BLACK2001CLK

Hey guys,
I would like to paint/chrome my grille black.
I went to the bodyshop and they give me an estimate of $250 just to painted, since it takes a lot of preparation and paid won't just stick to the chrome. Is there anytype of paint that will stick over chrome. What would be a solution?

PerformanceCLK

250 is very overpriced. From what I've heard, the only more permanant solution would be powdercoating, which may or may not work on the grill, and just painting it will result in chipping/spots. What I'm also curious about is if anyone has done like black chroming?

Daveskee

You have to find someone to beadblast the chrome off. Then it'll be ready for painting. Can't powdercoat the CLK grill due to the heat involved. The CLK grill is plastic and will melt. I had mine beadblasted and painted (incl the side markers) for $120 as a reference.

I do have a source for powdercoating in the East Bay (SF bay area). Very good prices. So if you want to powdercoat calipers, rotor hats, metal grills, or wheels, they're good for that. PM me and I'll point you their way.

Benzo

Can you post some shots of a black w208 with a blacked out grill? Thanks.

mmgrad

click on the link in Daveskee's signature... he has pics of his CLK with the blacked out grill in there

BLACK2001CLK

That's exactly what I'm going for...
Dammit, can I just spraypaint it

ELENI

I just painted right over the chrome and now I'm having trouble with chipping and having to touch it up every couple of weeks. I would definitely look into getting it beadblasted first if it will prevent the paint from chipping.

ELENI

That's a pic of mine after I was done.

imemikey

i paid like 50-60 bucks for mine

Autostream

$10
a little sandpaper, some quality spray paint , and a lot of patience will do the trick perfect!
;-)

Daveskee

Like anything up front on our cars, you're gonna get chipping from rocks and debris no matter what you do short of something like Clearbra. If you don't beadblast the chrome though, its gonna chip much worse and is more likely to peel and flake off. I don't recommend spraypainting it.

Autostream

after the sandpaper, it'll be so scuffed, it wont look like chrome anymore...and it allow the paint to 'bite' the clear coat is what chips. A good thick coat with extra 'flex' and you'll never see a chip.

Josh K

autostream is correct, beadblasting, while good isn't 100% necessary - some scuffsanding and a good primer along with some hefty clearcoat will do a good job.

mmgrad

haha... thats exactly what i was thinking... some good olde DIY mod....

Benzo

"Ahhhhaaaaaaahhhhh... There's no spoon, you can't eat the soup." Thanks for your help. Looks great btw. I am getting my car back tommorow and among other things- I had this done. I was a little leary about it but now I am psyched after seeing this. I had my side markers smoked instead of blacked out and am thinking about painting out the badging on the rear.

Anyone have experience painting brake calipers? I was told that I would have to redo them constantly. I am not ready to drop the cash to change them out just yet to brembos- anyone have any ideas? Thanks again!

Benzo

"Ahhhhaaaaaaahhhhh... There's no spoon, you can't eat the soup." Thanks for your help. Looks great btw. I am getting my car back tommorow and among other things- I had this done. I was a little leary about it but now I am psyched after seeing this. I had my side markers smoked instead of blacked out and am thinking about painting out the badging on the rear.

Anyone have experience painting brake calipers? I was told that I would have to redo them constantly. I am not ready to drop the cash to change them out just yet to brembos- anyone have any ideas? Thanks again!

Daveskee

Autostream,

There's "flex" in a can?

Considering it cost me $25 to beadblast the chrome off, I'd rather do that than sand and still have the chrome under it. The cost is the paint job. Prep is everything in paint work. You can still paint it yourself if you wanted after you beadblasted.

Benzo,

Powdercoat your calipers. No peeling.

mmgrad

Yeah, like Daveskee said, powdercoating is best...

but if you want to save money and nto have to remove the calipers, just get a G2 brake kit and the results will last quite a long time....

A lot of folks here use that kit...

benzinoben

I forget, but if I remember, there are a couple companies that will can powder coat (if metal) or dip if plastic to a nice black finish. My buddy got his front end done on his H2 hummer. It looks tight. They did it in a black chrome type finish and it wasnt to damn expensive.

Benzo

Thanks alot. I actually picked up my vehicle and they didn't even have my front grille painted. I think I have decided against it as I am probably going to powdercoat my rims black. (every thing but the lip and bolts) I was quoted a price of $600 to powdercoat the set of rims, does this seem reasonable? Also, what should I expect to pay to have the calipers removed and powdercoated? I really want it done right. Thanks so much for all of your suggestions.

ps I havbe tried posting pics and it tells me that they exceed one byte so they are too large. I tried posting them individually to no avail. I am far from experienced with the digital camera. Any help?

Daveskee

Can you provide the name, ph# and address of these places? I've got something I'd like done but can't powdercoat because its plastic.

That sounds high. Let me see what the place I've used charges just as a reference for you.

Josh K

$600 is a lot to powdercoat. I'm currently in the process of having my wheels powdercoated, and even with stripping the old finish, polishing the lip, masking the lip, and powdercoating the rest of the wheel with two stage powdercoat, it's running me considerably less than that from a shop that specializes in wheels.

If you were in SoCal, I'd recommend you to the shop, but you're in norcal.

BLACK2001CLK

So, I primed my grill yesterday. Took me about 4-6 hour to sand it.
I will try to get it done by the end of this week and post pictures.
I was unable to remove chrome completly, I was able just to make it look polished, pretty cool too.
In a fact, I will do same with headlamp rings tonight.

mmgrad

why don't you use a power handsander... u coulda done the job in like 15 min...

Benzo

You don't know the half of it, chief. I live in Florida, that would be quite a hike to Cali north or south!!! There aren't many shops to call around here- at least that I know of- any help with a shop in FL would be great.