Pre-Facelift Chrome Restoration
Moderator: martauto
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TheWolfman
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I was just wondering if anyone had any Top-Tips for restoring the Chrome Trim on pre-facelift E30? The scratches on mine are really starting to bother me and want to get it spruced up a bit.
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martauto
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This is a big one guy`s, most pre face lift chrome trims have some or alot of marks like these (mine do ) so any ideas please ????
Mart.
Mart.
Only the E46 cab left now.
Just got too old.
Just got too old.
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paultv
- E30 Zone Squatter
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A few years ago I re built an early 1950's Rover which had tons of chrome, much of it damaged, dented, scratched and rusty. Took all the parts off and sent them to the chroming guys.
They can un twist, fix dents and generally make old tin look brilliant.
Either remove the parts from the car or buy crappy, but not bent or seriously damaged second hand bits and send to be stripped, polished and chromed.
Trim tends to be cheap second hand as its usually well knackered, and looks horrible.
Chroming is not cheap, but you can do a piece or two at a time -
I used London Chroming on the Old Kent Road - probably long gone by now - but good.
Paul
They can un twist, fix dents and generally make old tin look brilliant.
Either remove the parts from the car or buy crappy, but not bent or seriously damaged second hand bits and send to be stripped, polished and chromed.
Trim tends to be cheap second hand as its usually well knackered, and looks horrible.
Chroming is not cheap, but you can do a piece or two at a time -
I used London Chroming on the Old Kent Road - probably long gone by now - but good.
Paul
4th May 1990 325i Convertible.
BMW E30 Cabriolet Best Mod Ever:
https://bmwe30cabriolet-wdm.blogspot.com/
BMW E30 Cabriolet Best Mod Ever:
https://bmwe30cabriolet-wdm.blogspot.com/
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DanThe
- E30 Zone Team Member
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The trim is aluminium and apparently anodised rather than chrome plated from what ive been told, although ive never investigated having it refurbed, its good for powdercaoting though if you want to change to black trim
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paultv
- E30 Zone Squatter
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Yup,
I think the process is the same or similar at least - steel is polished and then copper plated, polished then chromed - aluminium has an extra zinc layer before the chrome, that's
how I remember it -
In any event, it's certainly do able.
And you can powder coat in some great colours!!
Paul
I think the process is the same or similar at least - steel is polished and then copper plated, polished then chromed - aluminium has an extra zinc layer before the chrome, that's
how I remember it -
In any event, it's certainly do able.
And you can powder coat in some great colours!!
Paul
4th May 1990 325i Convertible.
BMW E30 Cabriolet Best Mod Ever:
https://bmwe30cabriolet-wdm.blogspot.com/
BMW E30 Cabriolet Best Mod Ever:
https://bmwe30cabriolet-wdm.blogspot.com/
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TheWolfman
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Thanks Zoners!Some useful information there.
Having looked into it a bit before I remember something about the Trim actually being Aluminium.I'm guessing that the best way to do it would be either to try and fill all the scratches and then re-coat, or just sand them back and then re-coat.I've done gold-plating before and surely the Chroming process can't be too much different I'm guessing. I'm actually not to far from the Old Kent Road, so might see if their still about - if they haven't been replaced by a Hipster Coffee joint that is.
As for the powder coating...great suggestion, but not on this Baur,she's staying chrome and shiney like the Bavarian God's intended! Would be amazing to have the Trim looking good as new.
Having looked into it a bit before I remember something about the Trim actually being Aluminium.I'm guessing that the best way to do it would be either to try and fill all the scratches and then re-coat, or just sand them back and then re-coat.I've done gold-plating before and surely the Chroming process can't be too much different I'm guessing. I'm actually not to far from the Old Kent Road, so might see if their still about - if they haven't been replaced by a Hipster Coffee joint that is.
As for the powder coating...great suggestion, but not on this Baur,she's staying chrome and shiney like the Bavarian God's intended! Would be amazing to have the Trim looking good as new.
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TheWolfman
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- Location: LDN
Maybe a good ol' polish is just the ticket...
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martauto
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TheWolfman wrote: ↑Fri Apr 12, 2019 9:35 am
As for the powder coating...great suggestion, but not on this Baur,she's staying chrome and shiney like the Bavarian God's intended! Would be amazing to have the Trim looking good as new.
good man
Mart.
Only the E46 cab left now.
Just got too old.
Just got too old.
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TheWolfman
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 10:56 pm
- Location: LDN
This guy treats it like actual chrome and it seems to turn out alright.
I think I probably just need to start sanding at 220 to take the actual scratches out ,then up to 320,400,600 and 1000 grit wet n' dry paper and then give it a good buffing.Seems like that should do the do...
I think I probably just need to start sanding at 220 to take the actual scratches out ,then up to 320,400,600 and 1000 grit wet n' dry paper and then give it a good buffing.Seems like that should do the do...