I have an all black C63S and I wanted the night package. Normally I don't like blacking out anything but, for some reason on this car and in black especially, the silver parts just bug me. So, I have set out on a way to reproduce the "Night Package" (NP) in a cost effective way.

The NP from Mercedes is a $750 option and unfortunately the car I bought off the lot didn't have it. If I would have built it I would have ordered it but, how can I get the effect easily? Here is what I have done..

I initially went with Vinyl wrapping and I was unhappy with most of it. I say most because I kept some and removed some. This thread is more of a way to help others not make the mistakes I made and to have some options. I could also use some pointers too if anyone has some.

Parts I wrapped:

All 4 door handles, Rear Trunk Chrome Strip, 3 parts above rear exhaust, 3 parts above front fender, both side skirts, both sides of the window frames passenger and driver..

I am currently deciding whether to remove the handle vinyl or keep it. I don't like the way it feels and it looks OK up close. From far it looks factory and I like the blacked out appearance.

Front fender parts, rear fender parts and side skirts- REMOVED. Maybe it was mu installer or just a bad job but, it looked like crap and I removed the vinyl.

Window Frames and rear trunk chrome strip- KEPT IT VINYL. SO far it has held up (been 2 weeks) and it looks factory. I am happy with the results.

NOTE: If anyone knows if there is an easy way to remove the window frames to PAINT I would like to know. Looked like a ***** to remove so the vinyl is a good choice.

Here is where I can help you all. The three tail pieces (yes 3 in total) snap in and out of the bumper. It isn't easy but they do snap out. The front 3 pieces are impossible to remove. We tried and it cannot be done. HOWEVER, what we found out is that the piece that these 3 pieces snap into CAN be removed. SO, if you plan on wrapping or painting the front 3 trim pieces, just unsnap the long piece they snap into first and remove the trim from behind after the long piece is removed. This long piece extends the entire length of the bumper so, remove it first and then unsnap the 3 trim pieces from behind. Snapping everything back in is simple.

Finally, the side trim pieces above the rockers.. This was interesting. There are only clips on both ends of the rocker. The entire piece is held on by double stick foam tape. Unsnap both ends and gently pry it away from the body. The tape may stay on the car, may remain on the part or may break away in pieces but, it rubs off.

All of the parts I mentioned are now in the body shop being painted. I know that it will look better than the vinyl did and It only cost me $200 to paint them all.

The vinyl cost me $400 but, since I am keeping the window frames, chrome trunk trim and maybe the handles, I suppose it isn't so horrific. Still a bit cheaper than what MB charges but, if YOU do it and avoid the vinyl you can do it for a fraction.

Pics to follow and if you know how to remove the window trim please share.

 

Nice. I was going to have the bottom trim pieces vinyl wrapped. Are you in Connecticut?

 

Yes, I am in CT right on the border of NY.

I would advise against wrapping the bottom trim pieces but, now that I know how easy they are to remove, you could probably get a much nicer result if you removed them and wrapped them rather than trying to do it on the car.

Painting them is obviously the best result but, it isn't easily reversible. I have no intention of reversing it so, my situation may differ from yours.

 

Some pics:

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_0903_zpsfvqvklnh.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_0903_zpsfvqvklnh.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0903_zpsfvqvklnh.jpg"/></a>

 

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_1044_zpsd9ar8vsp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_1044_zpsd9ar8vsp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1044_zpsd9ar8vsp.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_0904_zps00s703na.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_0904_zps00s703na.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0904_zps00s703na.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_1040_zpseaw9cihq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_1040_zpseaw9cihq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1040_zpseaw9cihq.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_1045_zpscmxjsjro.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_1045_zpscmxjsjro.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1045_zpscmxjsjro.jpg"/></a>

 

Did you remove the window trim?

 

No, the window trim will remain as it is more of a pain in the *** to remove and paint and fairly easy to get a good result with Vinyl.

The only thing I am still undecided about are the handles and whether or not to keep the vinyl on or remove it.

Parts will be installed tomorrow and I will follow up with pics.

 

The chrome lip on the trunk looks so much better in black!

 

Yeah that is also never getting removed, it is the most aesthetically pleasing cover up with black. More than any other part, that one made a drastic difference.

 

It annoys the hell out of me and the door handles (half chrome)!

I had it booked to be wrapped when I got the car and held back as I've ordered the coupe.

Did you tint the rear lights ?

 

I tinted one rear light and sent the picture you see to my wife and a few buddies. They all said they hated the way it looked so I removed it. Any opinions?

 

I like the look of them tinted, however I also like the bright LED lights when they light up at night.

 

Very nice! Mine is black and I have the night package, but I want to wrap the door handles and the Rear Trunk Chrome Strip. Do you have to remove them to wrap?

 

Neither the handles or the trunk trim needed to be removed to wrap. The handles are still upsetting me as they sometimes pull up or crinkle in the corners, but again it could be my installer or the vinyl they used.

Oh more tip for the guys considering vinyl.. You need to have them use a vinyl that has an opaque (non transparent) backing. We tried it with the clear backing and when the sun hit it, the chrome would reflect back the light and make the film look brown. Once we changed the film to one with a backing, then the sun didn't reflect back through the film and it looked jet glossy black on the chrome parts. FYI

 

You might want to try leaving white strip on rear lense Untinted and go a bit lighter on darkness. ....

Rest of car looks great.

 

Thanks for the great post CT-AMG
i am working on something similar on my car. I have successfully removed both sides of the trim in the back but cant get the middle piece out. In fear that i was going to break something i stopped. Is there any tips om getting it out? do you have to push from the back or anything tricky.
As for the door handles i am in the same boat. I have a white car but really want the black/white only. I have had minor experience wrapping but i just cant imagine getting that perfect especially on a moving part. I may end up having the handles removed and painted when i am on a trip in late April.

 

Romeo: The tint shop had light, med and dark for lenses. The dark was black and the light looked nearly identical so we tried out the medium. He did cut out the clear reverse light but, I still found the tint to be too dark for my liking. I am trying to maintain a classy, elegant sedan but, remove the elements that I feel stick out like chrome trim. The lenses for me and my buddies were too much.

BGM130: It is a real BIT-CH to get those pieces out. The front lip had a piece that pulled out and all 3 trim pieces could then be removed from the back. I don't know if the rear has a similar piece but, we managed to get all 3 of the rear pieces out, with some effort.

Look at the way the clips push into the bumper on the parts you removed and you will find the center piece pops in and out the same way and with the same clips.

The moving door handle isn't a problem to wrap, They heat the wrap, pull it taught and cut it. The problem is that with the constant handling it tends to pull up. Also as the weather gets colder, the wrap shrinks ever so slightly, which causes some wrinkles. I will also take some pics to demonstrate..

 

To bgm130 and others...

Here are some pics of what the body of the car looks like with the parts removed. It is really nothing more than an oval hole but, when I get to the painted parts, I will take some pictures of what the clips look like. They are in there solid and deep. Even with the whole bumper removed it wouldn't be able to be pushed out by hand. They must make some sort of tool from MB to get it out. My paint shop just used brute force and flat head screwdrivers..

Also showing pictures of the handles vinyl wrapped.

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_0147_zps77nwqjtz.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_0147_zps77nwqjtz.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0147_zps77nwqjtz.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_0146_zps2lfvrmg1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_0146_zps2lfvrmg1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0146_zps2lfvrmg1.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_0145_zpsika1krer.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_0145_zpsika1krer.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0145_zpsika1krer.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_0148_zpspfpm8dt0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_0148_zpspfpm8dt0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0148_zpspfpm8dt0.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_0149_zpsbpn256rz.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_0149_zpsbpn256rz.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0149_zpsbpn256rz.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_0150_zpscrix199v.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_0150_zpscrix199v.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0150_zpscrix199v.jpg"/></a>

 

Painted parts. See the tabs to figure out how they go in and come out:

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_1051_zpsqcubp8bt.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_1051_zpsqcubp8bt.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1051_zpsqcubp8bt.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/Charliemae203/media/IMG_1050_zpspgw1w9sj.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/Charliemae203/IMG_1050_zpspgw1w9sj.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1050_zpspgw1w9sj.jpg"/></a>

 

Thanks to this thread I got the nerve to pop out the center piece. Actually used a long flat blade driver from up inside the bumper to get some of the stubborn ones. This finished up all but the tips but I think AWE will have a custom solution for that soon enough.
After getting the pieces I actually tried the 3m but was too shiney, has some trim blackout was a little closer but ended up going with plastidip which believe it or not matched perfectly. The bumper in that area is actually a textured finish so looks identical.

 

Only two pics would attach from my phone for some reason. Here is the finished product

 

Looks so much better than the silver. Nice job!

 

Did you wrap the entire handle or just the top part? Mine was done crappy as well. I am looking to redo them myself. But to be honest, I had not done anything like this before. I am thinking of buying some vinyl from ebay, and practice it...

For what its worth, I did get the night package, the chrome handle is stupidly awkward and left untouched.

I also had the front (disc tronic option) bars that goes to the MB emblem painted, however, it started to chip the first day. I don't think it'll last, eventually I need to re-paint or wrap that as well.

 

They only wrapped the chrome upper half. It has stayed put so I have decided to keep it. They did stretch it in order to make it tight.