Chrome removal for maximum paint cleaning

[rwmastel]

Hello,

I plan on performing the first serious "clean, polish, and wax" job on my 230SL.  I would like to take as much chrome off as possible in order to clean and protect as much paint as possible.  I don't want to risk damaging anything.  What are the simplest things to remove/replace that would allow access to the maximum amount of painted area?

I plan on removing the following
- trunk lettering
- trunk star
- trunk handle
- door handles
- headlight chrome rings
- round hood emblem
- Italian front fender turn signals
- fresh air intake grille (by wiper blade arms)
- wiper blade arms
- chrome caps over "B" pillar (over soft top hinge)
 
What do you feel about the risk of removing the following?
- chrome grille surround
- lower body chrome strips (doors & rear fenders)
- front and rear chrome bumpers
- chrome strips along top of doors at window
- side view mirror
- chrome strip on soft top cover

I don't want to risk damage to any parts in the removal/replacement, so I'm looking for warnings and suggestions on what best to work with.

Thanks,

Rodd
1966 230SL Euro
1994 E420

[Cees Klumper]

Rodd - for my repaint some time ago I removed all items you have listed (except the chrome strip on the sof top cover) and actually the only difficult one was the hood emblem. I could not get it off and finally the body shop guys did it - and damaged it in the process! Maybe not worth the risk to remove if you just want to address the paint.
Less tricky but still requiring some attention are the lower chrome strips along the sides of the body. These are riveted in place (at least the clips they are on as I recall) and I had to drill out some of the old rivets. You will have to re-rivet these in place and may need new clips. These are available and not expensive. The rubber/plastic strips that are pressed into these chrome strips can be taken out and clean up quite nicely. This strip material should also be available new from Mercedes, in continuous length if I am not mistaken. I just cleaned up mine and pried them back in place. The other items all came off easily. If you don't have the proper chromed screws and washers for the grill surround, now would be a good time to get and install them, they look very nice I think. You may also want to get a few new clips that hold the chrome strips along the door tops in place - or perhaps even replace these if they are not fully functional anymore (I think they are supposed to keep (rain) water out from the doors).

[rwmastel]

quote:I had to drill out some of the old rivets. You will have to re-rivet these in place and may need new clips.

I've never done this.  Does it require a special (or expensive) tool?  I may leave these parts alone and just add the bumpers and grille surround to my list.  If I take the door panels off to get to the chrome by the windows, I might look at doing the side mirror too.

Rodd
1966 230SL Euro
1994 E420

[Bob G ✝︎]

Rodd,
 It is good that you are thinking like a perfessional restorer,however unless you plan on color-sanding and machine polishing your 230SL I think the less arduous way around would be to buy some 1 inch to 1/1/2 inch 3m mask tape at your local hardware store.
Bob Geco

[Cees Klumper]

The (aluminum) rivets are installed with a fairly simple hand tool that shrinks them in place. Maybe $15 at any hardware store. If you take out an old one and take it to the store, they will be able to tell you what to get, including the size rivets to get.