Lo all, Im about to do this mod:

Fabia-vrs.com - Colour Coded Grille & Octavia II vRS Badge

I want to colour code the chrome part of the grille to suit the rest of the car but no bodyshop will go anywhere near it because its a chrome and they dont know how to paint it. I have been told by one that he will try and sand the chrome off, and paint over but with no assurance it will work.

Anyone know how its done so I can tell the bodyshops what they need to do?

Or better still, does anyone know a bodyshop in the north east (middlesbrough area) where they will spray it?

Thanks all!

Mike Pembo

Stu got mine done for me near where he lives, it wasnt cheap and there is no guarantee it will last that long. I've had a few minor chips already but I do a fair bit of mileage, it does look good IMHO (but I'm biased).

Cost IIRC was about 60 quid, but that may have included some other paint jobs I had going on at the same time

I did mine myself.

The chrome does need to be sanded off before priming & painting.

Has lasted so far!

Jon TDI -

Ahh its just that mine is petrol green so thought it would be hard for a lowly commoner like me to match the colour. Ive been quoted

Doesn't matter what colour it is, it's still paint at the end of the day!!

Just rubbed mine down with wet & dry - rough stuff first, then fine stuff to smooth it off.

Got my paint from Morelli (Auto paint suppliers) in Cannon Park. They can mix an aerosol to your paint code for £11-ish.

Doesn't matter what colour it is, it's still paint at the end of the day!!

Just rubbed mine down with wet & dry - rough stuff first, then fine stuff to smooth it off.

Got my paint from Morelli (Auto paint suppliers) in Cannon Park. They can mix an aerosol to your paint code for

You may want to take off the Skoda emblem too.

It is held on by some tabs that are melted on the back so will need to be drilled off. The emblem can then be stuck back with sticky pads when you've painted it.

Me likes

I sprayed on a few coats of plastic primer first then left it overnight to harden.

4 or 5 coats of base coat, again leave to harden overnight. With metalic & pearl paints you need to rub the base coat down so it has a matt finish & put on a few coats of lacquer.

You may want to take off the Skoda emblem too.

It is held on by some tabs that are melted on the back so will need to be drilled off. The emblem can then be stuck back with sticky pads when you've painted it.

I just masked off the Skoda roundel before painting!

I sprayed on a few coats of plastic primer first then left it overnight to harden.

4 or 5 coats of base coat, again leave to harden overnight. With metalic & pearl paints you need to rub the base coat down so it has a matt finish & put on a few coats of lacquer.

I just masked off the Skoda roundel before painting!

Ahh, brill Will do it reet after Dr Who re run.

So did you take all the chrome off or just scuff it up?

Ohh, I just yanked the emblem off and will just dbl sided stick it back on. I must think more before doing that.

Thanks Loz for the yay, Ill post some after pics for you!

Mike Pembo

I just spent about 15 mins rubbing down the chrome. Didn't take it completely off. Just enough to "key in" the primer & paint.

I just spent about 15 mins rubbing down the chrome. Didn't take it completely off. Just enough to "key in" the primer & paint.

YAY, my 200th post!!

Jon TDI, your a legend!! Heres the finished product... (Hope you like the pics Loz)

Looks absolutly fantastic and I owe everyone who helped me out a big thankyou!!

Might try out some light brows next...

Mike Pembo

much better

Done a good job there mate.

Looks miles better.

I'M 'SCOOBIED' !! ( Imprezzed)

I think that type of grill looks great....any chance of someone posting a piccie of the car a more of a distance 50/100ft not so close up.........

I think that type of grill looks great....any chance of someone posting a piccie of the car a more of a distance 50/100ft not so close up.........

Yes, but it were freezing outside and didnt want to step out side the house!!! I might take a nice drive out tomorrow and take some nice photos just for you... Plus my car is filthy so I dont want to expose the full dirtyness of it too the world just yet!

Mike Pembo

Nice job fella, loads better.

GET OUTSIDE and do it ! If you get cold you can borrow my granny slipper.....you know...one BIG slipper with white fluffy stuff round the top and you stick both feet into the same slipper I'm wearing it now as I type.

GET OUTSIDE and do it ! If you get cold you can borrow my granny slipper.....you know...one BIG slipper with white fluffy stuff round the top and you stick both feet into the same slipper I'm wearing it now as I type.

Im sure you dont want me to take photos right now; its 1:44 am! I somehow feel the lighting will not show the full potential of the phwor factor of the grille.

Hey, guess what I found on flee bay...

eBay.co.uk: 51" OLMEC Cast Iron Chimenea (Chiminea) - A BBQ MUST!! (item 280005044209 end time 13-Jul-06 20:45:00 BST) Its a green grill - I will email the seller tomorrow and ask him if its badgeless too

I think that type of grill looks great....any chance of someone posting a piccie of the car a more of a distance 50/100ft not so close up.........

The full guide can be found here -

Fabia-vrs.com - Colour Coded Grille & Octavia II vRS Badge

Yeah vrstu thats where I first saw it.....nice informative site there mate.. .

Some more pics for you all

Just a couple of warnings: i found my badge was stuck on with what appeared two be double sided as well as the two rivets, and also be really cautious of the two surclip style clips that attach the chrome part below the badge to the grill as they are extremely brittle and prone to snapping off.

Just a couple of warnings: i found my badge was stuck on with what appeared two be double sided as well as the two rivets, and also be really cautious of the two surclip style clips that attach the chrome part below the badge to the grill as they are extremely brittle and prone to snapping off.

Yup and yup!

The badge is stuck on but I just pulled it straight off easy enough using a screwdriver to prize it out. :eek:

And, the two clips below the badge are brittle, but I snapped both off and when I refit everything back together it was just fine without them