Chrome delete

[Sweet OJ]

This is the look I'm going for for my 3, but rather than paying $1000 for a custom shop to handle it, I plan on having one of the guys in my shop (I work at a graphics company) wrap the chrome with the same 3M 180 film the custom shops use. My question is how do I get the door handles, logos, and AP sensors off the car for easier wrapping? Does anyone know? I know it's hard to say exactly as almost nobody owns the car yet, but does anyone know if this will even be possible? My guys can wrap the chrome around the windows, but the other stuff makes me think I might have to fork over the extra money.I know plastidip is an option too but I've heard it looks pretty crappy, isn't all that durable, and I'm not a DIY guy. Anyway, any tips would be appreciated!

 

[FlyingKiwi]

Wrap it all on the car, maybe popping the AP cameras in guards out (they are probably just clipped in,ask at service center?)

The bit from about 14:30 on will be useful for figuring out how to do the mirror arms and door handles and not have the wrap pull back.

 

[Zaphod]

Logos use dental floss. They are attached using double sided tape.
AP2 sensors (assuming you mean the ones on the front fenders) should just pop out from cutouts in the fenders. Just use plastic tool and pop them out, careful to not break the plastic housing.
Door handles, way too hard to remove as would require quite a bit of disassembly. Probably have to remove the inner door panel and then unbolt the handle assembly from the inside. Assume it would be easier to wrap it best as can from the outside.

 

[Sweet OJ]

Awesome - thanks guys! I think you saved me $1k!

 

[T34ME]

My question is how do I get the door handles, logos, and AP sensors off the car for easier wrapping? Does anyone know?

Skillful 'wrappers' leave everything in place except for maybe the "T" emblems. They are worth the money. Be sure your guys know what they are doing or you could wind up with a mess.

 

[strykeroz]

I do like deleting the chrome, but I'd like to try the door handles in body colour rather than blacked out

 

[Chewy3]

Skillful 'wrappers' leave everything in place except for maybe the "T" emblems. They are worth the money. Be sure your guys know what they are doing or you could wind up with a mess.

I would say the opposite actually, a worthwhile shop will take the time an effort to disassemble everything they can to provide the best wrap/coverage. Those who are trying to offer discounted rate will skip those steps to save time.

Same as a paint shop. Macco and the like just mask off whatever they don't want to be painted, while the good paint shops will remove everything they can.

 

[S3XY]

I do like deleting the chrome, but I'd like to try the door handles in body colour rather than blacked out

That's exactly what I was thinking. But how hard would it be to match the color? I too am interested in the red.

 

[FlyingKiwi]

That's exactly what I was thinking. But how hard would it be to match the color? I too am interested in the red.

Matching the red will be easy, just unscrew your gas flap and take it into get matching vinyl.. oh wait..

There are red pearl vinyls like this one. You'll probably have to settle for "close enough" in term of how well it matches, but if its not that close IMO it'll look worse than leaving the handle chrome or wrapping it black.

Somebody should order one of the sample sizes and go hit a tesla store and see how well it matches the red pearl paint.

I think i'd probably consider wrapping the chrome bits of the mirror arms in colour matched vinyl rather than black as that might look better IMO.

 

[dsvick]

This is the look I'm going for for my 3, but rather than paying $1000 for a custom shop to handle it

I'm going for the same look but with the midnight silver color. I called a few places and got rough estimates of only a few hundred though. It is probably more expensive where you are as compared to Ohio but $1,000 seems like a lot for chrome delete.

 

[run-the-joules]

I'm going for the same look but with the midnight silver color. I called a few places and got rough estimates of only a few hundred though. It is probably more expensive where you are as compared to Ohio but $1,000 seems like a lot for chrome delete.

It's even more than that in the bay area…

 

[Garlan Garner]

I do like deleting the chrome, but I'd like to try the door handles in body colour rather than blacked out

Indeed. That's what I'm going to do.

 

[dsvick]

It's even more than that in the bay area…

Ouch. Of course, the prices I got were simply estimates based on what they knew of the model S and X, so it may well be more than that. I'm hoping to get a half hood PPF, full ceramic, the chrome delete, and some light window tint for under $4K. We'll see how far from reality that is.

 

[Naomi]

Just buy precut Carbon fiber patterns from RPM Tesla, and put them on yourself.

RPM Tesla make them all for owners like us to install. My husband put on 5 of our items himself, including these today.

 

[bariiings]

Not sure where your at in Ohio, but in Pittsburgh my guy did the ceramic coating, tint, PPF (all forward facing parts), chrome delete, and powder coating my wheels for less then the 4K you were hoping for. Would be happy to share his contact. He's done a bunch of work on teslas.

 

[bhzmark]

the chrome on M3 isn't like traditional shiny chrome -- it is a matte or greyed out finish -- looks pretty cool as it is.

 

[T34ME]

View attachment 257295 View attachment 257296 View attachment 257297
Not sure where your at in Ohio, but in Pittsburgh my guy did the ceramic coating, tint, PPF (all forward facing parts), chrome delete, and powder coating my wheels for less then the 4K you were hoping for. Would be happy to share his contact. He's done a bunch of work on teslas.

Great looking car! CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[dsvick]

View attachment 257295 View attachment 257296 View attachment 257297
Not sure where your at in Ohio, but in Pittsburgh my guy did the ceramic coating, tint, PPF (all forward facing parts), chrome delete, and powder coating my wheels for less then the 4K you were hoping for. Would be happy to share his contact. He's done a bunch of work on teslas.

Wow, that looks sharp!!
My estimate was under $4K as well. I went over it again and it was actually closer to $3K. It was $900 for the PPF, $1,500 for the ceramic, $400 for the chrome delete, plus whatever tint I add. What coverage on the wrap did you get? Full or partial hood? Yes,, send your contact's info as well, depending on price and quality a couple hour drive to Pittsburgh might be worth it.

 

[ModelNforNerd]

I think I'm going with Midnight Silver Metallic. If I do a chrome delete, the chrome trim and door handles will be matched to the paint, instead of black......

between that and a nice tint job, I'll be all set.


EDIT: I guess I'll get some summer wheels and tires eventually. To start with, I'm fine with the 18" aeros.

 

[dsvick]

This is what I'm going for. But on a Model 3 and without the roof racks and with the 18" aeros ...