C-pillar Vent Rehab

[528i-1981]

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

[keehn]

Eric,

That looks great! Do you have any long shots of the car in its entirety with the chrome vents?

Mike

[528i-1981]

Thanks Mike. Not yet, she's immobilized and in a confined space. I'll post a shot ASAP.

[canada karl]

I like the look. A big improvement over stock.

[tlake]

Excellent Eric. And I like your red pinstripe on the black paintwork. Pinstriping used to be so fashionable on cars.

[528i-1981]

Here's a longer view.

[canada karl]

Lookin' good. Is that a 14" wheel? I'm looking for one if anyone has a spare I can buy.

[528i-1981]

No, that's a 16"; check for a recent thread in in the For Sale section on the 14" turbines.

[keehn]

Eric,

That looks really great. The untrained eye would think that was OEM

Mike

[Lock]

That looks amazing! I have never seen (or noticed) that look before. Great work.

[528i-1981]

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.