New guy here, i just bought an 03 brilliant silver g35 sedan. I really want to black the puppy out. I'm looking to replace ALL of the stock chrome on the car with black chrome. ie. grille, badges, door handles, and the striping around the windows. except i have no clue if any of the stuff even exists. or where to get any of it.

i'm also looing to find, if they even make, black chrome headlight housings. I found some overlays for the taillights and it looks pretty good, but i wouldnt want to put overlays on the headlights.

Any help or advise you guys could give would be much appreciated.

thanks
cavz903

 

I share your desire for the shadow trim also. Wished it was an option when I ordered.

The coupe door handles are body colored. I dont know if they are interchangeable with the sedan. No knowledge if any of the other trim pieces come in black. Maybe some of you body repair guys could shed some light on this subject.

 

For the chrome trim around the windows, you can either have it painted or purchase a "shadowline" trim tape. I know people in the BMW community do this...

 

Do you know if this is difficult to do? Have you seen this? Just trying to determine if this is a viable alternative vs painting. I guess I shouldnt be trying to cheap out. I will have to research this weekend.

 

PM OCG35 - https://g35driver.com/forums/members/13336-ocg35.html - he blacked out his silver G.

 

Actually I'm still in the process of completing the door trim, handles and grill (btw, it's DG not silver)... unfortunately there aren't many options for the door trim. You can use a vinyl overlay (or smoked tape), or paint. Everything except the belt molding (bottom of window) can be powder coated - you would have to paint the belt molding but matching paint to powder color is a pain in the @ss!!! I am having the door trim and handles all painted. I leery of black chroming since it's basically clear coat with a little black paint mixed in -it is more likely to chip and peel. I might try it but will probably go with a regular paint with a black-chrome effect.

The emblems are easy to have black chromed - I had mine done by Auto Emblems Gold Plating (he does black-chrome too) 714-328-9810 ask for Rick.

The grill has an additional viable option since it is plastic - Vacuum Metalizing. It's a process where they spay a solution, oven dry, vaporize aluminum onto the piece then spay whatever color you want (black chrome is common). Painting is just as practical which is what I intend to do. I might take my chances on the grill and have clear with black mixed in for a black chrome look. I also am having ghosted lettering on the second bar from top to spell GREY GHOST (each word on either side of emblem).

For best results you will need to have all door trim and handles removed. It isn't advisable to mask off and spray on the car. If you are in the OC area PM me and I will send you the info on different shops I am using. Also, if you are looking to powder coat your wheels there is a shop in Anaheim - for those of you that saw my ugly @ss grey wheels, they are GONE!!! I had them re-done (hyper black-chrome - since it's powder it looks more gun metal/anthracite). They look 100% better now! I really like 'em.

I will post pics when it is all done.

 

thanks guys!!!! this is awesome, i really wasnt sure if i could do it. yes i am in OC i live in Costa Mesa. i was pretty much lost before. glad to have found g35driver. i'd really like to see some pics when its is done. i'll call rick for my badges tomorrow.

 

When you are ready to do your door trim give Alliance Collision a call: 949-631-5100 they are in CM. They are going to remove mine - got a good quote. Ask for Mike Armstrong he will be fully aware of what you are trying to do since he has been working with me for mine.

Wet Works is right down the street from them if you want to use them for paint. Joe Delio 949-646-1867 (great guy). He'll be familiar with what you are trying to do too since I have been talking with him recently about doing the same thing. I haven't decided 100% who I am going to use for paint yet. I have a guy in Anaheim that is paint matching powder coat color for my wheel center caps but it's taking forever! I might have Wet Works do it... Or a couple of other places that were referred out here (haven't talked to them yet though).

Originally I intended to finalize everything next week, but with Churches dyno day next weekend I need to get some performance stuff done. I plan to complete the cosmetic stuff the following week. If you want to wait that long I'll post pics and you can see if it's what you are looking for and go the same route.

There is a lot of trial and error to get the right look (at least for me). I have definitely been a guinea pig. Could save you some grief if you want to wait.

 

haha sucker. now he is hooked!

cavz903, post pics and progress.

btw, somewhat along the same lines, does anyone know if there exist carbon fiber overlays that cover the black inside parts of the doors? - between the side windows?

 

Bat (bluebatmobile) has some interior stuff (vinyl though) I'm not sure what all he has for production but he has done some things to his Z that looks pretty cool. I don’t see many posts from him out here lately - try PMing him he might have some ideas for the look you are going for.

 

i smoked my grill (before i got my UT GTR grill) and it looks good. the only problem is rock chips!!!! OCG, i advise you invest in some sort of custom clear bra for the grill if you paint it, or just clear coat the hell out of it!!!

 

Yeah I know... I've been real leery about painting it, but there aren't many after-market grills for the sedan (none that I like). I was thinking of having a custom mesh grill made, but the only shop I talked with said they would have to keep the top and bottom horizontal bars. That would leave a very narrow area of mesh and just seems like it would look awkward.

I want the "smoked" / "black chromed" look but that’s basically colored clear coat which will probably be more prone to chipping and peeling. Still toying with ideas - It will be done in a couple of weeks... If it flops, anyone wanting the same look will know what not to do. If it's good - it will save you from the tedious **** I'm going through!

 

i have carbon fiber vynil sheets - enough to cover the doors' black posts. but i'd rather go with real carbon fiber. Gsedanman has them on his M45, and i love the look...

 

Seems I would be better off painting everything. The vinyl tape seems it would peel. I guess now is not the time to get cheap. Oh well I will have to wait until next summer. $600 bills seems tough to justify now.
Good luck to everyone doing this project. I look forward to your progress to motivate me.

 

For exterior - paint, powder-coat, black chrome... all definitely the way to go except for the lenses (for me anyway). thought about having them sprayed but I want the option to take them off easily if I get a fix-it ticket. So far bat's overlays have been great - they don't peel or anything. When I mentioned the carbon fiber look overlays to codeflux, I misunderstood what he was referring to. He said "inside parts of the doors - between the windows" I thought he meant interior. Now I understand he meant the exterior between the windows. I doubt anyone will make an actual carbon fiber replacement for those parts but you never know.