Painting Chrome trim gloss block

Leucosticte · 03-27-2022, 12:42 AM

Hi guys, I have chrome window trim on my car right now and I really don't like it. I was wondering if its possible to paint it gloss black like the oem shadowline trim. From what I see sanding, priming, base coat, and clear coat seem to be the suggested steps. Does this hold up?

tcphoto · 03-27-2022, 09:55 AM

I would simply vinyl wrap it, I did it with a wrap made just for the trim and I was happy with it.

Jaronbwall · 04-04-2022, 12:51 PM

In most cases vinyl wrapping is the better option. It's stronger, thicker material, and easy to remove. Painting is arguably harder.

mcp · 04-18-2022, 10:22 AM

painting real chrome is incredibly hard - you have to really sand down the finish and use a very strong primer like an acid etch - and then adhesion promoter to get regular paint to stick.

Just wrap it and maintain the wrap. It will look 95% for 10% of the work.

BB_cuda · 04-18-2022, 07:14 PM

Oven cleaner is amazing for stripping chrome off of plastic. Maybe get a scrap piece first and test it out. I use Easy Off on headlight part's chrome and it comes right off.

Eriksson3_3 · 04-25-2022, 12:32 PM

I did the same thing to my e92. I took it off the car, sanded, primer, paint, Gloss. It came out horrible, because I'm not a painter. It's a massive pain in the ass. If you take it off BE INSANELY CAREFUL NOT TO SCRATCH THE CAR!!! The edges of the trim are sharp metal and will scratch the paint super easily, I scratched my car more times in a week than the car has had in its lifetime. Just wrap it on the car or get it done professionally.

03-27-2022, 12:42 AM	#1
Leucosticte First Lieutenant 205 Rep 345 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328xi E92 6mt swap Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW 328xi [0.00]	Painting Chrome trim gloss block Hi guys, I have chrome window trim on my car right now and I really don't like it. I was wondering if its possible to paint it gloss black like the oem shadowline trim. From what I see sanding, priming, base coat, and clear coat seem to be the suggested steps. Does this hold up?
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03-27-2022, 09:55 AM	#2
tcphoto Brigadier General 3537 Rep 3,049 Posts Drives: E92 335i 6MT Coupe Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (1)	I would simply vinyl wrap it, I did it with a wrap made just for the trim and I was happy with it. __________________
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04-04-2022, 12:51 PM	#3
Jaronbwall Driving cars and riding bikes really fast 285 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Indianapolis iTrader: (0)	In most cases vinyl wrapping is the better option. It's stronger, thicker material, and easy to remove. Painting is arguably harder. __________________ 335i, sport pkg, 3 pedals, Blacked out, LED markers, OZ Ultraleggera wheels, Firestone Indy 500s, x-pipe, vibrant 1792, PE mod MHD stage 2+, BMS DPs, ARM charge pipe, Tial BOV, ARM FMIC, dual cone, CSF radiator, M3 control arms, sways, HAWK pads. https://www.strava.com/athletes/8309149 Follow me on Strava
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04-18-2022, 10:22 AM	#4
mcp Private First Class 26 Rep 107 Posts Drives: 09 335xi (e92) Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	painting real chrome is incredibly hard - you have to really sand down the finish and use a very strong primer like an acid etch - and then adhesion promoter to get regular paint to stick. Just wrap it and maintain the wrap. It will look 95% for 10% of the work.
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04-18-2022, 07:14 PM	#5
BB_cuda Brigadier General 765 Rep 3,557 Posts Drives: 2011 335D Msport, 2013 X5D Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Clear Lake, Texas iTrader: (0)	Oven cleaner is amazing for stripping chrome off of plastic. Maybe get a scrap piece first and test it out. I use Easy Off on headlight part's chrome and it comes right off.
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04-25-2022, 12:32 PM	#6
Eriksson3_3 Private 29 Rep 99 Posts Drives: 08 335i coupe 6at Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Canada, Ontario iTrader: (0)	I did the same thing to my e92. I took it off the car, sanded, primer, paint, Gloss. It came out horrible, because I'm not a painter. It's a massive pain in the ass. If you take it off BE INSANELY CAREFUL NOT TO SCRATCH THE CAR!!! The edges of the trim are sharp metal and will scratch the paint super easily, I scratched my car more times in a week than the car has had in its lifetime. Just wrap it on the car or get it done professionally.
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