Pins for headlight surrounds after chrome plating

[w113abudhabi]

Hello all.

I have just had a set of worn euro headlight surrounds chrome plated. In order to do this the platers removed the two pins from each surround.

Can anyone assist me with where to source replacement pins from? I'm guessing someone else has previously been through this experience... Pic attached to show what I am referring to, its the two pins at the top of the pic.

Best wishes,

Pierre

[Garry]

I have re-chromed headlight rims (Euro)several times and have in fact tightened the two rivets so that the small fitting behind for fixing the light to the body is nice and tight then you chrome the whole lot together.  Removing them is probably not the way to go and you may have problems chroming the rivets first then using them.

So how were the platers proposing to re fit the rivets and the bracket???

[mbzse]

.../...you chrome the whole lot together.../..how were the platers proposing to re fit the rivets and the bracket?

From factory, the bracket was black so the headlight rims (doors) with rivets were not plated as one unit...

However, the method for fitting the chromed rivet may be something that is hard to do in your own garage (by that I mean, they may have had special methods/resources at the M-B factory in the day, in order to perform this task...)

[Garry]

A way to go would maybe get some Stainless Steel airframe rivets and polish them and punch them in.  I took out one set and tried to chrome them but had difficulty so refitted them before second re-chrome.

[w113abudhabi]

Thanks for the responses. This is sounding a bit scary, the platers who are highly recommended in the UK removed the rivets prior to completing the chrome replating...

[w113abudhabi]

the possibly positive news is that I purchased these surrounds with a set of euro headlights from another forum member to enable me to change the existing US headlights without any modification to the US headlight surrounds.

Might it therefore be possible to use part of the US headlight surround to attach the euro headlight surrounds?

[hkollan]

Hi,

Here are type of  rivets that might fit the bill. Have not tried these myself, but
been thinking about getting some to try it out. They could also be useful for a proper rechroming of the fresh-air intake chrome surround.
They are made of copper so would be suitable for plating.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/50PCS-M2-M2-5-M3-Half-Round-Cap-Head-Copper-Rivets-Knurled-Brass-Solid-Rivet-2/32776989796.html

Hans

[stickandrudderman]

It's interesting, I've pondered over this conundrum for many years and until now I had never seen those copper rivets.
I've always had the headlight rims chromed complete with the rivets and never had a problem but the rivets at the air intake grill are more problematic. They are tucked in a corner and must have required a special mandrel to support them when installing them. It must also be difficult not to damage the chrome during installation.

[wwheeler]

I had the headlight surround chromed as an entire unit including the rivets. They cautioned me at the beginning that it may not turn out well at the rivet. It looks ok, but there is some irregularity right at the rivet head edge. They explained that the plating solution and or chrome may not penetrate underneath and this would be an imperfect area.

Depending on your level of perfectionism, this may or may not be acceptable. And some chrome shops may be better at avoiding this than others. But for sure the rivets and brackets were added after the plating at the factory. Polished stainless rivets may be an option. Maybe a cottage industry will start up restoring these pieces as the factory did it.

[w113abudhabi]

Dear all

I am trying to resolve the rivet issue for my headlight surrounds as detailed in this thread. I have no experience of rivets and am confused whether I should be using the style of rivet suggested by Hans (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/50PCS-M2-M2-5-M3-Half-Round-Cap-Head-Copper-Rivets-Knurled-Brass-Solid-Rivet-2/32776989796.html) or this style of blind rivet http://www.arpel.co.uk/shop/Blind-Rivet-A2-Stainless-Steel-|-A2-Stainless-Steel---Dome-Head-).

I am unclear how the rivet shown by Hans will grip or hold the small clip below the chrome surround.

Any further help which be much appreciated.

Pierre

[stickandrudderman]

Rivets are designed to be inserted through two holes and then compressed so that they expand and grip both pieces. You need a rivet press and possibly a special die.
Stainless ones would not be correct but only the most eagle-eyed would spot them.

[w113abudhabi]

Thanks. So would either style linked in my previous post be possible to use if the correct size could be sourced?

[Pawel66]

If I may add (in case you are not experienced with this): be very carefull not to damage the head of the rivet. It needs to rest in a shaped seat when it is pressed. It is also good to put a piece of cloth between the seat and the rivet head. Also: if the seat for rivet head is too deep, you may damage the headlight bezel.

I learned it the hard way.

[cfm65@me.com]

Pierre,
Someone suggested airframe or aviation rivets. It is not as eazy as it might seem to set rivets. I would go to an aircraft maintanance organisation at an airfield nearby. They might not have stainless rivets but alli ones would work fine and they will have the tools and experience to insert and set the rivets. They will have various sizes as well as special dies to set the rivets without damaging the heads and special squeezers to do it perfectly.
Regards
Chris

[w113abudhabi]

Thanks for the tips guys. I have hopefully sourced some stainless steel rivets which I am yet to receive and will take it from there.

[Benz Dr.]

I believe that the USA chrome ring and the Euro chrome ring is the same part. This piece has become horribly expensive and it may be possible to use a broken USA headlight door after removing all of the broken plastic.

I know this isn't part of the question but could be part of the answer for someone.

[Shvegel]

Wish I would have bought new ones at $149 a pop.  I did buy new Bosch Euro headlights for $900 for the pair.

[wwheeler]

I just talked to a gentleman who is very involved with chrome restoration. Concerning re-plating parts with rivets:

He says the way to do this is to first remove the rivets and brackets attached and so forth. Then ship the parts to the plater and have them stripped clean. Then have them ONLY copper plate the part and do what ever buffing is necessary. Send the parts back home and install brass rivets with brackets. Finally ship the assembled part back to the plater for the final nickel and chrome plate.

This avoids trapping the cleaning and rinsing fluid and old plating material that may get caught under the rivet head. According to them, that trapped material is the cause for blemishes around the rivet head. Anybody else ever heard about that?

[Shvegel]

If it were me I would make or have made polished stainless rivets.