chrome fenders

[daniel77]

Hi guys. I don't know if I should remove chrome from fenders (above wheels). I am during restoration process. I see
chrome on fenders is not that popular. Haven't seen many pagodas with it. What's your advice? Regards Daniel

[dirkbalter]

Personally, I don’t like them, these were popular in the 80th I believe.
More importantly, they tend to trap moisture and create rust spots in-between.

[daniel77]

Perfect. Thank you for explaining this👍🏻

[mdsalemi]

When you removed them as Dirk indicates, you'll probably find some rust needing attention.

If they were standard or even an option (they were neither; just aftermarket) it would be yet another set of things to have chrome plated...

If you are restoring, bring it back to original without them. Unless of course, you really love them...

[Pawel66]

Remove them.

[MikeSimon]

I have them on my car and I like them.

[daniel77]

Thank you guys!

[mdsalemi]

I have them on my car and I like them.

Our former member, the late Bob Geco had them on his car, courtesy of his father (the prior owner) Norman Geco, who wanted to dress up his car in a style popular in the 1980s. Bob always wanted to remove them, but alas, he never had the opportunity before health issues got in the way. Another friend of mine in Detroit had them, along with fake wire wheels, in chrome, with larger American sized tires. He liked both the "fender spats" and wire wheels that complimented each other. Don't know what he ever did but his superpower was finding cars attractively priced and flipping them for a good profit. I don't think he kept the car very long.

[WRe]

Hi,
back in those days these chrome fenders  in Germany are called "Ludenchrom" which means "pimp chrome" because pimps used it to pimp their cars. Especially Mercedes cars were used with it. Sorry for that!
...WRe

[lreppond]

If restoration means returning your car to the condition that it rolled off the assembly line, I’d eliminate them.  These were always an add-on and since you’ll be repainting, now is the time.  But as suggested, if you really like the look, you’ll probably want to re-plate them and take steps to mitigate any existing or future rust issues. 

[daniel77]

Hi
Guys I will be removing pimp chrome then haha

[zak]

The pimp chrome came on by 250SL when I bought it back in 1990s. I did not like them.
I crossed my fingers and removed them and was lucky there was no rust underneath.
But somehow they look perfect on a 300SE that came with them from the factory.

A lot of new cars have them today, but they are mainly made of black plastic.

jz

[SEB]

But somehow they look perfect on a 300SE that came with them from the factory.
jz

I can only agree, that in case of the W112 or the W111 with the big chrome trim-  such small element makes a big difference.

[Benz280]

Not a fan of the chrome eyelashes

[MikeSimon]

A lot of new cars have them today, but they are mainly made of black plastic.
jz

I think the black "flares" nowadays are supposed to be an "off-road" cosmetic item. A lot of SUVs and "cross country" image 4x4 sedans have them.

[Pawel66]

I would have thought they may also be left black to be able to charge extra money for painting them.

For off-road they make sense as it is easier to repair them if need be after off-road pleasures...

[Mike Hughes]

In many states it is illegal for vehicle tires to protrude outside of the fender wells.  Originally the black fender flares were an aftermarket item that allowed folks to put wider wheels and tires on their 4X4 vehicles and still pass state inspection.  The black plastic flares were flexible enough that they were, in effect, "one size fits all" accessories. Soon the oversized wheels and add-on black fender flares became such a fashion statement that vehicle manufacturers started incorporating bigger wheels and black flares into their production models.

[MikeSimon]

Audi now offers the option to have the flares on their Allroad models to be painted in body color.

[Pawel66]

The real trick of consumer marketing (which Audi is full of) would be to offer black (non painted) fender flares for additional payment.

[MikeSimon]

The real trick of consumer marketing (which Audi is full of) would be to offer black (non painted) fender flares for additional payment.

They actually do. Subtly. The flares are part of packages that cost money. You can get these on A4, A6 (Allroad) and Q3 (off-road package)

[mdsalemi]

Audi has perhaps some of the greatest availability of aftermarket accoutrements. No need to pay the factory for whatever you want.

[Pinder]

get rid of them they are terrible collectors of rust. less is more. they spell cheap cover up.