Rechrome vs replace trim

[n/a]

New to group here and just getting started on a cosmetic restoration on a very nice 71 280SL.  I am curious about quality replaters for the chrome trim, ie grill and surround, hardtop trim, and side trim.  These mostly look to be cast, but I am not sure of what material and am curious as to how well it takes replating or should I just bite the bullet and go for new from M-B.  I want a very high quality driver car.  Thanks for any input.

[Tom]

This question comes up from time to time.  I surveyed a few restoration authorities.  This combined with my experience leads to the following suggested course of action detailed by part:


1.                Front Left Bumper ½                     ---rechrome   Any Rust or Dents buy new
2.                Front Right Bumper ½                     ---rechrome   Any Rust or Dents buy new
3.                Grill Star Tunnel                     ---buy new   Any pitting, problems-buy assembly
4.                Star                     ---buy new   
5.                Grill Bars (2 pcs)  (A&B)                     ---rechrome   
6.                Grill Surround (Frame)                     ---rechrome   Any Dents or cracks buy new
7.                Windshield Posts (2)  (A & B)                     ---rechrome   
8.                Windshield Top                     ---rechrome   
9.                Vent Grill                     ---buy new   
10.              Left Rear Bumper                     ---rechrome   Any Rust or Dents buy new
11.              Right Rear Bumper                     ---rechrome   Any Rust or Dents buy new
12.              Bumper Over Riders (Guards) ---rechrome   Check for deformation due to impacts, if so, buy
13.              A Post Basket Channels (2)  (A)  (B)                     ---rechrome   
14.              Door Top Trim                     ---buy new   not easy to re chrome properly, best bought new
15.              Boot Trim (3 Pieces)   Left, Right, Center Cap                     ---rechrome   
16.              Not Used                        
17.              Top Windshield Pinch Held 5 Pieces                      ---rechrome   
18.              Inside Door Jam   4 Pieces   (A,B,C,D)                     ---rechrome   
19.              4 Pieces of Mirror                     ---buy new
20.              Star-Curved on Trunk                     ---buy new   
21.              Trunk Lock Housing                     ---rechrome   if lock works, rechrome housing; check for broken studs
22.              Top Sockets (Female)  2 (A, B)                     ---rechrome   
23.              Left Door Interior Hardware - 3 pieces in bag                     ---buy new   
24.              Right Door Interior Hardware – 3 pieces in bag                     ---buy new   
25.              Top Frame Hinge Cover – 2 pieces                      ---buy new; if tabs are broken-definately buy new
26.              Door Handles (2)  (A, B)                     ---buy new   If your Locks work have the Handle re chromed
27.              Boot Trim Interior (2 Pieces) (A, B)                     ---rechrome   
28.              Lower Aluminum Trim 6 pieces                     ---buy new   
29.              Side Body Molding  (                     ---rechrome
30.              Center Post Trim for Top Post (1)                     ---rechrome
31.              Center Clip for Front Bumper – Straighten                     ---buy new
32.              Rubber Gasket Chrome Plate – Not Highly Polished – 6 Pieces                     ---buy new
33.              Door & Kick Panel Trim (4 Pieces)                     ---rechrome
34.              Door Panel Trim                      ---rechrome

Hope this helps.

Best,

Tom

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Deep Red (Project Car)

[n/a]

Wow, I guess that about covers it, Thanks

[mdsalemi]

Hi JJ,

There are several kinds of trim on the 113.  There is aluminum trim which is on the lower section of the car; cast brass trim that is chrome plated running above that and of course a bevy of other trim which is a mix of materials (steel, SS, Brass) and most of it chrome plated.

I used THREE platers, and all of them did a great job.

International Bumper Repair & Metal Work
519-253-4885
1441 McDougall Street,
Windsor, ON N8X 3M8

(yeah that's Canada) restored my bumpers.  It usually isn't good enough to just plate them; they need to be repaired first to remove all the little dents and dings--some quite small--that happen.  His procedure was to dechome the bumpers, hammer/repair, and then re-chrome.  I did this when the dollar had a more favorable exchange.  Of course he is just a drive away for me.

The second plater I used was http://www.blplating.com  These guys used to do all the massive Freightliner bumpers and grill surrounds on the giant semi's; now they do show chrome in a 4-step process which is a bit different, perhaps better, then most.  They did all the small pieces including all my interior chrome.  They were reasonably priced at least as far as chrome goes...

Third plater was the one my restorer used as sublet work; these guys are:

http://www.gravesplating.com/

I was very satisified with all the chrome work done by all three; there are many in the group who have seen my car and would agree that the chrome work is excellent.  Why three platers?  Well, first--my restorer simply has had the best luck with Graves, so everything he ever did on 190's 300's and our 113's was sent to Graves.  I guess he had a lot of trouble with some other unnamed platers and decided to stick with someone he trusted.  I took an active role in the restoration, and sourced a lot of work myself.  Both other platers were local finds.  I found International when I was specifically looking for bumper repair, and specifically in Canada to take advantage of the exchange rate.  He was a lucky find.  B&L was discovered in my search for a local plater who could handle the trim.

You need to be very careful on some parts--very small parts can easily get lost; you must absolutely, positively document everything you send out and pack it well.  Of particular concern is the fragile and delicate grill surround.  Contact me off line if you want to hear THAT horror story.  It is a very hard part to fit and its fit can change with the thickness of the plating; thickness of the paint/primer on the nose, as well as the nose stamping.  THAT was the only issue we had in plating--and be advised that EVERYTHING that was chrome plated on my car was either replated or replaced.  So I had pretty good luck, and these three vendors did well.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[J. Huber]

Michael, or anyone else... Have you had the center dash interior trim redone? This would be the three pieces that immediately surround the heater levers. Mine are peeling and pitted. I asked Ray P. and he searched and said new ones not available for early 230SLs. He found me some nearly new ones but the price is way (way) up there. Thus, I would propably lean toward redoing mine if it is reasonable... Thanks.

James
63 230SL

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by J. Huber

Michael, or anyone else... Have you had the center dash interior trim redone? This would be the three pieces that immediately surround the heater levers. Mine are peeling and pitted. I asked Ray P. and he searched and said new ones not available for early 230SLs. He found me some nearly new ones but the price is way (way) up there. Thus, I would propably lean toward redoing mine if it is reasonable... Thanks.

James
63 230SL

Jim,

Yes, I did those pieces (not a difficult job) you are talking about as well as everything else in and on the car.  Using a #11 fresh X-Acto blade, I carefully pried off the black plastic tag that indicates the defrost position as well as the little red and blue colored arrows for temperature and black direction arrows.  When the chrome pieces came back I carefully glued those plastic pieces back with clear silicone (they are still in place now 3 years later).  I restored the defrost tag by polishing with Novus 3 plastic polish, then using a white wax crayon and "rubbing" into the letter grooves to highlight the letters to new.  Yes this is extreme restoration; but the results are beautiful.

The ONLY chrome on my car that was not re-plated (or replaced) were the actual, individual louvers themselves.  Even the little defrost flaps were removed and replated. Against advice, I completely disassembled the fresh air vents (with LOTS of photos and notes in the process)and had everything plated.  The plater did not want to do the louvers; being made of zinc and having some small little "nibs" on them as hinges made them difficult to affix in their tank to the electrodes; easy to dislodge (and fall to the bottom) if they did, and questionable as to whether they'd survive the buffing.  So, I just cleaned them up a bit--they weren't too bad anyway.  Small jeweler's pliers; some patience and a magnifiying lamp are all helpful tools to have at your disposal for this kind of work.

One thing the restorer advised is that you will have a funny look if you re-do part of your chrome; so if you do those parts and not the parts that abut to it, you might be bothered by the contrast.  Of course you might be bothered more by the invoice for chrome plating as well but that is what it is!

Hope this helps.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored