Plating rear light surrounds

[jvrenaudon]

I wonder if anyone has managed to locate a firm prepared to re-plate the diecast rear light surrounds here in uk and with what measure of success? I do not propose to strip mine myself, after removing the lenses, but the bottom horizontal bars on both surrounds is quite badly pitted and "pimpled". I anticipate that only painstaking preparation stands any chance of success.

One recommendation is worth a hundred guesses. Please contact me on [email protected]

 

[tomcolitt]

Hi John

I know that Mehrdad has had it done before, but the problem with badly pitted parts is that the cancerous pits in the soft aluminum run deep and have to be filled in with many layers of copper and then they have to be ground smooth each time. If you just want a cheap shiny job, it may be doable. Otherwise a good used part or the $500 plus for a new one may be the cheapest alternative.

Best, Tom

 

[frogisland]

John, I had mine done at:

Company: A.C.F. Howell
Address: Croft Street
Walsall
West Midlands
WS2 8JR
Contact: Adam Howell
Telephone: 01922 649 992

Very good job, came recommended. If you are over this way evening/weekends drop in and kick some tyres. Lenses are ready to be glued in but sat on the shelf for over a year - one of the indicator lenses came out of your light!

Jason

 

[steely dan]

I guess it depends on what level of perfection you seek ,but I assure you that this works.
I was faced with the same dilemma when restoring my E24 . Here in deepest south west Ireland there is a distinct lack of chroming facilities so you have to think out of the box.......
I used chrome vinyl wrap on mine .
They were pitted and way below the level of finish I wanted and new ones were exorbitantly expensive .
I carefully ground back the pitting and then filled the imperfections with general polyester bodyfiller and then finished smooth ( bodyfinish smooth ) .
The wrap was very inexpensive and a bit awkward to apply but you soon get the hang of it . The material is uv and waterproof so should last well and if or when it does deteriorate ,I'll just spent thirty minutes doing it again...
Here's the finished article. ( Different sides but both were identical in severity of pitting )
PS I also lined the reflector areas with the same chrome wrap which gives a significant increase of reflected light and it was very useful in restoring several small sections of chrome plastic trim in the interior.
HTH's

 

[loloe13]

I used chrome vinyl wrap on mine .

not a bad idea. I may try this option first before the inevitable expansive re-chroming process.
I have tried some of the 'Chrome Paint' that's available, the result is not acceptable.

and Good Luck with your search too John. :-o

Gavin