I saw someone on the last forum who had got the plastic backing to the headlights chrome plated and it got me thinking...

Could we get any other exterior or interior plastic parts chrome plated?

I have done a bit of digging about and found someone local to me who can provide this service but what do you think?

Possible parts to be chromed could be; rotary heater controls, heater vents, dash and door strips, indicator storks, plastic bits under the bonnet (intercooler hard pipes, air con pump cover) etc etc...

I wonder if they could make it "Alloy look" instead of bright chrome?

I'm still not decided myself if this would look good or awful. That old phrase comes to mind "Just bacuase you can doesn't mean you should"!

What do you lot think?

It's Mavric who's had his headlamps done.
Dave

Mavric? I thought I remembered seeing them on a yellow coop.

There was one in France IIRC. Looks different but each to their own.
Bling up your car as much as you like, I'm now encouraging people to completely modify their cars as much as they can

That yellow coop did look

I wonder how much it is to get your lights done - any ideas?

Quote:

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I'm now encouraging people to completely modify their cars as much as they can

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I got my head lighs done for £20 using a process called Vacuum metallizing. The problem you will face is that the parts you are thinking of getting chromed have been contaminated, where as the backing to the head lights have been sealed. Any contaminants will affect the process and give mixed results. Also this process can not be applied to all types of plastics.

Pic of head lights

Cheers for that Mavric. The lights look better than I remember.

Yes, good point about the contaminants. This might only work on new parts, or sealed ones as you say.

£20 sounds very reasonable. Where did you get them done?

A proper chromed grille might look good as well.

This is what I did myself to the interior door handles

http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=27910&an=0&page=0#Post27910

Its the Zender bumper IIRC

Right, I spoke with the sales rep for the company today and he said they could help us out with bits but they don't really charge per item, they charge for lost production where they could be banging out big orders.

On the bright side he said min order value was £100 and that they could probably do "quite a few" bits for that price.

The best plastic to plate is ABS (most of the black plastic on the coop seem to be marked ABS) and the plating will be fine for internal and largely OK for external use as long as the chromed surface is cared for. This amounted to the odd polish and a coat of wax for protection every year.

I was offered the oppotunity to send a few parts for him to look at and he may even get them chromed up as samples if he has the time/capacity.

Right, what parts do you think I should send in?

My new honeycombe grille?
Centre console?
Interior door handles?
Headlight backing?
Heater control knobs?
Hard plastic intercooler pipes?
Airbox?

Oh, and can someone lend us a car for a week while mine is in bits?

Everything! let's go bling bling dahlings

Yea, but I'm still not sure I love the idea of too much chrome to be honest.

I suppose I'm trying to gauge interest in this for a possible furure group buy.

Tell us what YOU would want done!

Would they do my testes?

LMAO!

Probably, but the guy said the parts have to go through 35 processes including an alkali cleaning treatment and an acid "etch"!

Tyres I would love chrome tyres

Happy b.day by the way Jap

Id say, head the heater control knobs or the air box.

the console is a no go mate. looked into this, and the covering which gives it its nice satin finish contaminates the plastic below. you will see pot marks etc if they metallise it. all the parts need to be new to get a good finish...maverick, 20 quid is a fantastic price. my quotes were alot higher

Funny thing is Chrome is a fashion thing, give it 5 years or so and you will wonder what the hell were you thinking getting all these bits chromed and it wont be fasionable anymore, then in another 30 years chrome will be back in fashion

Good point Begbie. I think I'll take just a few little bits and see what the guy says.

Heater knobs are one and I will try and get a new set of the interior door release levers done as well.

Nice and subtle...

Headlights look cool i think. Anyone got a spare headlight they want to donate to a good cause and see how it turns out??

Yes they do look good Willis.

I will put a post on the wanted area and see if any appear.

I might also get them to have a go at my spare black honeycombe grille.

I'll look forward to seeing that Jap!