Hi all

I'm considering 2 mods for the weekend - my car is a silver vrs:

1) Painting the chrome grill - I'm thinking black or Dark Anthracite.

2) either removing or colour coding the door bump strips, maybe even the bumper strips too.

Problem is I dont want to do it without having a good idea of the result before I get creative!

Has anyone got any pics of the above mods (ideally on a silver car)

many thanks

Can you actually take off the door bump strips and put them back on?

Edited 28 March, 201115 yr by DBP

Can you actually take off the door bump strips and put them back on?

I think you have to heat them up to get them off, & I doubt they'll go back on as from what I've heard they get get pretty messed up taking them off. I was going to mask mine up & spray them, but never got round to it. Apparently if you take them off you have to mop the paintwork with g6 compound.

I think you have to heat them up to get them off, & I doubt they'll go back on as from what I've heard they get get pretty messed up taking them off. I was going to mask mine up & spray them, but never got round to it. Apparently if you take them off you have to mop the paintwork with g6 compound.

That is what I planned todo, mask and spray, then again. gtechniq c4 costs slightly more than a rattle can but doesn't give any over spray issues and is more likely to stay strong in colour.

There's a recess under the door strips that looks cool. If you decide to colour code make sure you use spray paint from a proper trade auto paint supplier.

Don't forget the grill will need soaking in bleach to get rid of the chrome, otherwise the paint will just flake off

Don't forget the grill will need soaking in bleach to get rid of the chrome, otherwise the paint will just flake off

I didn't, I was too impatient

I gave the chrome a really good rub down with fairly coarse wet n dry, then applied 2 coats of plastic primer followed by 4 coats of matt black.

It has a few stone chips but is holding up well after a year or so:

Rob, is that skoda emblem a badge or a sticker? Where did you get it from?

Rob, is that skoda emblem a badge or a sticker? Where did you get it from?

It's a discontinued genuine Skoda part - front badge from a Felicia.

I was lucky to find a brand new one on Ebay for 99p in a parts clearance.

Take the door strips off mate, that looks daft.

Personally I prefer the silver car with the black strips, it breaks up the car a bit.

Once the strips are off tho you will need to buy new ones as they will bend and be no good. plus the glue wont be any good neither.

Take the door strips off mate, that looks daft.

Personally I prefer the silver car with the black strips, it breaks up the car a bit.

Once the strips are off tho you will need to buy new ones as they will bend and be no good. plus the glue wont be any good neither.

Personal taste mate isn't it. I think the black bumper strips look cr*p, like a VW base model.

I won't be doing anymore to the car as it's up for sale.

Thanks for all of the responses people.

Yep have to agree, now i've seen the front bumps colour coded I'm not sure. I think sides colour coded (or removed) looks good but something not right about the front...makes the car look more like a superb/luxury model rather than sporty imo.

Rob, Matt Grill looks great. I take it the only bit you sprayed was the chrome part - the black central bit stayed as it was?

Dont the side door ones bolt on like they do on the golfs? or am i getting confused!? Dont like the look of front ones colour coded and the sides black!

I think either all black or all coloured!

Thanks for all of the responses people.

Yep have to agree, now i've seen the front bumps colour coded I'm not sure. I think sides colour coded (or removed) looks good but something not right about the front...makes the car look more like a superb/luxury model rather than sporty imo.

Rob, Matt Grill looks great. I take it the only bit you sprayed was the chrome part - the black central bit stayed as it was?

That's right - the chrome bit un-clips and pops out:

That's right - the chrome bit un-clips and pops out:

Sorry to thread jack, but how did you un-clip the chrome??

I couldn't, so I just masked up the entire grill (not recommended) and primed and sprayed it.

Will put up some pics if anyone is interested when dry and back on the car (its a black octy)

Always interested in pics

There are about 12 clips around the chrome bit - I just gently prised them up using a flat blade screwdriver.

Always interested in pics

There are about 12 clips around the chrome bit - I just gently prised them up using a flat blade screwdriver.

I saw those clips and was at them for a wee while... but didn't want to break them so I made like mad with the masking tape.

I post the pics in another thread when the grill is back on.

Its currently being cured in my hot-press...... needs must and all that!