Black Chrome (Help?)
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Joined: Jul 2003
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
Black Chrome (Help?)
I've decided to do all the emblems on my 55 in "Black Chrome" the way they look on several late model Lexus cars. It looks like they were essentially shot with a coat of dark tinted translucent lacquer or tinted clearcoat. I have checked a couple of auto parts places but I am having no luck whatsoever finding anything like this. Any ideas?? Thanks!
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Pasadena
2004 E55
I have searched all over for this also and was not able to find anything.
I think some shops quoted me the cost of doing it, but the prices were unreasonable. They claimed the high cost was due to having to remove the chrome from the plastic before putting on the black chrome. I'm not too familiar with all the processes that need to be done to make it look like black chrome though.
I suggested it once to dragonAMG, but I don't think he pursued the idea.
If you find anything please let me know too.
I'm going to Asia next week so I'll look to see if I can find any out there and will post what I find.
I think some shops quoted me the cost of doing it, but the prices were unreasonable. They claimed the high cost was due to having to remove the chrome from the plastic before putting on the black chrome. I'm not too familiar with all the processes that need to be done to make it look like black chrome though.
I suggested it once to dragonAMG, but I don't think he pursued the idea.
If you find anything please let me know too.
I'm going to Asia next week so I'll look to see if I can find any out there and will post what I find.
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06 EuroElites E55
I've decided to do all the emblems on my 55 in "Black Chrome" the way they look on several late model Lexus cars. It looks like they were essentially shot with a coat of dark tinted translucent lacquer or tinted clearcoat. I have checked a couple of auto parts places but I am having no luck whatsoever finding anything like this. Any ideas?? Thanks!
Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 173
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From: London, UK
E55 AMG
I've decided to do all the emblems on my 55 in "Black Chrome" the way they look on several late model Lexus cars. It looks like they were essentially shot with a coat of dark tinted translucent lacquer or tinted clearcoat. I have checked a couple of auto parts places but I am having no luck whatsoever finding anything like this. Any ideas?? Thanks!
I was told by a wheel restorer that this effect (black chrome) is achieved by applying a layer of black paint to the surface and then sprayed over with a light coat of silver.....the amount of silver will determine the darkness of the finish.
....now all you got to do is find a sprayer competent enough to carry out this task.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: NJ
Black 14 E 63S
I am interested in possibly doing this myself. I do have a Obsidian Black car right now, and I am not sure how it will look. The main reason I am thinking about doing this is because I have the black chrome wheels on my car. These are Asanti's. Maybe if you contact them, they may be able to do the emblems or know who can.
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
Idea!(?)
This might sound really cheesy, but try to keep an open mind. God knows, if it turns out looking like poop, I won't swap the emblems. I found a spray tint that I think is called "Night Effects" that the Fast and Furious Folks use to tint their taillight assemblies dark smoke. It is essentially a translucent charcoal tinted clearcoat. The more coats you use, the darker it gets. Another thought I had was to let a body shop shoot the emblems with authentic MB Carbon Black Metallic so that the subtle metal flake would set the black emblems off just a little bit from the gloss black car. Anyway, can't wait to get her on the Dyno after I figure out which method is best for the black emblem look.
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Member
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From: Detroit, Michigan
06 Merc E55, 996TT
Sorry but M5 wheels are not anywhere close to blk chrome... they are satin finish... I would call HRE ive seen blk chrome wheels they have done. It looks like they took a chrome wheel and smoked it it looks amazing. Id give them a call
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06 EuroElites E55
This might sound really cheesy, but try to keep an open mind. God knows, if it turns out looking like poop, I won't swap the emblems. I found a spray tint that I think is called "Night Effects" that the Fast and Furious Folks use to tint their taillight assemblies dark smoke. It is essentially a translucent charcoal tinted clearcoat. The more coats you use, the darker it gets. Another thought I had was to let a body shop shoot the emblems with authentic MB Carbon Black Metallic so that the subtle metal flake would set the black emblems off just a little bit from the gloss black car. Anyway, can't wait to get her on the Dyno after I figure out which method is best for the black emblem look.
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From: Chicago
04 E55
50 year old guys are fast on the street...track and even on Google !! http://www.chromeservices.com/
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From: Chicago
04 E55
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
Thanks Vader!
Vader, thanks for the quick post! I checked with Chrome Services - they really seem to know their stuff - they indicated that to achieve the "black chrome" look, they simply clearcoat the finished plated item with a black tinted finish. The "AMG" and "Kompressor" emblems that I bought for this experiment are obviously already chromed, so all they need is the tinted clear coat. I finally found a product called VHT "Nite Shades" for only $8.50 on the Bay and I ordered it. It is used to tint out the taillights but still allow for light to pass through. In theory, it should work. I have a few chrome emblems lying around the garage from when I de-badged my 850 and I will play around with this stuff to see how it turns out before I potentiall "ruin" a brand new E55 AMG Kompressor emblem set. I will let you all know how it works.
One question though, does anybody know which trunk Star to order for a correct fit on the W211 E55??? I want everything to match!!
PDC
One question though, does anybody know which trunk Star to order for a correct fit on the W211 E55??? I want everything to match!!
PDC
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,574
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From: Sugar Land, TX
BMW E39
Vader, thanks for the quick post! I checked with Chrome Services - they really seem to know their stuff - they indicated that to achieve the "black chrome" look, they simply clearcoat the finished plated item with a black tinted finish. The "AMG" and "Kompressor" emblems that I bought for this experiment are obviously already chromed, so all they need is the tinted clear coat. I finally found a product called VHT "Nite Shades" for only $8.50 on the Bay and I ordered it. It is used to tint out the taillights but still allow for light to pass through. In theory, it should work. I have a few chrome emblems lying around the garage from when I de-badged my 850 and I will play around with this stuff to see how it turns out before I potentiall "ruin" a brand new E55 AMG Kompressor emblem set. I will let you all know how it works.
One question though, does anybody know which trunk Star to order for a correct fit on the W211 E55??? I want everything to match!!
PDC
One question though, does anybody know which trunk Star to order for a correct fit on the W211 E55??? I want everything to match!!
PDC
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From: Seattle, WA
'09 911 C4S
I went as far as to order the black chromed badges from Japan and they're still sitting on my desk. I did a test fitting on my car and it didn't look too good on a black car. I think it would look better on white or silver. For now, I decided to keep my regular chrome badges
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2005 E55
Vader, thanks for the quick post! I checked with Chrome Services - they really seem to know their stuff - they indicated that to achieve the "black chrome" look, they simply clearcoat the finished plated item with a black tinted finish. The "AMG" and "Kompressor" emblems that I bought for this experiment are obviously already chromed, so all they need is the tinted clear coat. I finally found a product called VHT "Nite Shades" for only $8.50 on the Bay and I ordered it. It is used to tint out the taillights but still allow for light to pass through. In theory, it should work. I have a few chrome emblems lying around the garage from when I de-badged my 850 and I will play around with this stuff to see how it turns out before I potentiall "ruin" a brand new E55 AMG Kompressor emblem set. I will let you all know how it works.
One question though, does anybody know which trunk Star to order for a correct fit on the W211 E55??? I want everything to match!!
PDC
One question though, does anybody know which trunk Star to order for a correct fit on the W211 E55??? I want everything to match!!
PDC
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 494
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From: MN
07 Z06, 08 Rover Sport, 03 Dmax, 13 Diavel
I went as far as to order the black chromed badges from Japan and they're still sitting on my desk. I did a test fitting on my car and it didn't look too good on a black car. I think it would look better on white or silver. For now, I decided to keep my regular chrome badges
that VHT Nite shades is an awesome product as well. used it a few times. so long as prep work is done correctly and using a few coats of clear, the result will be very nice!
Aj
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 613
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From: Newport Coast, CA
makes your daughter horny
i agree..black chrome lettering on black cars does not look good. i've seen it a few times here locally. It does however look AWESOME on silver cars.
that VHT Nite shades is an awesome product as well. used it a few times. so long as prep work is done correctly and using a few coats of clear, the result will be very nice!
Aj
that VHT Nite shades is an awesome product as well. used it a few times. so long as prep work is done correctly and using a few coats of clear, the result will be very nice!
Aj
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 494
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From: MN
07 Z06, 08 Rover Sport, 03 Dmax, 13 Diavel
W COLE: unfortunately, that car is loooong gone. that was like 3 yrs ago. the tails were decent from like 5ft away, but up front a lil tacky looking. i just didn't prep it correctly, nor did i sand in the middle of coats. my buddy re-did his at that time and his came out looking sick... i haven't used that stuff in a few yrs, so i have nothin to show for... sorry bud...
Aj
Aj
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2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
Black Chrome Update
Well, here's the scoop. I got the VHT Niteshades and tried it out on the badges I had previously taken off of my 850. The color was great, but I probably hurried the prep work and got a bit of a "drippy" result. I DO think that given more attentive prep work and a bit lighter coat, it would look really good - especially with a clearcoat on top. Here's the rub: I got to looking at all the subtle chrome trim around the door handles and on the bumper / door strips and decided that it would look REALLY GOOFY to do only the badges, but not the rest of the trim. So I abandoned the idea. I really wish the door strips and bumper strips were available in all black without the chrome insert like they used to be on the W210 cars. I have alwars been a fan of the solid black look - like the car had been dipped in paint, but re-doing ALL the chrome strips and door handle trim on this car is more of an undertaking than I am up for at this time. Maybe this summer I will get motivated?
