Chrome plating Intake Cowl

[jfkb2]

Does anyone know of a chromer to do this job? The folks that are doing the rest of my chrome are afraid to tackle this due to the small rivets in this piece and the difficultly taking it apart and putting back together again.

[stickandrudderman]

It is indeed a conundrum.
My chrome refuses to do it in one piece and so I have to disassemble and then get creative on reassembly.
I have heard that some chromers will do it in one piece.

[wwheeler]

I had the headlight doors chromed as one piece on my W111. It is a similar type of assembly with rivets. Around the rivets, the chrome is somewhat flawed. I believe this to be from trapped solvents or acids used during the process. I was warned about that in the beginning, so no surprise. It hasn't gotten worse in five years, so maybe it won't change. Who knows. That is why they won't guarantee it.

The best of course is to remove the rivets and chrome as multiple pieces. I too am close to refinishing my intake cowl and will look into using a stainless rivet that is highly polished.   

[mdsalemi]

Mine was done during the restoration. How? Don't know. Will have to examine said rivets...

[Garry]

On my 280SL I tried doing it with it all in place and it was not very successful with cracking almost immediately around the rivets.  For the 230SL I took it apart to have done then they re riveted it back together for me with polished SS rivets.

[wwheeler]

Garry,

I was afraid of that. Did the chrome plater install the rivets?

[Garry]

Yes they advised that they were going to dismantle after the first ‘failure’ and then got it all back together for me.  At that time they had a really old guy who had to be well into his 80’s if not more who did the work and also did the removal of any dents in the bumpers and grill.