Anyone know the best way to dechrome my Mini? I have done the Plasti Dip route on other Minis in the past, but with rock chips, you are having to re-do again and again. Besides, is there a website that sells matte REPLACEMENT headlight rings w/washers for the R53, not just covers? They seem to be a royal PITA to get off without breaking tabs if I were to want to powder-coat them or paint them.

 

Well...you could add chrome...
Why be just another blacked out mini?!
Seriously.... There are many options...
I'd look at vinyl...
Long lasting and cheap. Platidip is easy, but you loose the clean lines...it looks kinda like dipping stuff in a layer of honey IMO.

 

I've had my chrome plasti dipped since last summer and I've got 1 rock chip in my passenger headlight ring. I even dipped a solid scoop stripe. Why go with something permanent? There may be a day you want the chrome back. If you do a good prep and lay it on thicker in chip prone areas it should be fine. Not sure what's meant by "lose clean lines". Dip wraps around lines unless you spray it on like an 80s chick with a can of aquanet

 

But really tho... Plasti dip is like an onion, it's all about layers!

 

I've plasti-dipped all of my chrome (except door handles)....and even after a few years, it's still looking pretty good. As long as you spray on a few light coats and don't try to do it all in one thick coat, it applies pretty even. And if you ever need to get it off, it's not that bad to peel it off. Cheap too....