Blacking out factory chrome is one of the smallest jobs that changes a car the most. Window surrounds, grilles, badges, handles and mirror caps go from shiny to gloss or satin black, and the whole car looks lower and meaner. There are three ways to do it: wrap it, paint it, or buy black trim pieces. Here is how they compare.
Wrapping the chrome
Vinyl is laid over the existing trim and wrapped around its edges. Done properly, with the trim cleaned and edges tucked, it looks like factory black trim. It is usually done in a day, nothing is sanded, and the chrome underneath is protected. When you sell the car or want the chrome back, the film comes off.
Painting the chrome
Paint does not stick to chrome on its own, so the trim has to be removed, scuffed, primed with an adhesion promoter and painted. It can look excellent, but it is more time off the road, it is permanent, and a chip in painted chrome is hard to touch up. Some trim cannot come off without breaking clips, which adds parts to the bill.
Replacing with black trim
Some manufacturers sell a factory black trim package. It is the most permanent option and often the most expensive, and parts availability varies a lot by model. It is worth checking for newer cars, but for most vehicles a wrap gets the same look for less.
Do
- Pick gloss black to match black paint or piano black interiors, satin black for a factory blackout look
- Do the badges and emblems at the same time so nothing chrome is left behind
- Think about the grille, mirror caps, roof rails and exhaust tips as well as the windows
- Pair it with a tint on the lights if you want the full blacked-out look
Don’t
- Use spray-on peel coat on window trim; it is hard to get clean edges and it peels unevenly
- Pressure wash the trim edges closely in the first couple of weeks
- Use a hard ice scraper on wrapped window trim in winter
Gloss or satin black?
Gloss black blends with black paint and glass and looks like a premium factory option. Satin black has a softer, more aggressive look and hides fine scratches better, which suits trucks and SUVs. On a black car, satin gives a little contrast; on a white or silver car, either one pops.
Questions we get asked
How long does a chrome delete take?
Most cars are done in a day. Vehicles with a lot of trim, or trim that has to come off, can take longer. We give you a time when we book.
Can a chrome delete be removed?
Yes. The film comes off and the original chrome is underneath, protected from the years it was covered.
Does a chrome delete hold up in Windsor winters?
Yes, with sensible care: rinse salt off when you can and clear snow with a brush rather than a scraper around the window trim.