only had 300 miles on it, had not been touched by any type of cleaner/wax/polish, etc.. The owner specifically told the dealer that if they detailed the car prior to delivery, he would refuse the car. He's very particular about his washing/polishing of his vehicles.

All of the prices that I quoted above were for the parts already being off the MINI, which they are. They also did not include re-installation.

So your $750.00 is already a better price for the mere fact that you outlined what you would have to do, and would even install them. Just wish you were closer.

And yes, I was wanting them to be painted a gloss back.

Thanks for the feedback. It's obvious that I don't have a clue as to what it takes to do the job properly, and really don't have the desire to start something that I know nothing about and messing them up.

I may just end up sticking them in the attic and going with an aero kit instead.