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Hey all, so I'm planning to do some exterior mods to the car as stated in my previous post. I'd like to take your opinion and help with the following:
Rear chrome strip above the lights and all emblems on the car, how to make them black? I asked the dealership and they said it doesn't as an option. Is plastidip my only decent option?
Rear Carbon Fibre spoiler. Not much aftermarket tuners have done any kits for the GLE, and the ones that have like Brabus, Inferno, Ramspeed etc are crazy priced.
Also I want to paint the wheels black and add CF strips to the bumper 'vents.
I actually find the height when on Sport+ mode quite nice. There's no need to go lower IMO. Although in comfort it is a bit high but I wouldn't want to ruin the ride quality.
I'm also looking into a tune. I saw several that quote at least 30 hp but those are for the pre 2018 43s which are 367hp not 391. So I'll wait a bit to be sure I can get the same power increase.
Any idea on how to make the chrome strip above the lights black?
You're welcome.
That'll require vinyl film application. Check with your local detailing shops that install paint protection film. Some of them do that as well. If they don't, they'll know who to recommend. Shops that install PP film are a part of a very small clique. They go to the same training seminars and are part of the same professional organizations. Unbeknownst to me, it turned out my shop owner in NC is friends with the same guy who installed my PP film on my last car in PA.
im gonna black out all chrome, only thing is my car as distronic so i can not black out the star
Couldn't you black out the star IF you did the vinyl application that GLE43_Sube was referencing? That way, ONLY the star would be blacked out, and the "window" would still be clear or see thru.
I have no idea if it's possible or not, but just a thought...
Actually, you can cover the DISTRONIC PLUS Mercedes star with any colored vinyl. There's a radar gun behind there. Radar will penetrate vinyl like it's not even there. The color of the vinyl is irrelevant. It's the material and thickness that determines if the radar beam is impeded. Police use radar guns through thick car windshields all of the time. It doesn't affect the reading.
Knowing that exterior mods are in the eye of the beholder, I offer these images for those of you that are curious what these changes look like when completed.
I also think GLE Coupes are much nicer looking in person than in pictures, but here goes.
I have included two before and three after images, one side badge image and two images for removing the roof fin antenna cover.
The mods so far are:
Roof (between pano and back glass) covered in 3M gloss black wrap, then covered in SunTek Protective Clear Film to protect the wrap from sun exposer.
Roof fin antenna cover removed and new primer OE cover ($28.00) painted in 040 black and rebonded to roof (Yes, roof fin is glued with windshield urethane adhesive from factory, believe for water proofing) Must be cutout using windshield cut-out wire
Rear chrome strip covered in 3M gloss black wrap to match window moldings and roof
Rear & side badges and star in matte black finish
Future plans (will post images when completed):
Carbon fiber trim adds:
Rear spoiler
Hood vents
Mirror covers
Exterior door handles
If you have other exterior mods you completed, would really like to see images. Thank you.
Last edited by UnlikeAnyOther; 06-12-2018 at 09:12 PM.
Reason: mis-spelling
Wow it's looking really good!! Almost the same as I have done with mine.
I have done the same with the chrome strip, and I still want to wrap the rest of the roof black and will make the chrome bits on handles and emblems all black too.
I've also installed the 63 AMG kit, and put a roof spoiler, vents, and rear spoiler all in CF.
The only thing I didn't want are the 63 AMG emblems but the body shop put them on when they installed the kit. So I will debadge everything except for the rear and front star.
Next plan is 22inch wheels. Most probably black. After that a tune!!
Looks Great Ramos! The white paint on the wheel arches and running boards looks nice too.
Two things:
I have a set of OEM 22-inch wheels that removed when I replaced mine with a set of 22-inch OEM turbine wheels (in the picture) . They are in perfect shape - not sure if they are the style you are looking for but was planning to sell them at some point if you are interested. (pictured below)
Here is a link to some carbon fiber door handle covers from Amazon. These are real carbon fiber. I like them and will be installing them soon. I have also ordered a set of black door handles to use with these because they do not wrap all the way around the door handle and you can see the back painted side, but are still nice quality for the price. Amazon: CF Door Handle Covers
Looks Great Ramos! The white paint on the wheel arches and running boards looks nice too.
Two things:
I have a set of OEM 22-inch wheels that removed when I replaced mine with a set of 22-inch OEM turbine wheels (in the picture) . They are in perfect shape - not sure if they are the style you are looking for but was planning to sell them at some point if you are interested. (pictured below)
Here is a link to some carbon fiber door handle covers from Amazon. These are real carbon fiber. I like them and will be installing them soon. I have also ordered a set of black door handles to use with these because they do not wrap all the way around the door handle and you can see the back painted side, but are still nice quality for the price. Amazon: CF Door Handle Covers
Asking $2600.00 for all four with centers (no TPMS sensors/stems) + buyer pays shipping/insurance/tracking)
OEM 22-INCH AMG Twin 5-Spoke w/ Black Accents / option 671 in DOG (excellent shape, no curb rash, no damage)
Below are some pictures of the carbon fiber exterior door handle covers I just finished installing. I ordered 4 new OEM Keyless-Go black door handles and then glued the CF covers to the new black handles for a permanent solution. This way the opening in the CF cover for KG function looked clean and the KG function remained fully operational. As well, the back side of the handle (which is not CF covered) looked better in black than white. I did test wrapping my white handles with 3M wrap, and the KG function seemed to work OK, but in the end the wrap did not look as clean as the factory black handles and I feel the factory handles will last longer than a wrap under the CF cover. With all the black trim around the windows, I thought the all black handles looked great even without the CF covers.
One thing that I did discover during testing of the KG handles is that the drivers KG handle will not function when the tumbler key cover is removed. At first I thought I had a bad drivers KG handle, but I found that I had no codes during testing and in actual values the handle was registering my touch. Once I popped the tumbler cover on, it then would lock and unlock again with the KG function. My initial thought is that if the key is turning the tumbler mechanically and KG activates a lock, it may twist the tumbler from the back side and could twist the key out of your hand (possibly hurt a person) so there must be a small magnet in the cover that allows the KG system to know when the cover is installed. Germans always thinking things through. If your not sure what cover I am referring to, see this post for more info: Drivers Door Tumbler Cover Removal
Last edited by UnlikeAnyOther; 06-17-2018 at 05:20 PM.
Reason: updated link
Blacked out all Chrome, calipers and hubs painted, roof wrapped, door handles painted, front and rear skirts painted. Rear lights wrapped, black illuminated star and a clear bra
This completes my exterior mods. Added carbon fiber rear spoiler and mirror covers.
The carbon fiber rear spoiler is really nice. I am looking to change my rear spoiler, too. Did you do the spoiler yourself? Was the factory spoiler glued on or bolted on? Was it hard to remove? Thanks
10-20-2017, 10:51 AM
