Brushed chrome mirrors and SRT bumper installed

[SnowgodCCR]

I was planning on color matching my mirrors this weekend, and in order to do so I would need to sand them to allow the paint to stick. This got me thinking of someone's car I saw about a year ago where someone had a really nice dark grey paintjob and they sprayed brushed aluminum-look paint on the bumper caps. Instead of spraying anything, I just used some 320 grit sandpaper on them for about 15 minutes and a little bit of elbow grease.

This is also the first time I'm posting a pic up with my new SRT front bumper. I was in an accident a month and a half ago and the bumper got mangled, so I had them replace it with an SRT fascia. I'm thoroughly happy with it.

Enjoy!
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o6/UllrRocks/Brushedmirrors1.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o6/UllrRocks/Brushedmirrors2.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o6/UllrRocks/Brushedmirrors3.jpg

[BritishNate]

I like.

[ChuckWagon]

Nice work on the mirrors! What else we doing on Saturday?

[SnowgodCCR]

Nice work on the mirrors! What else we doing on Saturday?

Looks like pulling the fascia to install my grill, bake the headlights to color match the housings, and now it seems that I *need* to brush the door handles and window trim to match the mirrors. I'm really looking forward to the colored headlight housings.

[ChuckWagon]

Sweet! Sounds like fun!

[CHEM300WV]

that looks really great!

[4life]

That looks good, I have been thinking about doing this for a long time. I posted questions about doing it many months maybe years ago.

This is the first time I have seen it don on our cars with just sanding the chrome bits.

Your job actually looks better then the brushed aluminum look, it looks more like brushed stainless steel.

[SnowgodCCR]

Your job actually looks better then the brushed aluminum look, it looks more like brushed stainless steel.

That's what I think too. It's definitley different. Like I said, I was planning on painting them but one of the things that distinguishes the "C" from the Base, Touring, and Limited is the chrome mirrors, and I like that differentiation.

[Cam]

That looks killer!!. Way better then paint.

[Chrysless25]

Did you try the handles?

[legendisdope]

those mirrors are really nice, matches ur car good.. SRT bumper is nice i like the Maggy SRT bumper more tho lol

[SnowgodCCR]

Did you try the handles?

I'm doing the handles and window trim tomorrow with Chuck and jmckenzie, and possibly somebody from the 300C forums. I'll also be colormatching my headlight housings and installing a new grille - keep an eye out for pics.

[USCThug]

Dude the mirrors kick ass!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats and way to be different

[ChuckWagon]

I'm thinkin' of maybe stripping the moldings off my car tomorrow if we have a chance. It looks like we'll be bringning 2 cars over your way too! Hope you got room for them.

[SnowgodCCR]

I'm thinkin' of maybe stripping the moldings off my car tomorrow if we have a chance. It looks like we'll be bringning 2 cars over your way too! Hope you got room for them.

I think we'll definitley have a chance to do that. I'll dig out my hair dryer. Someone from the 300C forums may be stopping by to do the same.

4 additional cars will be a tight fit since there are 4 that live here already, but I think we'll be able to manage and I doubt that the guy from the 300C Forums will show up. If worst comes to worst, we'll have to move one of the jeeps.

[NVRDUN]

Mirrors are sweet!

[NWH_300C]

man those mirrors look awesome, im doing that, thanks for the idea!!!

[KStryker]

Looks great!

[Chrysless25]

I'm doing the handles and window trim tomorrow with Chuck and jmckenzie, and possibly somebody from the 300C forums. I'll also be colormatching my headlight housings and installing a new grille - keep an eye out for pics.

Nice I like the brush better than the chrome! Def post some pics when you do the trim and handles.

[ChuckWagon]

So today Michelle and I (chuck) and Jeff met at SnowgodCCr (Justins) house to help him with some mods. The plan was to change out his grill and install HID bulbs in the driving lights and also finish polishing the chrome trim to a brushed look. Here are some pics as we progressed. Enjoy!

Oh yeah, swapping out that grill only took a half hour:wink:
Also gotta hand it to Jeff (jmckenzie) for having a trunk full of tools :beerchug:
the start...
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk317/chuck_michelle/Modding%20day/IMGP6228.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk317/chuck_michelle/Modding%20day/IMGP6237.jpg

the grill going in....
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk317/chuck_michelle/Modding%20day/IMGP6236.jpg

the city worker Mike (Justins dad)...

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk317/chuck_michelle/Modding%20day/IMGP6233.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk317/chuck_michelle/Modding%20day/IMGP6232.jpg
Michelle helped (what a great wife)...
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk317/chuck_michelle/Modding%20day/IMGP6245.jpg

I was busy working on the trim...
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk317/chuck_michelle/Modding%20day/IMGP6230-1.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk317/chuck_michelle/Modding%20day/IMGP6242.jpg

Justin had to modify the license plate bracket...
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk317/chuck_michelle/Modding%20day/IMGP6243.jpg

the end result...
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk317/chuck_michelle/Modding%20day/IMGP6248.jpg

Thanks Justin for the pizza and beer :thumbs_u: :beerchug:
Thanks Rikki for letting us come over and play.:rock:

[smoove7410]

Can you elaborate on the sanding procedure? Do you go back in forth in one direction only to make the lines parallel to the ground? How much do you sand? I don't want to over sand and be stuck with ____. I am thinking AGAIN about doing all my chrome bits, lol. Thanks and it looks good.

[SnowgodCCR]

Can you elaborate on the sanding procedure? Do you go back in forth in one direction only to make the lines parallel to the ground? How much do you sand? I don't want to over sand and be stuck with ____. I am thinking AGAIN about doing all my chrome bits, lol. Thanks and it looks good.

I found that the quickest way to get it done is to sand to make the parts matte at first, and then sand in long smooth strokes the length of the piece to make everything even. Be careful not to remove too much of the chrome plating, especially on the door handles as the plating seems to be thinner on them than in other places. If you do start breaking through the plating, you'll get a kind of goldish color on the surface that is visible up close, but not from even standing next to the car distance, only if you're looking for it. The best advice I can offer is take your time and be careful.

Big thanks to Chuck, Michelle, Jim, and my father (who watched us from the comfort of his shovel ;)) for making today successful and productive. Looking forward to doing this again in a few weeks for the suspension :racing::rock::beerchug:

[smoove7410]

I found that the quickest way to get it done is to sand to make the parts matte at first, and then sand in long smooth strokes the length of the piece to make everything even. Be careful not to remove too much of the chrome plating, especially on the door handles as the plating seems to be thinner on them than in other places. If you do start breaking through the plating, you'll get a kind of goldish color on the surface that is visible up close, but not from even standing next to the car distance, only if you're looking for it. The best advice I can offer is take your time and be careful.

Big thanks to Chuck, Michelle, Jim, and my father (who watched us from the comfort of his shovel ;)) for making today successful and productive. Looking forward to doing this again in a few weeks for the suspension :racing::rock::beerchug:

Thanks. Did you use a sanding block? How long would you say you sanded the mirrors/door handles? I am trying to get a grip on how long to sand so I don't break through. Is that normal blue painters tape?

[SnowgodCCR]

Thanks. Did you use a sanding block? How long would you say you sanded the mirrors/door handles? I am trying to get a grip on how long to sand so I don't break through.

I didn't use a block because you can't follow the contours of the pieces with a block. I honestly couldn't tell you how long I sanded for, just long enough to achieve the desired effect really. Once it's to the finish that you want it to be, just stop, step back and take a look at the whole part, make sure the finish matches across the whole piece, touch up as necessary by using variable pressure and long full length strokes, and you'll do fine.

If you weren't 3000 miles away, I'd say you could come over and we could do it, but that's a bit far to drive for a free mod that you can do in your driveway.

[smoove7410]

^^Lol, yep, a little too far. Thanks for the advice. I think that I may give this a go. Cross your fingers for me.

[SnowgodCCR]

^^Lol, yep, a little too far. Thanks for the advice. I think that I may give this a go. Cross your fingers for me.

If you're still nervous about it, practice on one of the front bumper caps, they're the cheapest pieces to replace IIRC.

[jmckenzie]

I'm glad i could make it today, it was fun. Those are the same tools I got crap for having at our meet in Marlboro. I told you guys they'd be useful some day:Na_Na_Na_Na:

[bigkevin20]

hey you scratched it

[SnowgodCCR]

hey you scratched it

huh?