I just got back from my autobody hook up they are only charging me materials but they gave me a heads up on painting a chrome grill.

They told me that the primer will not stick to the chrome and once the paint chips the whole thing is going to start peeling off and basically look awful.

That got me thinking so i just had them paint my rear chrome spoiler (color matched) since that won't see any rock chips and hopefully they will match it to the trunk.

So my friend had an idea. Paint the grill and then clear bra it.

Anyone have a better idea? I really want to black out my grill before i replace it completely with the CF Grill. But i don't want it to flake and chip since i do a lot of freeway driving...

Help a brotha out!

 

If you take it to a quality shop, the paint won't start peeling. I had my grill painted now for over a year and I have ZERO rock chips.

 

Your body shop guy sounds kinda dumb. Just sand it down, prime it, paint it, clear it. It will hold up fine.

 

Nah thats what a few body shops told me 6 years ago with my G35. Then I found a shop that said they would primer, paint it and protect it but it still may chip. I had that for 4 years and now on G37 for over a year and no issues at all.

 

hm...these are good friends that work at the body shop and are looking out for my best interest because they know if they had a g37 they wouldn't want to make it look bad.

i'm so confused right now...they were going to sand it, primer it and paint and protect but from their years of experience they see the same thing happen. They painted my Z and their quality is pretty good and they been doing this for 20+ years so i dunno... maybe i'll just save up for a CF grill and call it a day...

 

No they are telling the truth. It can chip and will look bad if it does. Just saying mine has not so far and if it does, I will just repaint it.

 

Anything can chip. Just use some touch up paint. Or repaint if it gets bad enough.

 

aiight imma hit them up when my spoiler is done on monday.

 

I live in the desert with sand all over the place and it still hasn't chipped. Your body shop saying that it won't stick on chrome should indicate that they don't know what they're doing. When you sand down, no chrome is left!!

+1 to what the guys are saying.. sand, primer, paint, clear bra and you should be fine

 

I think it's more of a disclaimer if anything so that you are aware it may happen.

 

Mine chips frequently but with touch up its not noticeable.

 

You have to tell your friend to not spray primer right on top of the chrome, since it sounds like that's what he was telling you. I'm not sure why he would even say that because he should know to sand it down. To be thorough, to have the paint stick, you have to sand down the chrome to expose the rough plastic. Ask him to use adhesion promoter too. Paint will stick and no way should it flake.

What kind of paint is he using? Ask him to use Glasurit, BASF for a show car finish!

Rock chips are unavoidable on painted surfaces, just look at your bumper.
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I skipped the sanding process, just did 3 coats of clearcoat on top of the primer and paint
It's held up very well, I do a bit of highway driving, and my route takes me past roadworks
if it does chip and starts peeling I can always re-do it with sanding involved