Re-chrome or replace?

Post Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:13 pm

My chrome bumpers are now a little rusty (if that's possible? They certainly look rusty!) on their undersides - would it be cheaper to re-chrome (how much would that be?

) or just replace with a good set from a breaking car?

Post Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:51 pm

If the top (chrome) is decent , get them blasted on the inside and prime and paint , will make them decent , proper re chroming is very expensive and not many places do it

Post Mon Apr 20, 2015 10:24 pm

New bumpers (from BMW) have questionable quality and re-chroming is only really an option if the surface of the bumper isn't fooked/pitted.

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:08 am

polsta wrote:If the top (chrome) is decent , get them blasted on the inside and prime and paint , will make them decent , proper re chroming is very expensive and not many places do it

Hmm, will have to get them off and have a proper look-see..

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:09 am

bab-91 wrote:New bumpers (from BMW) have questionable quality and re-chroming is only really an option if the surface of the bumper isn't fooked/pitted.

Do BM still do the chrome bumper then? I've just a look on BM classic parts and it seems they do the bumper, but that it wouldn't be chromed?

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:24 am

I have New replacement front chrome bumper parts, no rears though.

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:31 am

Bmw do do the chrome bumpers but I've read recently that when replaced through accident damaged or just replace the bmw quality is very poor.

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:43 am

Might be best looking out for a decent set from a breaking car methinks..

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:51 am

Strugs wrote:Might be best looking out for a decent set from a breaking car methinks..

Some traders on here just got an erection.

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 3:22 am

Sanchez wrote:Bmw do do the chrome bumpers but I've read recently that when replaced through accident damaged or just replace the bmw quality is very poor.

I actually think some were anodised.

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:32 am

BMW no longer sell BMW made bumpers, they sell chinese/indian made junk

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ome+bumper

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:18 am

New one's are rubbish the chrome has a blue tint to it,

aftermarket one's rust in no time at all, if your bumper is dent and rust hole free Then get it re-chromed

IIRC it's around £80 per bumper

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:33 am

I would re-chrome. Plenty of places do this and advertise in the back of the classic car mags.

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:39 pm

e30topless wrote:New one's are rubbish the chrome has a blue tint to it,

aftermarket one's rust in no time at all, if your bumper is dent and rust hole free Then get it re-chromed

IIRC it's around £80 per bumper

Was that in 1978 Steve?

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:27 pm

DanThe wrote:
e30topless wrote:New one's are rubbish the chrome has a blue tint to it,

aftermarket one's rust in no time at all, if your bumper is dent and rust hole free Then get it re-chromed

IIRC it's around £80 per bumper
Was that in 1978 Steve?

Indeed. £80 in 2015, may get you a hubcap rechromed, badly

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:57 pm

pacerpete wrote:
DanThe wrote:
e30topless wrote:New one's are rubbish the chrome has a blue tint to it,

aftermarket one's rust in no time at all, if your bumper is dent and rust hole free Then get it re-chromed

IIRC it's around £80 per bumper
Was that in 1978 Steve?

Indeed. £80 in 2015, may get you a hubcap rechromed, badly

Dammit! My hopes were raised then..

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:36 pm

IIRC, the tree huggers have successfully campaigned to ban the process that was used for chrome plating, and the replacement process is much more expensive.

Post Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:40 pm

DanThe wrote:
e30topless wrote:New one's are rubbish the chrome has a blue tint to it,

aftermarket one's rust in no time at all, if your bumper is dent and rust hole free Then get it re-chromed

IIRC it's around £80 per bumper
Was that in 1978 Steve?

it's what I pay now, I have a friend who is an E type freak he sends them with his shite, I currently have a massive Silverado bumper being done i'm told £100 it better be no more or he can keep it !!

Post Wed Apr 22, 2015 4:14 am

jimbom30cab wrote:I would re-chrome. Plenty of places do this and advertise in the back of the classic car mags.

You have to be very careful it's not chrome plating , most places these days do that and it's not the same thing , which isn't actually proper chrome, recently looked in to it with a mate who was on about getting some wheels chromed, real chroming places are mega expensive these days and not many places do it, it's many hours in labour due to the prep and extensive polishing , and something due to EU laws about the acids involved which are way more toxic than normal dipping and anodising companies , Sounds daft but I think it can work out cheaper to get stuff sent to the USA to be done and sent back

Post Wed Apr 22, 2015 9:36 am

e30topless wrote:
DanThe wrote:
e30topless wrote:New one's are rubbish the chrome has a blue tint to it,

aftermarket one's rust in no time at all, if your bumper is dent and rust hole free Then get it re-chromed

IIRC it's around £80 per bumper
Was that in 1978 Steve?
it's what I pay now, I have a friend who is an E type freak he sends them with his shite, I currently have a massive Silverado bumper being done i'm told £100 it better be no more or he can keep it !!

You better not let the romanian jet wash boys near it!