Dechroming
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: BMW 6 Series
Forum Discription: This forum will deal with any issues on the BMW 6 Series (E24, E63 & E64)
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=22791
Printed Date: 23-May-2024 at 06:22
Topic: Dechroming
Posted By: The Transporter
Subject: Dechroming
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 04:10
| I have seen a few dechromed 6 series and wondered whether this is a easy job and what exactly would be involved. Still straching my head on whether the chrome makes the car look better or not! |
Replies:
Posted By: caley64
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 04:58
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I'm curious about this as well. Sure it would improve the look of the car, just wondering about hassle (and costs) involved. Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has done this. |
Posted By: The Transporter
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 05:07
| I think its down to taste as well as some people like the chrome and others dont! It would be nice to know the cost though like you said! |
Posted By: northern_paul
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 06:22
| If you buy a late 6 such as a Highline they are de-chromed from the factory! Everything except rear badge and front kidney grills. |
Posted By: caley64
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 06:26
| Not all Highlines are dechromed. Mine certainly isn't. |
Posted By: Jimbob
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 07:07
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If I remember rightly, the dechrome was an option, called shadowline. Have a search around the forum, as I'm sure someone posted some instructions and pictures for when he "dechromed" his 5 series... Basically, you paint all the chrome black. Not too technical really... ------------- And so says Jimbob. 1981 635csi 81k miles. Will be fixed, but not by me. |
Posted By: eta.
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 07:43
| You can buy the 'shadowline' trims, but they are expensive. There was a post about this on one of the 7 sites a while back. |
Posted By: B10VYT
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 08:20
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My M6 is a 1986 example with Shadowline dechroming. I have seen a few
like it but not many. The bumpers on mine are painted body colour and the rest of the brightwork is anodised satin black. I imagine that it cost extra when the car was new but not sure how much. Here is a pic of mine before I bought it.  ------------- Nick |
Posted By: Jimbob
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 08:23
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Thats beautiful, Nick, I really like the look of the shadowline on later models, but mine's staying chromed! Transporter: Heres the post I mentioned: http://www.bmwcarclubforum.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=21407&KW=chrome - http://www.bmwcarclubforum.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=21407&a mp;KW=chrome ------------- And so says Jimbob. 1981 635csi 81k miles. Will be fixed, but not by me. |
Posted By: caley64
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 08:43
| I guess the dechromed Highlines would also have the alloy bumper sections colour coded and black door handles ? |
Posted By: The Transporter
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 09:23
| Cheers Jimbob |
Posted By: The Transporter
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 09:29
| Another question what about the wheels arches that are chromed? Are they easy to change? |
Posted By: Jimbob
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 10:52
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Ooh, Chrome arches! Now they were an aquired taste. Never fitted or removed them myself, so I don't know how they attach. Guess they could be a possible rust trap though... ------------- And so says Jimbob. 1981 635csi 81k miles. Will be fixed, but not by me. |
Posted By: northern_paul
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 12:03
| On my late Highline I have body coloured plastic items, I just removed one and it was held on with black mastic stuff. 6 or 7 blobs around the edge, I imagine the chrome ones are the same. |
Posted By: AndyS
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 16:35
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I believe the "Shadowline" was part of the Motorsport option. The trim on one of my from grills was looking a little tired so I removed the grill, sanded, primed & painted in satin black. Looks fine. Door handles seem to be powder coated or similar so painting over chrome would be harder to do. Bumpers are colour coded. The arch extentions have a kind of rawl plug with a removable centre to hold them on.  ------------- AndyS Live each day as if it's your last - one day it will be. http://www.photostick.co.uk/view-933_BaurSig1.jpg" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Jimbob
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 16:47
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Sooo lovely. I could never work out why the shadowline excluded the Kidney Grill though.
------------- And so says Jimbob. 1981 635csi 81k miles. Will be fixed, but not by me. |
Posted By: AndyS
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 16:58
Because they look odd when they're all black  Some people like them that way though.  ------------- AndyS Live each day as if it's your last - one day it will be. http://www.photostick.co.uk/view-933_BaurSig1.jpg" rel="nofollow">
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Jimbob wrote:Posted By: m3Cecotto
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 17:07
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My understanding is that shadowline and dechroming were separate options and that shadowline is the matt black trim around the windows and dechroming is body colouring of the chromework other than the bits that could be subject to shadowline. I could never understand why the kidneys were not part of the dechrome so I painted them Lachs and I think it looks better, unfortunately car is in the garage or I'd post a picture. ------------- 1981 E23 735i 1989 E30 325i Motorsport Cabrio 1989 E24 635CSi Motorsport Edition http://www.bavarianretro.com" rel="nofollow - Bavarian Retro Cars |
Posted By: possm6
Date Posted: 06-October-2005 at 18:50
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on my highline i think its all dechromed, even the kidney grills, perhaps the previous owner did it. I think a latter car looks better dechromed or shadowlined but earlier cars look better with chrome. |
Posted By: UKDaveJ
Date Posted: 12-October-2005 at 17:47
Nor mine! I'd either like to fully dechrome mine, or re-chrome it, if that makes sense?! My chrome (I'm talking about around windows etc) is quite poor, hence my 'choices'. Dunno which is cheaper though.......  ------------- My 635's.  
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Posted By: stephenperry
Date Posted: 12-October-2005 at 18:08
| you could use tape to cover up the chrome, there was a guy on the 3-series forum a while ago that did his e46, have a look through on the search |
Posted By: UKDaveJ
Date Posted: 12-October-2005 at 18:33
Wouldn't do that on my car!!!  Nice thought though!  ------------- My 635's.
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