Painting Chrome W203 Sport Edition Grille

[tudu]

Popped into the paintshop who are removing my front bumper next week and repspraying due to peppered stone chips. While i was there i asked them if they could paint my chrome grille Diamond Black to match my car. They promptly told me that one stone chip and the paint would start peeling even after good preparation before spraying. Is there any other way i can paint the thing or do i have to buy a black plastic grille - theres one on ebay for £79.00 seems reasonable but i would rather use my original rather than have a black plastic grille with a big MB star stuck on the front of it.

 

[television]

Popped into the paintshop who are removing my front bumper next week and repspraying due to peppered stone chips. While i was there i asked them if they could paint my chrome grille Diamond Black to match my car. They promptly told me that one stone chip and the paint would start peeling even after good preparation before spraying. Is there any other way i can paint the thing or do i have to buy a black plastic grille - theres one on ebay for £79.00 seems reasonable but i would rather use my original rather than have a black plastic grille with a big MB star stuck on the front of it.

I spoke to my coach builder friend some weeks back and he said that a high quality etch primer would work,,you could also flat the plating to get better adhesion

 

[tudu]

I spoke to my coach builder friend some weeks back and he said that a high quality etch primer would work,,you could also flat the plating to get better adhesion

Thanks. I may have a go at it myself using several different grades of wet and dry. Just spoke to the missus and she suggests a couple of coats of paint stripper should do the job - don't we luv them.

 

[tudu]

Cheers Greg Have PM'd you.

 

[Dieselman]

While i was there i asked them if they could paint my chrome grille Diamond Black to match my car.

I'm sure the grille surround is stainless steel, not chrome. It can be painted but will take a fair bit of abrasion and etch primer.

 

[tudu]

I'm sure the grille surround is stainless steel, not chrome. It can be painted but will take a fair bit of abrasion and etch primer.

Thanks, i will wait until the bumper has been done and added the few new mods to the front and see what it looks like with the chrome / stainless steel grille before deciding whether to paint it all black.

 

[adam watson]

It could still be chromed even if it is stainless. Stick a magnet on it if it doesn't stick or sticks weakly then its stainless. Stainless will stratch a lot easier than chrome so try a small area to see. If after all that it is chrome take it to a chrome shop who will strip the old chrome off so the paint will stick. Chrome is too hard to properly key so the paint won't stick well even with etch primer in my experience

adam

 

[television]

If it is chrome then just stick it in a tank with 30% hydrochloric acid and it will take the chrome off in 20 mins