C-pillar Vent Rehab
C-pillar Vent Rehab
This is barely a Tech Forum topic after reading Keehn's latest post, but here are my humble offerings while my alternator is rebuilt.
My C-pillar vents were looking a bit tired.
I found some silver-chrome pinstripe on eBay, the lower band of which was 1/5" (3mm). I masked the old chrome and repainted using a semi-gloss black (figuring I could always rely on the old, tired chrome if the pinstriping didn't work. Next, I burnished the pinstriping onto the vanes.
Here it is on the car. It's not NOS-perfect, but it's a big improvement.
Cheers,
Eric
My C-pillar vents were looking a bit tired.
I found some silver-chrome pinstripe on eBay, the lower band of which was 1/5" (3mm). I masked the old chrome and repainted using a semi-gloss black (figuring I could always rely on the old, tired chrome if the pinstriping didn't work. Next, I burnished the pinstriping onto the vanes.
Here it is on the car. It's not NOS-perfect, but it's a big improvement.
Cheers,
Eric
(oo=00=oo) Eric
1981 528i Manual
1981 528i Manual
Re: C-pillar Vent Rehab
Eric,
That looks great! Do you have any long shots of the car in its entirety with the chrome vents?
Mike
That looks great! Do you have any long shots of the car in its entirety with the chrome vents?
Mike
Re: C-pillar Vent Rehab
Thanks Mike. Not yet, she's immobilized and in a confined space. I'll post a shot ASAP.
(oo=00=oo) Eric
1981 528i Manual
1981 528i Manual
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Re: C-pillar Vent Rehab
I like the look. A big improvement over stock.
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
Re: C-pillar Vent Rehab
Excellent Eric. And I like your red pinstripe on the black paintwork. Pinstriping used to be so fashionable on cars.
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- Posts: 1058
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:50 pm
Re: C-pillar Vent Rehab
Lookin' good. Is that a 14" wheel? I'm looking for one if anyone has a spare I can buy.
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
Re: C-pillar Vent Rehab
No, that's a 16"; check for a recent thread in in the For Sale section on the 14" turbines.
(oo=00=oo) Eric
1981 528i Manual
1981 528i Manual
Re: C-pillar Vent Rehab
Eric,
That looks really great. The untrained eye would think that was OEM
Mike
That looks really great. The untrained eye would think that was OEM
Mike
Re: C-pillar Vent Rehab
That looks amazing! I have never seen (or noticed) that look before. Great work.
1979 528i - M30B34 with 9.5:1 B35 pistons, 5-speed conversion G260/6, e28 rear subframe, e34 LSD 3.9:1, glass sunroof, e30 elec speedo, cruise control
Re: C-pillar Vent Rehab
For posterity - unfortunately the adhesive pinstripe method didn't stand the test of time. The extreme bends required at the ends of the vanes were a problem for the metallic stripe, which crumpled and admitted water behind it, leading to a loss of adhesion.
I resorted to using a dense foam roller and a metallic silver paint, and applying about seven light coats, followed by a satin clear coat. The result is very good, similar to the silver paint around the perimeter of the nose grille.
I resorted to using a dense foam roller and a metallic silver paint, and applying about seven light coats, followed by a satin clear coat. The result is very good, similar to the silver paint around the perimeter of the nose grille.
(oo=00=oo) Eric
1981 528i Manual
1981 528i Manual