Chroming up a 132TSI

[hilly61]

I know I am probably a bit silly but I love chrome and I am currently chroming up my 132TSI Tiggy to match a 155TSI. Those of you who have a 155 can you please tell me whether the chrome strip that runs near the bottom of your doors is a satin finish or the full shiny finish. I got some after market ones from Alibaba and they have the satin finish on them. Thanks.

[alexc2005]

You should do a write up on it mate. What you did/where you got stuff.

You're not the only one interested in this! I have been holding myself back from this since I got mine!

[tigger73]

Yes be really interested what bits you find.

I had a got at fitting some chrome window trims and failed - they were a stick-on set and 1) didn't stick very well to the rubber 2) were incorrect length for rear doors.

Word of warning if you're buying trims from China is that China is the only place in the world that has a long wheel base (LWB) Tiguan. They stretch the rear doors by 50mm to give more rear seat legroom which is apparently a big thing in China.

So if you're looking at door sill protectors, window trims or possibly even roof rails you have to be careful that it's designed to fit vehicles outside of China.

Also another fail on chrome trims for foglights... China front end is different from both 1st and 2nd gen Tigs sold here.

Anyway if you find something that works please share as I'm sure a few others would like to add some "bling" to their Tigs.

[Tiggy155]

Chroming up a 132TSI

I know I am probably a bit silly but I love chrome and I am currently chroming up my 132TSI Tiggy to match a 155TSI. Those of you who have a 155 can you please tell me whether the chrome strip that runs near the bottom of your doors is a satin finish or the full shiny finish. I got some after market ones from Alibaba and they have the satin finish on them. Thanks.

Can confirm it is a shiny finish.

[JGM21R]

My 155TSi has the factory satin finish. Not the mirror finish chrome. And the strip that runs near the bottom of the doors is a pain to clean. Especially after some off road action.

[Tiggy155]

Chroming up a 132TSI

My 155TSi has the factory satin finish. Not the mirror finish chrome. And the strip that runs near the bottom of the doors is a pain to clean. Especially after some off road action.

Come to think about I'm pretty sure this would be the same for all 155tsi, does look more like a matte finish

[tigger73]

For reference, here's the thread on adding chrome trims to a 2012 Tig including the pics of my failed attempt: http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...ims-64608.html

[alexc2005]

For reference, here's the thread on adding chrome trims to a 2012 Tig including the pics of my failed attempt: http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...ims-64608.html

I really love the chrome window trim look!

Also don't mind the chrome lower front grille and fog-light look.

Then there is the rear scuff protector, rear boot sil protector, rear window wiper chrome cover, chrome door cups and handles, chrome roof rails.

The list goes on. I'm too chicken to try it though and I can't find anyone else who has .

[Wynnston]

The chrome finish is referred to as "brushed" I believe.

You're right, the bottom ones are a pita to keep clean and they look terrible with splotches of dirt on them.

Also, it appears that Australia missed out on the chrome fog light trim and grille trim as well.

I think my favourite part is the metal roof racks, they set the car apart.

[hilly61]

Some of you wanted to see photos of my chrome work so here they are. See the captions under each photo. All the stuff came from Ebay. If you want the specific links let me know. The chrome strips for the bottom of the doors was the hardest to get. I went to Ebay in the UK and convinced a supplier in Italy to sell to me for $140. Everything else came from China or Australia.

Flickr: Lesley Hill1's Photostream

[tigger73]

Some of you wanted to see photos of my chrome work so here they are. See the captions under each photo. All the stuff came from Ebay. If you want the specific links let me know. The chrome strips for the bottom of the doors was the hardest to get. I went to Ebay in the UK and convinced a supplier in Italy to sell to me for $140. Everything else came from China or Australia.

Nice work!

[davc88]

too much chrome to my taste.. doesnt even look like a fake 155tsi. you can instantly tell the roof, window, bottom door looks aftermarket. sorry to be blunt but sticking the red SI on the back its like putting a skyline GTR badge on a skyline GTS-T.

[tigger73]

Each to their own. I don't have a problem if people want to personalise their car. At least it shows that they care about their car which is a lot more than some people who you see driving around cars that haven't been washed for months.

I also like the look of the 155 with the extra chrome trims as the 125/132 can look a little "plain" without some accents/highlights. I tried to install chrome window surroundson my 125TSI but this didn't work for me. If you did want to go down this path you'd be better off buying the original parts from VW but this is a major job as you ned to replace all the seals (and probably not worth the cost).

I beleive also that the only way to buy a manual was to order a 132 as the 155 only came with DSG option (from memory).

So if you wanted a manual but also wanted the chrome trims you couldn't do it (other than going down the route that hilly61 has done).

Regards to badging I get your point. Some people tune their cars and effectively have that level of performance. Others just like the looks. I personally thought the back of my car had way too many badges on it so I took them all off. Still trying to decide if/what to put anything back on.

[davc88]

have no probs when people are personalizing their car. i think you miss understand me? i thought he wanted to do a 155tsi chrome job. that it self failed. the window trim are half done? or dont even fit? there are no mirror finished chrome strips for under the door trim. not to mention a lot of bit and pieces just make the car look like its a half assed chrome job. sorry but chrome jobs like this make the car look cheap.

my initial understanding is that he wanted his car to look like a 155tsi. i did it on mine and if i can source those chrome trims to make it look factory fitted others can too. how about if i put a Rline badge on mine would my car look faster more expensive? or is it a fake Rline because obviously my car would look half assed too with out the proper bodykit and Rline accessories. by all means put K04 badge on it if your car has it. but dont try to be pretentious.

[tigger73]

my initial understanding is that he wanted his car to look like a 155tsi. i did it on mine and if i can source those chrome trims to make it look factory fitted others can too.

Would be very interested in sharing your experience with getting these trims and how you went about retro-fitting. If you can share your source for these parts that would be great too. I am sure there are other 125/132 drivers out there that would like this upgrade.