I'm intending on getting my grill colour coded & my garage said this would be their process (see below). What i'm after is will this do or do I need to add or consider anything else (back to black?). Please bear in mind I tend to drive when others are at work as I do shift work. So traffic is never an issue for me (lucky for some of us eh..).

The garage said: The process we intend on taking is to colour code your current grille. By removing the grille & fittings, we intend to prepare the item by removing the smooth surface by means of a very slight sanding & then to apply a plastic primer before spraying the body colour

Your thoughts & comments are welcome.

Thanks - Mark

Edited 21 June, 201115 yr by HWMBO - Mark

Sounds ok, it needs light sanding for the paint to "key" ( stick)

The fact they mentioned platic primer and not just primer is a good start.

If I'm honest I would want the chrome completely stripped, mine was sanded and prepared with an etching primer, but it still chips like a bugger!

You can strip it yourself, iirc soaking it in bleach will assist in removing the chrome.

I would agree with Pagey. Mine was sanded too and also has more chips than Harry Ramsdens.

You MIGHT want consider:

a. getting the grille surround wrapped with the clear paint protection film (but this isn't cheap - I've been quoted over £100 for this)

b. buying another grille surround, getting it colour-coded too, and swapping them round every 3-4 months (or longer) depending on the number of chips.

I have went for the b option, but I should really just 'bite the bullet' and go for a.

I bought a new replacement grille surround with the intension of painting it but am looking for a way of stripping off the chrome, are tales of using bleach or oven cleaner urban myths, I find it very hard to believe they would work. Has anyone actually tried it?

I would agree with Pagey. Mine was sanded too and also has more chips than Harry Ramsdens.

You MIGHT want consider:

a. getting the grille surround wrapped with the clear paint protection film (but this isn't cheap - I've been quoted over £100 for this)

b. buying another grille surround, getting it colour-coded too, and swapping them round every 3-4 months (or longer) depending on the number of chips.

I have went for the b option, but I should really just 'bite the bullet' and go for a.

Do you look like a geezer £15 for mine to be wrapped

I tried bleach on an old pre fl grill surround I had and even after a week it hadn't touched the chrome.

If I'm honest I would want the chrome completely stripped, mine was sanded and prepared with an etching primer, but it still chips like a bugger!

+1

Guys a general question - I have a 2011 Hatch and am wondering what color you used on the grilles (black ones of course) is it the same Black magic or a high gloss, I am having wheels and grille done and wanted to get some of your opinions and advise.

Or reading another thread - anyone in the Northwest of England recommend a good Vinyl wrap company that does Grilles

I bought a new replacement grille surround with the intension of painting it but am looking for a way of stripping off the chrome, are tales of using bleach or oven cleaner urban myths, I find it very hard to believe they would work. Has anyone actually tried it?

Not tried it myself but I've heard it does work, youo could also look at getting it snad blasted.

Guys a general question - I have a 2011 Hatch and am wondering what color you used on the grilles (black ones of course) is it the same Black magic or a high gloss, I am having wheels and grille done and wanted to get some of your opinions and advise.

Or reading another thread - anyone in the Northwest of England recommend a good Vinyl wrap company that does Grilles

Mine is 'colour coded' so black magic to match the coachwork?

vinyl wrap it. may not give a great finish if you have damage to your grill but easy reversed if you dont like it.

Not tried it myself but I've heard it does work, youo could also look at getting it snad blasted.

Mine is 'colour coded' so black magic to match the coachwork?

Someone skilled at using a shot blaster may be able to take off the chrome without going through the copper/nickel underneath but it would have to be done very carefully, once your through to the plastic the surround would disappear very quickly

Someone skilled at using a shot blaster may be able to take off the chrome without going through the copper/nickel underneath but it would have to be done very carefully, once your through to the plastic the surround would disappear very quickly

Fair point.

Bleach it is then.

If we where many enough, mabye we could get Milotec or some other "aftermarked-grille-making-company", to make a replica of the OEM grillesuround in primed finish? I bet those would sell more that the badgeless ones..