De-chrome?
Author
Discussion

Waynester

Original Poster:

6,534 posts

281 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
quotequote all
How easy is it to remove the door chrome trim on an E39?

Just tinkering with some de-chrome black tape in an effort to remove the twinkly looks..

I don't have a workshop manual so I'm wary of breaking clips..

roofer

5,136 posts

242 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
quotequote all
The hoop around the rear door is a nightmare and fragile. And the tape is crap.

jas xjr

11,309 posts

270 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
quotequote all
roofer said:
The hoop around the rear door is a nightmare and fragile. And the tape is crap.
There are thousands of types of tape. I have seen the results from a bodyshop , done with tape. Factory finish

DennisCooper

1,340 posts

202 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
quotequote all
My response lifted from other forums from when the question has been asked !

This has been covered hundreds of times previously! you have the following choices

1. Buy new trims from the dealer and swap them over. Very expensive and fiddly.
2. Search out 2nd hand trims from places like Ebay, craigslist, BMW forum classifieds, BMW specialist breakers, and swap over. Expensive and fiddly.
3. Take the car to a bodyshop and have your existing trims prepped and painted. Expensive.
4. Do a DIY painting project. Need the skill and patience to do such a job with good preparation work too
5. Do a DIY with plasti-dip. Inexpensive and very easily reversible by just peeling off the coating. DIY skills needed.
6. Use the specific rolls of tape from http://bmwshadowline.com/ - DIY skills needed
7. Have the trims vinyl wrapped. Inexpensive compared to options 1-3. I had this option on my E39 Touring, in a gloss black vinyl over 2 years ago. Zero issues. Job was completed within 35 minutes, no mess no faffing around.

Don't be tempted to use just any 'tape' the adhesives will not be correct nor will the tape be exterior grade etc and will relatively soon, dry and crack or peel and shrink etc.

Cheers, Dennis!

Waynester

Original Poster:

6,534 posts

281 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
quotequote all
I have done the front chrome grill trim...and looks ok, better than chrome anyway.

This is the tape I got from ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...


Its difficult applying to corners without leaving little air pockets & creases in the angles.


Not sure now whether to continue with the tape, worrying about damaging trim as my car isn't the youngest & may have brittle clips?

I'm now thinking prep, mask & spray?


billzeebub

3,912 posts

230 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
quotequote all
chrome looks awful on most Beemers..Ive never understood why it is there?!..see new shape M3s with chrome strips down them..looks like the result of a trip to Halfords!..not quite as bad as those Saab 9-5 headllight surrounds though!..

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

244 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
quotequote all
I was lucky enough to get a 528 in Shadowline spec.