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People kept asking my to post pics of how the thing looks without chrome handles. Finally got around to borrowing a digi-camera - kinda fun actually.
Remove door handle, release spring tension in handle assemble so it can be propped open, take to overpriced body shop catering to premium/prestige cars, talk them into doing it. If they know what they are doing, they will insist on charging extra for a special bonding primer that is used specifically for bonding paint to plated surfaces. The handle is not really electro-plated, as the handle itself is plastic, but there is a layer of true metal on it (I tried to sand it off, doesn't work), thus the reason for the special bonding material.DFDesigns said:...but how did you de-chrome and paint the door handles? It really does look fantastic!
er, love handles? Nice detail, very sharp :29:Bnuke said:Love the handles! . . .
Hard to screw up as all better body shops (not the cheaper franchise brands, Maaco, One Day, etc) remove all door trims, including the handles, before painting the doors. You simply need to ask if they are familiar with bonding primer to be used on metallic surfaces. The handle is not made of metal, but the chrome is real chrome, not painted on. The handle is plastic, with a coat of copper colored metallic somehow bonded to the plastic body, kinda like electroplating or anodizing, but for plastic (no clue how that is done). Without the bonding primer, the paint would crack and peel off. But painting over metal is common practice, so I'm sure it wont be a problem. Mine suffer only from rock chips from gravel roads in upper Canada and from following gravel trucks in Southern California (I don't intentionally follow them, they always just appear in front of me!)Bnuke said:Love the handles!
I'd be willing to pay a couple hundred bucks to get this done but I'd be afraid that the body shop (or me during the intstall) would screw things up. Hmmm...I'll add this to my MDX wishlist.
Ohhhh I dunno ... The chrome handles to me are a mark of luxury and help the vehicle stand out from the actual mass produced low end vehicles who's handles are a dull or shiny black. These chrome accents are for me like platinum cuff links on a well tailored tux or diamond baguettes framing the face of a beautiful woman. Now if we were discussing the rear Acura name plate then I'd have to say that somebody traded in the delicate tennis bracelet for one of those big chunky silver ID or charm bracelets. But that's just me.billco302 said:While I'm not willing to spend the time/expense to have color matched door handles, I sure wish I had them. In my opinion, this is the one big flaw in the looks of my MDX. It just seems like chrome handles say "hey, I'm a mass prduced low end vehicle and didn't have time to bother with colored handles".
My '92 Legend has color matched door handles, why can't my '02 MDX?!?
BTW, your's look GREAT!
What he said.:4:MK23666 said:
Ohhhh I dunno ... The chrome handles to me are a mark of luxury and help the vehicle stand out from the actual mass produced low end vehicles who's handles are a dull or shiny black. These chrome accents are for me like platinum cuff links on a well tailored tux or diamond baguettes framing the face of a beautiful woman. Now if we were discussing the rear Acura name plate then I'd have to say that somebody traded in the delicate tennis bracelet for one of those big chunky silver ID or charm bracelets. But that's just me.
:4: