Hi.

Anyone de-chromed their XK, basically retro-fit black pack. Seems you can still buy the black side vents & front bumper bezels (https://www.adamesh.co.uk/body-styling-36-c.asp) anyone know if this is a reasonable DIY fit (bumper off?). 'Just' leaves wrapping the window surrounds. I wouldn't tackle this myself but curious if this requires them to be removed or can be done in place? Anyone tackled this?

Cheers,
Andrew.

 

A can of paint isn't really that expensive.

 

If mine didn't have black pack but silver alloys I'd leave alone as they compliment each other.

Personally at £385 for the grills alone I'd consider:

1) going to a paint shop amd see what they'd quote you?
2) consider hydrodipping so get quotes
3) consider wrapping

PS: What colour is your car and also your bonnet vents (if an R)? Ask as my white had body cobodyed vents and now looks so much better with black, they cost me £40 from a paint shop I trust

 

Yeah I've done this, the only part I haven't (yet) resolved is the chrome plinth along the boot (trunk) lid with JAGUAR lettering, above the rear licence plate. An "official" black-pack car would have that in the same colour and finish as the bodywork. I already had the front central upper and lower grilles in black which I retrofitted to my old black 4.2, I swapped them back to the standard ones before I traded up to the 5.0. I bought the lower side vents for the front end from Jaguar. I had the wheels refurbished and powder-coated in gloss black and the window trims wrapped in gloss black also.

Previously I had tried spray-painting a spare set of silver front center grilles but the finish didn't last well, they chipped quite badly so took the decision to buy a set that were made from black in the first place and they've lasted very well so far.




In terms of difficulty, not very - obviously I had the wheels and the window trims done by paying someone to do those. Replacing the front grilles is pretty straightforward once you get the front bumper off, just a matter of getting the front of the car off the ground and then a bunch of screws, nuts and bolts. The side grilles are a little awkward because of the bumper moulding, you'll want a very small socket wrench, I've got a Teng set a bit like this - same ratchet but different bits. From memory, those screws are Torx of some size or other - https://www.tengtools.com/r/gb/en/So...cket-Set-T1419

 

Thanks 8bit - that's really useful. I'd be replacing the side vents & front bumper inserts with new. Did you remove the window trims yourself? If so, how did that go?

 

No, the shop that did the wrapping removed the trims. I don't know what's involved in that but the guy said it wasn't difficult to do and I've had no issues with them since then. Only thing he did say was not to get too close to the trims with a pressure washer, I do use one when cleaning the car but I've been careful not to get too close and they still look like new two and a bit years on now.

 

Thanks 8bit - appreciate it.

 

No such thing as too much chrome!!

 

I know people on the VW forums who have wrapped their stainless trim with vinyl (it can get oddly oxidized) on various Golf variants (my Jetta Sportwagen is a golf with a weird name for north america). Came out nice and lasted nice.

I think to find materials, instructions and experiences, you're best expanding your search to just look for vinyl wrapping exterior trim; i think that would be the best way to do this. I'd take photos of before and after too with close ups so if you sell the car later the buyer can choose and be confident the trim underneath is good (I just replaced the stainless molding on my passenger door and it was about $180 just for the one piece so that would be a concern for me as a prospective buyer!). I just mention the VW guys for research since they LOVE modding stuff like this .

 

Yeah, I've seen a lot of wrapped chrome. It works pretty good. It can also be expensive if you have a lot of pieces.
I still say Get a rattle can of peelable paint, see if you even like the look. If you don't, you're out a couple bucks and some time.