Chaps, I've been in the process of changing the look of my coupe - I've had some paintwork done and I've nearly finished refirbing my rims (3 out of 4 done). Now, my metal side mirror units (black coated bits that bolt onto the car and hold the mirror housing) weren't looking too great, so I decided to spray them black and colour code my mirrors the same colour as my rims (rover gunmetal grey).

When sanding down the metal units, I found that the metal used in them was actually pretty soft, and ideal for polishing - so I stripped them down and got them to a mirror finish.

When on the car, it looked very bling - and I felt that I'd prefer it a bit toned down, so I used some 1200grit paper on them and used a light rubbing compound to make them have a matt brushed finish.

I'm not convinced that they suit my colour car though, and maybe if they were just black it would look better, here's one side completed, let me know your thoughts.


I'm thinking of spraying the spare mirrors that I have black and putting the polished ones on ebay for someone who likes the bling. They've got a matt finish in the pics, I can make them very very shiney, like a mirror basically which I probably will do if I sell them for max effect!

<Churchill> No no no no no no! </Churchill>

Looks too much like the chrome effect crud that the barry boys all drool over <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Approve of the coded mirror housings though. But keep the arms black <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


Actually, you've reminded to revive a project of mine. I've a few sets of the arms which I was going to sand blast and powder coat. Sure there would be some interest in that from peeps on here <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/idea.gif" alt="" />

it's not actually shiney at all, just matt brushed although the pics make it out to be shiney I agree.

I'm pretty much convinced black would look better, wanted to get opinions from you chaps also!

It makes them look like an aftermarket (barry) mirror, next thing you'll be wanting 2 thin arms M3 stylee <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Think I agree that black would suit better. Although hard to tell from a pic. They just draw your eye to them a tad too much.

what about colour coding them to the car colour?
or the gunmetal grey?

the only other thing was that I didnt think it matched to the rest of the black surround (door seal and door handle) as they're all black also.

Will get them sprayed black then, cheers!

Definately agree with you on that. might look odd with the door surround and B pillar in black plus colour coding just that might make the A pillar look odd.

Another option could be to do them gunmetal, but put the mirror housings back to the colour of your car. I wouldn't have thought that this would look odd with the black surround, especially if you did the fuel cap in gunmetal as well <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />.

Phil

pics gone as my photobucket account is full - need the space to host other pics. Cheers for the responses.

Can't see your pictures now, but could you not match the rest of the car to the mirrors? You wouldn't get any stone chips then...

Don't do it !! (unless you really want to !)

I did it ( see here ) on my old car, but changed it back cos I was embarrased to drive it anywhere <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

That looked really bad Chris! I'd go with painting them black.

black or at a push, body colour!

they're primed up and ready to go satin black.

Good lad <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
What happened to the original picture, btw ?

[color:"green"]At a guess this is what happened <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> [/color]

D'oh ! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />