Overall I like the appearance of my sedan but really hate the chrome. Grill, window trim, door handles. Just too much. Anyone black out their trim? What did you use? Vinyl tape or wrap, powercoat? Really not a fan of how cheap plastidip looks.

Suggestions?

 

Good thing you don't like plastidip. Many people have had "great success" with vinyl wrap and it holds up for years and to fingernails. Painting is permanent and lasts theoretically forever though!

 

Plastidip is cheap/fast and looks great on the front grill and rear emblems. That will get you started.

 

Probably the only things I may actually leave chrome. Bought some vinyl tape to black out the grill except the emblem, kind of gives them a floating effect. Used the tape on my Accord to black out the chrome around the windows, definitely looks better but the trim around our windows varies in size as it goes around the top of the windows towards the back of the car, might have to come up with a painting solution there.

 

So it begins. Probably redo it when it isn't 100 degrees and windy, have a few bubbles. But I like how it looks overall.

 

Clean car...but I much prefer the grill done with Plastidip - that tape is not even at all. And I hate to tell you - but you probably spent 10x more time doing it with the tape.

 

More just trying to get a feel for the look. I have a friend with a graphics shop I can have redo it properly.

And as a detailer, I hate plasti-dip. No one tells me that is what they used and the buffer takes it right off. My paint is corrected and coated so that isn't an issue.

 

So much fail here. Do you work for Plastidip or something? OP clearly stated in the opening post he hates PD yet you try to shove it down his throat and then criticize his work? You need to grow up and realize the world doesn't revolve around you, smh.........

Scott I detail as well (as a hobby) and just ordered some of the Optimum Gloss Coat because of your posts. I have used ONR exclusively for years and am never amazed when I find new Optimum gems. Thanks.

 

I'm not shoving it down his throat - I just think PD gets a bad rap from all of the low quality jobs and the people who put it on their wheels. And it's a fairly popular solution to the chrome grill, so I thought I'd inform him of that.

Beyond that...it's clear from my posts that I complemented him on the car - I certainly wish my paint still looked that good. I didn't make any comment suggesting that the world revolved around me. Please don't make the common mistake of attributing negative intent to words on the internet.

 

Gloss Coat is pretty awesome stuff. Have it on my Accord as well. Makes taking care of the paint so easy. Just wash it and done.

If you haven't tried the new version of Hyper Polish (came out about a year ago), its absolutely nuts.

I've done painting in the past with grills (not plasti-dip) and it ends up chipping up. If I do any type of painting it was be something more permanent like powder coating. Vinyl tape in my experience has been much more chip resistant. Doing it on a 100 degree day with a bit of wind probably wasn't the best idea, going to redo it when it cools off and isn't so windy or use my brother's garage.

 

I see these threads often

Here's how I personally rank the solutions

1. Have it professionally painted
2. Vinyl wrapped professionally
3. DIY #1 or #2 options

4. Dip

Nick C.

 

I've been tossing around the idea of changing my color to black and respraying the chrome and certain accents a bronze tone with bronze rims.. Chrome doesn't really annoy me but I want my ride to be unique without being flashy lol. I'll probably do a plastidip trial run and see how I like it before finalizing it with real paint.

 

I've always said chrome on the sedans can come out amazing if used tastefully and with purpose. I would never change what I had done to my car up until this pic was taken. Sucks the rims got stolen a couple of years later, they were irreplaceable.

 

Lucky my mom backed the suvs trailer hitch into my chrome grill so bought some ebay modz...I was actually driving around for several months without a grille and it looked pretty sharp. The ebay grille just gives it a little more trim so you dont see the air bag sensors and horns

I was thinking about wrapping the chrome trim around the windows in gloss black, then maybe wrapping a glossy gray on the door handles to match the color of the car

I really like the chrome emblems on the rear of the car so that will stay as is

 

I could live with that eBay grill.