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View Full Version : Chrome to Black - It's the small touches...



Cadeez
04-01-2011, 10:00 AM
Last night I removed the final chrome item from my car...the 330i emblem. After I got it off and cleaned up the surface I even debated keeping it that way, I always debadge my cars and love the clean look. But I already had the new emblem so I decided to complete the job. Picked up a gloss black emblem from Bimmian for $20 after I saw it on another SG 330i (link below), loved the look. Most people won't even notice, but I think it makes a huge difference. However when my package arrived I was surprised to see that each character was in it's own little package!? I assumed they would come on a "strip" or something...nope. Wasn't too hard to put them on, I can explain my technique if anyone is interested, but I'm coming to realize this post is probably bordering on being in the "Projects" section as it is so I'll just stop at pics. sorry pics aren't too great, taken with my BB rather quickly.

http://www.bimmian.com/46/SVE/

Before...
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/jcadell/330iemblemchrome.jpg


And here's how she looks now, I freakin love it.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/jcadell/330iemblemblack.jpg

Marcus-SanDiego
04-01-2011, 10:06 AM
I think it looks really good.

danewilson77
04-01-2011, 10:10 AM
Nice. I did this on my TiAg. I was happy as well.

Cadeez
04-01-2011, 10:21 AM
Thanks guys. I even parked in a different spot at work this morning just so when I leave for lunch my car's ass is staring at me instead of the front, haha... Not sure how it would look on Imola, but Dane likes to be different, you should give it a try!

az3579
04-01-2011, 10:45 AM
Black badge FTW. Casey is going to have a heart attack. Lol

Sent from my DROIDX

johnrando
04-01-2011, 11:09 AM
Ooh, I REALLY like that look. Wouldn't make much sense on mine I don't think. John

Cadeez
04-01-2011, 11:13 AM
Thanks John. You could do a matte black on yours, I think that'd look pretty sweet actually. But you do have the chrome wheels and grill, so maybe just stay OEM.

billschusteriv
04-01-2011, 11:16 AM
+1. Very nice.

I saw on another local e46 and immediately wanted to do the matte black on mine. Will be researching the Bentley and DIYs on removing trim - 330i ZHP said this was pretty easy. Think I'd do matte black all the way around.

johnrando
04-01-2011, 11:20 AM
Thanks John. You could do a matte black on yours, I think that'd look pretty sweet actually. But you do have the chrome wheels and grill, so maybe just stay OEM.

Would be curious as to how matte black would look, but I agree, kinda makes sense to keep as is. Made that same decision with my grills. Thanks for that tip though!

kayger12
04-01-2011, 11:23 AM
I like it. I am considering either going that route or debadging altogether.

Cadeez
04-01-2011, 11:28 AM
Looks good either way, but personally I'm just too vain to let an ordinary person think it's a 325i...haha.

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/jcadell/badgelesstrunk.jpg

johnrando
04-01-2011, 11:31 AM
Looks good either way, but personally I'm just too vain to let an ordinary person think it's a 325i...haha.



+1 lol. Casting no aspersions on 325s at all btw.

Cadeez
04-01-2011, 11:31 AM
+1. Very nice.

I saw on another local e46 and immediately wanted to do the matte black on mine. Will be researching the Bentley and DIYs on removing trim - 330i ZHP said this was pretty easy. Think I'd do matte black all the way around.

The removal is simple really. Go to your local hardware store or Homo Depot, buy a hard plastic putty knife, then just sheer off the emblems! Remove the sticky stuff with your fingernail or a popsicle stick, hit it with some Goof-Off and viola! I always hit the spot with a quick wax job as well, make sure it's smooth and shiny, cause I'm just OCD like that.

Hornung418
04-01-2011, 11:34 AM
A hair dryer and some dental floss is much less detrimental to the paint, IMO.

Cadeez
04-01-2011, 11:36 AM
+1 lol. Casting no aspersions on 325s at all btw.

Haha indeed, what he said. :roundel

Cadeez
04-01-2011, 11:40 AM
A hair dryer and some dental floss is much less detrimental to the paint, IMO.

True, that's a very nice way to do it, but I'm a guy with short hair...no hair dryer.

Hornung418
04-01-2011, 11:43 AM
Haha...I don't have one either. The neighbors worked well for me :)

mikeyb74
04-01-2011, 11:47 AM
Nice!

I debadged the swaggerwagen. I need to finish blacking out the chrome trim around the windows.

danewilson77
04-01-2011, 11:53 AM
Looks good either way, but personally I'm just too vain to let an ordinary person think it's a 325i...haha.

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/jcadell/badgelesstrunk.jpg

Lol.....

Droid! Srs Legitness!

Mtnman
04-01-2011, 12:15 PM
FYI, no hair dryer necessary. Just dental floss. And i did mine in the middle of winter too. Came right off. Looks good Jeff!

Marcus-SanDiego
04-01-2011, 12:18 PM
I don't use a hair dryer either. I just use dental floss. Then I use wax to remove the residue.

danewilson77
04-01-2011, 12:22 PM
I use 8 lb fishing line....

Droid! Srs Legitness!

Cadeez
04-01-2011, 01:46 PM
And a nice, bright, sunny day in the NW to go with?!? Most likely only to celebrate the birth of my new shadow badge...

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/jcadell/330itail.jpg

M54Dave
04-01-2011, 02:14 PM
I think that looks really good! As mentioned before I am not sure how it would look on jet black, maybe a dark graphite.

az3579
04-01-2011, 02:26 PM
I think that looks really good! As mentioned before I am not sure how it would look on jet black, maybe a dark graphite.

On JB or Graphite I'd stick with chrome...

Sent from my DROIDX

M0nk3y
04-01-2011, 03:35 PM
I really like that look. Great Choice!

Washburn
04-01-2011, 04:10 PM
Any thoughts on how this would look on Alpine White? would it be too "in your face"?

az3579
04-01-2011, 05:32 PM
Any thoughts on how this would look on Alpine White? would it be too "in your face"?

Two words:

Bad. Ass.

Or,

Boom! Winning!

Sent from my DROIDX

L0veZHP
04-01-2011, 06:04 PM
how would you think it looks on Imola?

danewilson77
04-01-2011, 07:02 PM
Two words:

Bad. Ass.

Or,

Boom! Winning!

Sent from my DROIDX

I knew sooner or later you would come around to the CS way of thinking.

thesixsins
04-02-2011, 02:07 PM
Like it!

Dotpage
04-02-2011, 02:12 PM
Dental floss + goo be gone worked for me, no heat necessary... I like yours, but I rather have debadged, it's like some guys(or gals) like their first encounter to have some mystery to it.. :)

az3579
04-02-2011, 02:47 PM
I knew sooner or later you would come around to the CS way of thinking.

Uh, no. Don't expect me to start spewing random BS. :p

Sent from my DROIDX

Ryans323i
04-03-2011, 05:52 AM
Looks great op. A nice option for those who want to modify and not debadge.


how would you think it looks on Imola?

Black on red FTW!

rikdee
04-03-2011, 07:11 AM
I removed the 330i badge and purchased three factory sized characters (bright) Z H P. Applied in a factory measured manner, this really gets the public wondering - what the h*ll is this? Bimmerheads will know...

Marcus-SanDiego
04-03-2011, 07:26 AM
You already have it on the car?

danewilson77
04-03-2011, 07:35 AM
I removed the 330i badge and purchased three factory sized characters (bright) Z H P. Applied in a factory measured manner, this really gets the public wondering - what the h*ll is this? Bimmerheads will know...

Pics asap!

Droid! Srs Legitness!

rikdee
04-03-2011, 07:46 AM
Yes, its been on my car for more than a year.

rikdee
04-03-2011, 07:49 AM
Dane, send me an email. I'll send you a photo file. I'm not good at uploading to sites.

Marcus-SanDiego
04-03-2011, 07:49 AM
Need to see a picture, sir!

Marcus-SanDiego
04-03-2011, 07:51 AM
Rik, I create this thread just for you:

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?1779-How-to-Display-Pictures-at-ZHPMafia.com

danewilson77
04-03-2011, 08:02 AM
Dane, send me an email. I'll send you a photo file. I'm not good at uploading to sites.



Droid! Srs Legitness!

danewilson77
04-03-2011, 08:02 AM
Dane, send me an email. I'll send you a photo file. I'm not good at uploading to sites.

We alllllll wanna see....

Droid! Srs Legitness!

kayger12
04-03-2011, 08:54 AM
This is awesome. I bought the ZHP letters from Bimmian back in November and was going to do the same thing.

I wasn't sure how it would look so I asked the wife for her opinion and she vetoed. Of course, this is the same women who doesn't want me to get personalized plates.

Have the letters taking up space if anyone wants them (in both regular and italic font).

Crickett
04-03-2011, 09:38 AM
Have the letters taking up space if anyone wants them (in both regular and italic font).
Oooooh, this may have to happen . . . I think I'll hold off at least until I see rikdee's pic(s). Are they chrome or black, kayger?

johnrando
04-03-2011, 09:48 AM
This is awesome. I bought the ZHP letters from Bimmian back in November and was going to do the same thing.

I wasn't sure how it would look so I asked the wife for her opinion and she vetoed. Of course, this is the same women who doesn't want me to get personalized plates.

Have the letters taking up space if anyone wants them (in both regular and italic font).

Keith, I'd say, put 'em on. Love that idea. Looking forward to seeing the pics on Rik's car.

kayger12
04-03-2011, 02:59 PM
Oooooh, this may have to happen . . . I think I'll hold off at least until I see rikdee's pic(s). Are they chrome or black, kayger?

Chrome-- let me know. Yours if you want them.

kayger12
04-03-2011, 03:01 PM
Keith, I'd say, put 'em on. Love that idea. Looking forward to seeing the pics on Rik's car.

I'm looking forward to seeing them as well. I wasn't too sure about the look on my ride and my wife usually gives pretty good advice with visual stuff, so I decided to pass.

johnrando
04-03-2011, 07:13 PM
I'm looking forward to seeing them as well. I wasn't too sure about the look on my ride and my wife usually gives pretty good advice with visual stuff, so I decided to pass.

Certainly makes sense. Plus, you'll get an actual visual soon. jr

tomjonesrocks
10-16-2011, 05:02 PM
Black on red FTW!


how would you think it looks on Imola?

I've been considering having 330Ci badges custom painted in Imola (Haven't seen them sold anywhere prepainted in that color). I actually like the "invisible/stealth" look, black on black, etc. Don't suppose anyone's already done this?

Hermes
10-17-2011, 10:16 AM
I've been considering having 330Ci badges custom painted in Imola (Haven't seen them sold anywhere prepainted in that color). I actually like the "invisible/stealth" look, black on black, etc. Don't suppose anyone's already done this?

Didn't think of that when I did mine, but just FYI, the black ones are pretty stealthy from distance

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/36d2641c.jpg

NDubSki
10-17-2011, 11:08 AM
http://tapatalk.com/mu/aefc32b4-7cfe-efc5.jpg
Don't mind the dent :(

Black on hellrot. Plus my black grills? You got yourself a winner.

Edit: the kicker: this cost me an hour and not even a quarter can of plastidip. I love the results, looks matte and costs a fraction of the price. Has held up through summer heat so far, next up NE winter.
~I absolutely loath Tapatalk~

jreyes19
10-17-2011, 11:32 AM
i am with you Ndubski
i have been thinking about plastidipping my lettering

tomjonesrocks
10-17-2011, 12:58 PM
Didn't think of that when I did mine, but just FYI, the black ones are pretty stealthy from distance

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/36d2641c.jpg

That does look good. What kind of license frame is that?

Hermes
10-17-2011, 01:00 PM
I don't remember, I'll see if I can find out where I got it from

Hermes
10-17-2011, 03:07 PM
this is the one I got, I'm pretty sure I picked it up at O'Rielly - $11

http://www.causa.com/store/images/products/large/92560.jpg

Its known as "Custom Accessories Black Elite Metal License Plate Frame w/Caps, UPC: 077341925606, Item Number: 92560"