Should I leave the window trim chrome or paint black as well. I'm literally torn and have heard equal arguments for both... There is chrome on the side fender emblem, the front, and the rear strip so I'm not sure what to do...

I don't want to "black" it out too much as I hate the way cars look when all completely black... Looks like a black blob.. IMO

Thoughts?

 

I've gone both ways, my current car I left the chrome and on my old Cadillac I blacked it all out around the windows. It worked on the caddy but I actually think the chrome looks better around the windows on the XF. All personal opinion obviously...I blacked out the grilles on both cars

 

Not a fan of the blacked out theme.

 

Well,even if you're not a fan of it... As is do you feel I should paint the window trim black or not to match?

 

Also, if blacking out is the best choice... How do I black that part out? What best most affordable option? Wrap?

 

I would leave the chrome. Its just enough to give the car style.

 

@Kennyboy

You don't feel it makes the car look unbalanced??

 

Not at all. I think any black car needs a little chrome to set it off. If you blacked out the trim, I'd to rims with a chrome lip. Go to NTB.com and hit their wheel visualizer. Choose your car with the polished chrome lip/black wheels and you'll see what I mean.

 

+1 on the rim lip - gives it just a touch of chrome to create that "balance". Now, it looks heavy.

 

Wish I could put a lip on my rims... But these are the stock jag 2011 xf prem rims... Just painted black..

No lip to chrome :/

That said.... What do I do?

 

hmm, I use a lot of house of kolor paint on my triumphs, and they have some amazing silvers / chromes - maybe just a pinstripe on the rim lip?

 

I really like your car the way you have it set up right now. The only thing I would do is add red center caps from Mina. Thats just me. I like black, red and chrome......

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...2&l=b50e092202

 

Have the red center caps on. Hard to see

 

Then you're done brother. I think it looks bad ***.

 

hope you don't mind the comments - just interesting opinions - I'm a designer, and I kinda get to play with lots of shapes and colours. I like the front wheels / fender archs black as shown - looks pretty aggressive, but the back wheel / fender arch just looks a bit heavy and unbroken. Maybe brighter calipers to break up that expanse of black on the hind-quarters?

 

I agree with you on most cars, but on the XF, I think once you start with the red calipers, you turn a luxury saloon into a sporty 4 door sedan. Understated is the message from me......just my .02 cents.

I've got a Botanical Green XFR with silver R calipers. Im glad about this, it keeps the car toned down just enough...

 

How about chrome fender guards like this guy

 

that front fender is just so attractive, aggressive and sophisticated ... and I think it's because the chrome vent is breaking up the expanse of black ... I really like your current look in the front. Its the back that has me thinking otherwise..........

 

Thats to much. Your car is right.....drive it around for a few days and enjoy it.

 

The less of the blacking out the better from my perspective. The wheels are too much already for this car (looks good on an orange or neon green viper), so I wouldn't go any further.

Painting everything black takes away the shape and styling of a car. That's a good thing when you have an ugly car, but the XF is not ugly. Plus you are putting yourself in the category of how the Kia Optima boys like to hop up their cars.