Interior/Exterior I Am......The Chrome Hater
#51
First off I started to read this thread and see it has be resurrected from 12/04...kind of cool that someone would take the time to dig up an old thread!
I too am a "chrome hater", alas from the Bald Biker Guy! My Harleys were all stripped of chrome, and you do know how Harley guys love their chrome. I remember the first set of pipes that I sent off to the powder coater, everyone thought I was nuts. Next bike it was everything, forks, nacelle, handlebars...do it all...black is beautiful!
Now on to the cars, I like my cars one color...trim and all. There needs to be subtle touches of black to break it up but chrome is NOT necessary! I have always hated the "trim chrome" they seem to always put around the windows or belt line of a car. I have just recently taken the chrome trim off my MC with 3M striping tape (easy job for anyone, windshield curve takes a few minutes, but well worth it) I am contemplating removing the chrome grill pieces on my MCS and the headlight surrounds and have them powder coated or painted black.
But before I ramble on...I have always said...each to his/her own! It's YOUR car/bike NOT mine, you're the one that needs to love your ride so no matter what anyone else thinks...you do what you want and the rest be damned!
I too am a "chrome hater", alas from the Bald Biker Guy! My Harleys were all stripped of chrome, and you do know how Harley guys love their chrome. I remember the first set of pipes that I sent off to the powder coater, everyone thought I was nuts. Next bike it was everything, forks, nacelle, handlebars...do it all...black is beautiful!
Now on to the cars, I like my cars one color...trim and all. There needs to be subtle touches of black to break it up but chrome is NOT necessary! I have always hated the "trim chrome" they seem to always put around the windows or belt line of a car. I have just recently taken the chrome trim off my MC with 3M striping tape (easy job for anyone, windshield curve takes a few minutes, but well worth it) I am contemplating removing the chrome grill pieces on my MCS and the headlight surrounds and have them powder coated or painted black.
But before I ramble on...I have always said...each to his/her own! It's YOUR car/bike NOT mine, you're the one that needs to love your ride so no matter what anyone else thinks...you do what you want and the rest be damned!
#54
Originally Posted by drdrumanbass
some of you people need to start a thread called....
I Like Chrome
You wont even have to worry about seeing me over on that thread.
my approach is just to simplify the scheme so you notice more of the beatuiful natural body lines with out all of the distracting bling.
.
I Like Chrome
You wont even have to worry about seeing me over on that thread.
my approach is just to simplify the scheme so you notice more of the beatuiful natural body lines with out all of the distracting bling.
.
Buick made a car called the Grand National .....take a look you may like it
#55
#56
Originally Posted by davn8r
So... does anyone know the answer to the fuel cap question? Will a colored MC cap work as a replacement for a chromed MCS cap?
Lagston
#57
#58
Originally Posted by Jimbo
I am also not a fan of chrome and am always on the lookout for photos with MINIs sans chrome..here is a photo from the member galleries that shows a MINI with as little chrome as I have seen.
Except for the handles, gas cap and lower window trim you can get a feel for the no chrome look.
Except for the handles, gas cap and lower window trim you can get a feel for the no chrome look.
#59
Guest
Posts: n/a
Does anyone have any pictures of a de-chromed red one? I've been thinking about going that route, but I don't think the effect would be nearly as nice as on the grey. Of course there seem to be a ton of red Mini's in the area, so something to distinguish would be nice. Got the black wheels...
Guess I could always try and photoshop the effect.
EDIT: Adding my pathetic attempt at the effect.
Guess I could always try and photoshop the effect.
EDIT: Adding my pathetic attempt at the effect.
#60
#62
Guest
Posts: n/a
Junk yard repo... man, you hurt me bad. Well, ugly is in the eye of the beholder right?
So after the kids were down I found myself with spare time and some electrical tape. So I figured what the heck, lets see what it looks like black. I didn't like the lamps in black, if you were to do something with those I think red would be the only way to go. I left it on so I could take a picture though for reference. Someone might like to see the effect. I then stripped it off really quick and took a second shot with the chrome lamps.
Anyway, you can knotch me up for "ugly mini of the year" but I don't mind the look. I can peal it off any time if I change my mind.
So after the kids were down I found myself with spare time and some electrical tape. So I figured what the heck, lets see what it looks like black. I didn't like the lamps in black, if you were to do something with those I think red would be the only way to go. I left it on so I could take a picture though for reference. Someone might like to see the effect. I then stripped it off really quick and took a second shot with the chrome lamps.
Anyway, you can knotch me up for "ugly mini of the year" but I don't mind the look. I can peal it off any time if I change my mind.
#63
#65
Originally Posted by Samtrak
posting pics of my ride without telling me are you?
well at least use a current photo:smile:
now with 50% less chrome!
i plan on getting rid of the rest as well....
goodbye ugly body line
(note: the 1/4" black electrical tape trick dont work too well.)
goodbye chrome handles
goodbye gas cap
goodbye headlights
then there is my new favorite.... took this aboard the aircraft carrier MIDWAY in downtown San Deigo.
well at least use a current photo:smile:
now with 50% less chrome!
i plan on getting rid of the rest as well....
goodbye ugly body line
(note: the 1/4" black electrical tape trick dont work too well.)
goodbye chrome handles
goodbye gas cap
goodbye headlights
then there is my new favorite.... took this aboard the aircraft carrier MIDWAY in downtown San Deigo.
How did you paint the headlight surroundings? any special prep? or just simply sand the chrome off and spray the paint?
I might be doing the same for my front grille.
#66
Originally Posted by Leon1982
How did you paint the headlight surroundings? any special prep? or just simply sand the chrome off and spray the paint?
I might be doing the same for my front grille.
I might be doing the same for my front grille.
Originally Posted by MSFITOY
Drdrumanbass, I love the painted headlamp bezels. I've been meaning to do that too. What was the process involved?
Originally Posted by Samtrak
the headlight bezels were easy to prep...
took 60min of drysanding the chrome off and a wet sanded coat of primer.
my advice to anyone considering paint is.....
do it all at once.... develop a plan.
the more prep work you do yourself, the cheaper its gonna be.
removing all the peices yourself is an excellent way to save some labor hours.
took 60min of drysanding the chrome off and a wet sanded coat of primer.
my advice to anyone considering paint is.....
do it all at once.... develop a plan.
the more prep work you do yourself, the cheaper its gonna be.
removing all the peices yourself is an excellent way to save some labor hours.
#68
Originally Posted by Samtrak
posting pics of my ride without telling me are you?
well at least use a current photo:smile:
now with 50% less chrome!
i plan on getting rid of the rest as well....
goodbye ugly body line
(note: the 1/4" black electrical tape trick dont work too well.)
goodbye chrome handles
goodbye gas cap
goodbye headlights
then there is my new favorite.... took this aboard the aircraft carrier MIDWAY in downtown San Deigo.
well at least use a current photo:smile:
now with 50% less chrome!
i plan on getting rid of the rest as well....
goodbye ugly body line
(note: the 1/4" black electrical tape trick dont work too well.)
goodbye chrome handles
goodbye gas cap
goodbye headlights
then there is my new favorite.... took this aboard the aircraft carrier MIDWAY in downtown San Deigo.
the edges on the aero grille are they removeable to paint them?
also what did you use to fill the space of the bottom grille in the bumper?
#69
nice blacked out mini.
#70
Pick and choose... I've been meaning to go back to aerokit grille and MCS bumper on my MC after my little fender bender replaced everything back to stock. But the thought of chroming the grille trim and blacking out the headlight bezels to balance has caught my attention. Looks like a baby Aston... :p
#71
Looks real nice...
Originally Posted by ruf
Pick and choose... I've been meaning to go back to aerokit grille and MCS bumper on my MC after my little fender bender replaced everything back to stock. But the thought of chroming the grille trim and blacking out the headlight bezels to balance has caught my attention. Looks like a baby Aston... :p
#72
Ive done the aero grille, blacked out beltline, 20% tint, and cooper side grilles. The car is all black otherwise...and I'm still debating about the headlamp covers.
Im going to look into the MC cap tomorrow, and see if my dealer has one in stock.
Anyone removed the handles yet?
Here is a pic before the beltline black-out.
BTW Sam...when you search "mini cooper gas cap" on google image...your car is the 3rd picture thats listed
Im going to look into the MC cap tomorrow, and see if my dealer has one in stock.
Anyone removed the handles yet?
Here is a pic before the beltline black-out.
BTW Sam...when you search "mini cooper gas cap" on google image...your car is the 3rd picture thats listed
#74
Hey Coop, Once I get my camera working again I'll get some recent pics up of my car, or check out my gallery. The handles were there hardest pieces to remove off of the car. Shot me a PM and I'll try to give you some detailed instructions on removing the handles and anything else.
Thanks to Samtrak (DrDrumNbass) for the tips on dechroming.
Thanks to Samtrak (DrDrumNbass) for the tips on dechroming.