Black Trim Removal or Paint?

[TVB]

Hi All,

BMW + tow bar + blonde + reverse gear + a blatant refusal to use mirrors or look behind the blonde mop = hole in my bumper, smashed headlight, and broken radiator support.

I've discovered the old bumpers with the black trim are hard to find so I'm thinking about some newer ones without the trim and colour coding the side trims to match. Has anyone had any experience in this? Is it as easy as taking them of and sanding them smooth? ...or does anybody have a front bumper?

[Golf Houso]

Hi All,

BMW + tow bar + blonde + reverse gear + a blatant refusal to use mirrors or look behind the blonde mop = hole in my bumper, smashed headlight, and broken radiator support.

I've discovered the old bumpers with the black trim are hard to find so I'm thinking about some newer ones without the trim and colour coding the side trims to match. Has anyone had any experience in this? Is it as easy as taking them of and sanding them smooth? ...or does anybody have a front bumper?

Although I haven't done the bumper tops or wheel arches since mines an OBDII, I've done my skirts, front and back bumper trim. I used an orbital sander and sandpaper to smooth the bumpers, it will take some time I must admit. If you wanted you could just smooth the top rear trim, take the wheel arches off and just paint the front and back bumpers. It'll look different but not odd.

Otherwise smooth and colour code everything to match, that'll look even better

[99gti]

Hi All,

BMW + tow bar + blonde + reverse gear + a blatant refusal to use mirrors or look behind the blonde mop = hole in my bumper, smashed headlight, and broken radiator support.

I've discovered the old bumpers with the black trim are hard to find so I'm thinking about some newer ones without the trim and colour coding the side trims to match. Has anyone had any experience in this? Is it as easy as taking them of and sanding them smooth? ...or does anybody have a front bumper?

Update your profile with you location mate and we'll be able to point you in the right direction

[TVB]

Hi Neil,

My location is Rozelle

[TVB]

I was thinking about colour coding all the trim including the wheel arches. I reckon it will look quite good

[Golf Houso]

I was thinking about colour coding all the trim including the wheel arches. I reckon it will look quite good

Did you want it smoothed back as well?

[TVB]

Yeah, smooth all round. I would leave the front and rear chin spoilers black. I'm just toying with the idea of removing the wheel arch trims and rolling out the arches a bit. Of course, it would be easier to colour code...

[Golf Houso]

Yeah, smooth all round. I would leave the front and rear chin spoilers black. I'm just toying with the idea of removing the wheel arch trims and rolling out the arches a bit. Of course, it would be easier to colour code...

Ahh ok fair enough, you won't need to roll the arches unless your going for considerably wider wheels than stock anyway. It'd look alot better to have the trim smoothed than just to paint over the texture bumpers. Would you consider painting or colour coding the front and rear skirts as well? It adds a nice touch to the car...

[TVB]

Do you mean the chin spoiler at the front or side skirts? I was going to leave them all black. I have come across these, Cult Society Mk4 look front and rear bumpers, not cheap but faarkin lovely...

http://www.cult-society.com/company_e/products/detail.asp?id=64&IDCat=3&IDsubCat=21

I've got Mk3 to Mk4 R32 headlights with angel eyes winging their way to me as we speak and those Mk4 bumpers would finish the look off quite nicely in my opinion

[Golf Houso]

You might as well do the whole lot at the same time, front lip, rear trim, side skirts, side trim and side skirts. Rather than just do a few pieces at a time and then end up changing your mind. I'd develop a whole theme first with an idea of what wheels your getting first. Also, crystal headlights don't particularly match with black trim anyway...

That front bar would probably cost $3000 in the end, your better off changing the headlights, grill and front lip to change the look, body kits aren't really in at at all atm and will it look as good if not better in the end.

[TVB]

I know the look I want. I'm going for a clean look, Audi door handles, flat paint, crystal lights, badgeless grill, etc. I'm a big fan of the Euro look with the wide 14" rims...yes, yes, I know at a time where bigger is better I'm heading the opposite way. Not really into all that 22" bling anyway.

...oh, and single wiper conversion too

[Golf Houso]

I know the look I want. I'm going for a clean look, Audi door handles, flat paint, crystal lights, badgeless grill, etc. I'm a big fan of the Euro look with the wide 14" rims...yes, yes, I know at a time where bigger is better I'm heading the opposite way. Not really into all that 22" bling anyway.

...oh, and single wiper conversion too

Ah ok fair enough, the wheels you noticed were most likely 16's or 15's on 8 inch + rims or staggered fitments, not 14's fortunately they'd just be smaller than what you've got.

Well sounds good, be sure to make a build-up thread on your progress!

[TVB]

Will do, I start on it next week!
I'm thinking colour and rims a bit like the attached photo but with crystal lights and indicators. I must say thought, the black lights and grill look sick on this car!

[rayray086]

I'm a big fan of the Euro look with the wide 14" rims...yes, yes, I know at a time where bigger is better I'm heading the opposite way. Not really into all that 22" bling anyway.

That's the way everyone should think! Wide 14" will let you run the car so low, but too bad you've got a VR!

Those wheels are the TH-Line made by Schmidt. Expensive yes, but quality is really good, and for even more you can go for the Radinox lips.

[TVB]

Yeah I'm into those rims... must be running 17's or even 18's in that picture I submitted. I've been offered some some 16" BBS split rims in mint condition which would be a cheaper alternative to those TH-line puppies.

P.S. I don't actually feel too bad about owning a VR...