Converting chrome to black

[MOA4B9]

I feel that the s line chrome grill and window trim do not fit in with the look of the A4 that well and would like to make these bits black. Has anyone done that? What method did you use?
I was looking at plasti-dipping them however I'm not sure how neat the finish is. When I watched the videos on YouTube they seem to just tear away the excess of plasti-dip. They never show a very close up view of the finished product. I imagine that will be a bit rough and in some places chrome might be showing. I don't want it to look kitsch. I think on the grill you can get away with slight roughness. Has anyone done the plasti-dip method? What is your experience?

 

[Jay Be]

I would get them wrapped if I were you. Seen plenty of people de-chrome using that method and it’s always looked good. You could pay up to £200 for wrapping if you were looking at the grill and window trim.

 

[MOA4B9]

Yes I think wrapping will give better result. Might go for that if the price is right. Does anyone have a recommendation for a car wrapping service in NW London?

 

[James Cole]

How do you guys remove the window trim to treat it?

 

[pierreluigi88]

You can't remove the window trim - the strips are riveted on and you'd need to take a lot of the interior out to get to the rivet points.

I had mine wrapped in gloss black with the strips still in place. You can only tell it's been done if you inspect it really close up, and it looks way better than the chrome. I had this done on mine because on a dark coloured S4, the chrome strips detract from the effect of the silver door mirrors.

 

[Grubb]

You can't remove the window trim - the strips are riveted on and you'd need to take a lot of the interior out to get to the rivet points.

I had mine wrapped in gloss black with the strips still in place. You can only tell it's been done if you inspect it really close up, and it looks way better than the chrome. I had this done on mine because on a dark coloured S4, the chrome strips detract from the effect of the silver door mirrors.

Did you have the chrome strips on your door handles? If so, did you do these too?

 

[pierreluigi88]

Did you have the chrome strips on your door handles? If so, did you do these too?

Yes I've got the chrome handles but I left them as they are. I'm happy with the grille, bumper trim and handles being silver - it was just the window trim that stuck out too much (in my opinion).

The thing with getting the window trim done is that the edges of the wrap can be tucked behind where the eye can see. Doing the door handles would leave exposed edges, which would start to get caught and peel away after a while.

 

[Daggerit]

Yes I've got the chrome handles but I left them as they are. I'm happy with the grille, bumper trim and handles being silver - it was just the window trim that stuck out too much (in my opinion).

The thing with getting the window trim done is that the edges of the wrap can be tucked behind where the eye can see. Doing the door handles would leave exposed edges, which would start to get caught and peel away after a while.

If it makes you feel any better for wrapping bits with exposed edges in the future, my wrap has a few joins and they've been totally solid when blasted with industrial pressure washers and things. Don't know if they'd be alright being rubbed against as much as a door handle, but if applied correctly they do actually hold up far better than I thought they would!

 

[MOA4B9]

How is the grill wrapped? Is it just the chrome bits? The rest of the grill on my daytona is grey. Can they wrap also the gray bits? Is the grill on black edition fully black?
What effect will work best - gloss, satin or matte?

 

[pierreluigi88]

How is the grill wrapped? Is it just the chrome bits? The rest of the grill on my daytona is grey. Can they wrap also the gray bits? Is the grill on black edition fully black?
What effect will work best - gloss, satin or matte?

I went for gloss on mine. Certainly when it comes to the window trim, the guys who did the wrap said that if you don't go for gloss, it just looks like the rubber seals. I'm really glad I followed their advice as it looks great and matches the shine of the B pillar perfectly.

 

[MOA4B9]

I went for gloss on mine. Certainly when it comes to the window trim, the guys who did the wrap said that if you don't go for gloss, it just looks like the rubber seals. I'm really glad I followed their advice as it looks great and matches the shine of the B pillar perfectly.

Have you got a picture of the front grille after wrapping? Interested to see how the black combines with the grey colour of the grille. Probably 2/3 of the grille will be grey.

I got a quote from a local wrapping place for £200. That includes all the chrome - window trim, roof rails, front grille and the little grills where the fog lights normally are. The guy said it will look better in gloss.

 

[ScottishA4B9]

I got a quote £100 of wrap the window surrounds. I did ask about wrapping the grille also but they said it looked like too much effort.

 

[pierreluigi88]

Have you got a picture of the front grille after wrapping? Interested to see how the black combines with the grey colour of the grille. Probably 2/3 of the grille will be grey.

I got a quote from a local wrapping place for £200. That includes all the chrome - window trim, roof rails, front grille and the little grills where the fog lights normally are. The guy said it will look better in gloss.

Can’t help I’m afraid - I only had the window trim done. £200 for all of that sounds fair.

 

[Kilroy]

for anyone considering getting the chrome wrapped, I’ve had the fog slats, front grille @ window surrounds done for £160 (Custom Coats, Newcastle) also got the wheels powder coated black for £280 and all the badges swapped out for black with the rear A4 & TDi removed completely (eBay, £15, front & rear rings and S line badges) personally I think if I left the badges as standard it’d look like a BE rather than my own little creation.

I was also on the fence between gloss/matte as my mates got a mk8 TT that’s got bits of it wrapped in matte & it looks stunning, gloss looks so good when it’s clean and a nice day, next step is rear windows tinted as I bought the car from Audi Used and the previous owner didn’t select privacy glass debating whether to tint the taillights a little bit darker but will decide that after the windows are done

 

[Scottishaudi]

I’ve got mines booked into get wrapped the start of April, can’t decide wether to go all black or keep the Audi rings and fog slats like BE keep changing my mind!

 

[MOA4B9]

View attachment 150716

View attachment 150717 for anyone considering getting the chrome wrapped, I’ve had the fog slats, front grille @ window surrounds done for £160 (Custom Coats, Newcastle) also got the wheels powder coated black for £280 and all the badges swapped out for black with the rear A4 & TDi removed completely (eBay, £15, front & rear rings and S line badges) personally I think if I left the badges as standard it’d look like a BE rather than my own little creation.

I was also on the fence between gloss/matte as my mates got a mk8 TT that’s got bits of it wrapped in matte & it looks stunning, gloss looks so good when it’s clean and a nice day, next step is rear windows tinted as I bought the car from Audi Used and the previous owner didn’t select privacy glass debating whether to tint the taillights a little bit darker but will decide that after the windows are done

I really like that look. Lovely car.
Is your grille gray with just the chrome bits wrapped in black?
What colour is your car?

 

[Kilroy]

I really like that look. Lovely car.
Is your grille gray with just the chrome bits wrapped in black?
What colour is your car?

Ta, yeah just the chrome on the grille wrapped as they were unable to do anymore than that, did initially consider a grille swap for a gloss black honeycomb but decided against it.

the car is Daytona grey, the only problem I have is that when it’s dirty (the car and the alloys) it can have quite a dingy & dull look to it, but when it’s clean it looks stunning on a nice day

 

[DohNut]

This has given me an idea...

I’ve always been a fan of the matt aluminium satin look trims of the RS models so when I get my car (wait is excruciating) I might look into a clear matt wrap for all the shiny chrome trim. Will have to find somewhere local and get them to do a sample piece to see if it’ll look any good.

Kilroy - cars looking good. Loving the Black S-Line badges and fog light fins. Good work & Daytona for the win!

 

[MOA4B9]

Ta, yeah just the chrome on the grille wrapped as they were unable to do anymore than that, did initially consider a grille swap for a gloss black honeycomb but decided against it.

the car is Daytona grey, the only problem I have is that when it’s dirty (the car and the alloys) it can have quite a dingy & dull look to it, but when it’s clean it looks stunning on a nice day

I've got Daytona grey as well. I do agree with you that it's a stunning colour when nice and shiny but when dirty it looses it's appeal. Winter is the worst time when roads are wet and dirty. In summer it stays a lot cleaner for longer.
The reason I'm asking if your grille is gray or black is because I'm in two minds if I should just wrap the chrome bits or plasti dip the whole grille in black. I've ordered the plasti dip few days ago and was going to paint it but now seeking your one I might just wrap it. I haven't seen a picture daytona grey b9 with whole black grille. Maybe it will be too much black. What do you think? Would you make it whole black if you were doing it again?

 

[Kilroy]

I’d do the same again, imo the grey part of the grille doesn’t stand out so much that it’s noticeable or anything and I’d rather leave it with professionals than have my heavy fisted handiwork mess it up

I get what you mean about being somewhat reluctant to do stuff without first seeing what it’d look like from a picture rather than just trying to imagine it. Took me a few weeks to be brave enough to get it wrapped & very glad I did now

 

[Theonenonly]

You can't remove the window trim - the strips are riveted on and you'd need to take a lot of the interior out to get to the rivet points.

I had mine wrapped in gloss black with the strips still in place. You can only tell it's been done if you inspect it really close up, and it looks way better than the chrome. I had this done on mine because on a dark coloured S4, the chrome strips detract from the effect of the silver door mirrors.

Pics please? Up close and some vanity shots as I’m interested in doing this myself

 

[Theonenonly]

View attachment 150716

View attachment 150717 for anyone considering getting the chrome wrapped, I’ve had the fog slats, front grille @ window surrounds done for £160 (Custom Coats, Newcastle) also got the wheels powder coated black for £280 and all the badges swapped out for black with the rear A4 & TDi removed completely (eBay, £15, front & rear rings and S line badges) personally I think if I left the badges as standard it’d look like a BE rather than my own little creation.

I was also on the fence between gloss/matte as my mates got a mk8 TT that’s got bits of it wrapped in matte & it looks stunning, gloss looks so good when it’s clean and a nice day, next step is rear windows tinted as I bought the car from Audi Used and the previous owner didn’t select privacy glass debating whether to tint the taillights a little bit darker but will decide that after the windows are done

Stunning, I’m very tempted to get this done now, I also live near Newcastle so may pop in to custom coats too.

Have you got any really close up shots of the work?

Any regrets or is it as good as it looks?

Thanks

 

[Tommy_Egan]

Grill and window trim wrapped in 3m Gloss Black

Wheels powder coated in Gloss Black

 

[Syed Shah]

Grill and window trim wrapped in 3m Gloss Black

Wheels powder coated in Gloss Black
View attachment 150917


View attachment 150918

That actually looks very nice man.. the blue is gorgeous!

 

[Kilroy]

Stunning, I’m very tempted to get this done now, I also live near Newcastle so may pop in to custom coats too.

Have you got any really close up shots of the work?

Any regrets or is it as good as it looks?

Thanks

No regrets. I think it’ll always look better in pictures than it does in person, as I’m never gonna upload a bad picture of it.

There’s a white SE A4 at my work that often parks next to me & I have to say the difference between the cars is night and day. Much happier with mine

 

[whatstevedid]

Hi guys, sorry to revive an older thread - I’m considering getting my S4 dechromed. Just wondering how all of yours have held up over time? (And the winter!)

 

[RobbieWebs]

View attachment 150716

View attachment 150717 for anyone considering getting the chrome wrapped, I’ve had the fog slats, front grille @ window surrounds done for £160 (Custom Coats, Newcastle) also got the wheels powder coated black for £280 and all the badges swapped out for black with the rear A4 & TDi removed completely (eBay, £15, front & rear rings and S line badges) personally I think if I left the badges as standard it’d look like a BE rather than my own little creation.

I was also on the fence between gloss/matte as my mates got a mk8 TT that’s got bits of it wrapped in matte & it looks stunning, gloss looks so good when it’s clean and a nice day, next step is rear windows tinted as I bought the car from Audi Used and the previous owner didn’t select privacy glass debating whether to tint the taillights a little bit darker but will decide that after the windows are done

Did the quattro badge come as standard on the front grill?
I replaced my grill with an S4 BE grill and have the a4 badge backing plate still there as it would have left a funny shape.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[RobbieWebs]

Just to add to the thread I got my window surrounds and roof rails wrapped in satin black. I also changed the grill for a S4 BE grill but got the silver bits where the side grills done as well. Also had to get the front parking sensors wrapped as well as they were grey.
Deffo makes a hell of a difference.
Up close it isn't perfect but a good effort.
Cost came in at 300 for the wrapping and changing the grills.
I got the S4 BE grill for 150.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[PhilM]

Where did you get the front Grille from Robbie?

I’ve checked eBay but there’s not much that isn’t Chinese copies! I may ask Audi for a quote for a genuine one in the absence of SH ones on eBay/forums.

Any recommendations for places that wrap well in the south M4 corridor area?

Cheers

 

[wideboybloke]

I’d like to get my chrome window surrounds done in black as they have discoloured badly. I would then have to have everything de-chromed and I’d worry that the wrapping would tear or come off somehow

 

[wailerg]

Basically, have the same question here but looking for some guidance in Southern California, if anyone has any. The wrap job on my A4 is starting to chip and peel away at the edges around the windows and on the top rack bars. Any ideas of great places to get this work done in SoCal?

 

[RAF_S7]

Basically, have the same question here but looking for some guidance in Southern California, if anyone has any. The wrap job on my A4 is starting to chip and peel away at the edges around the windows and on the top rack bars. Any ideas of great places to get this work done in SoCal?

Hey Wailerg, welcome to the Forum!

This is mainly a UK/Europe centric group, with small numbers of members from further afield. You may be waiting a while for anyone familiar with SoCal to respond to your request.

I recommend having a look at Audizine and asking for SoCal specific questions there.

you are of course welcome to hang around here as well

cheers,
John.