Chrome Hood Trim - repair, or buy new BD21397 ?

[rfs1957]

I can see that there's been some recent consensus about chromers

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15408&p=126168&hili ... rs#p126168

but I'm not sure whether this rear OTS hood lower trim BD21397 is a part that I should try and repair, or just replace.



Would appreciate advice.

It's over thirty years old, it might have been NOS, probably not Chinese anyway, and apart from one area where it's objected to being curved (see scaly chrome) it's perfect - with the exception of the very obvious split.



If it were de-chromed then I believe clever use of brazing by an experienced hand would save this, but have no idea whether this is a skill that any chrome-plating company has perpetuated ?

A new one is £187 plus VAT gulp ............. and what's more, this one already fits my car.

Has anyone ever saved a part like this, and if so then with which chromer ?

[Jeremy]

Rory, all I can offer is that Marque Restore took a badly stoved-in wheel nut in their stride. Without batting an eyelid the man said they could get it pushed back into shape and they had an engraver nearby to touch up the lettering ("undo" etc) as needed. When I examined the replated parts I literally could not tell which was the damaged nut. So they clearly are on the right wavelength as regards quality. Whether they can fix your hood trim, who knows, but I'd say def worth calling them...

[Jeremy]

Rory, all I can offer is that Marque Restore took a badly stoved-in wheel nut in their stride. Without batting an eyelid the man said they could get it pushed back into shape and they had an engraver nearby to touch up the lettering ("undo" etc) as needed. When I examined the replated parts I literally could not tell which was the damaged nut. So they clearly are on the right wavelength as regards quality. Whether they can fix your hood trim, who knows, but I'd say def worth calling them...

[abowie]

Shouldn't be too hard a fix. I think it's brass so they can braze it back together.

Rechroming can change the shape of parts but should come in well under your new piece costwise and is more likely to fit.

[Series1 Stu]

Rory

You'll be amazed at what these chrome restorers can do. I saw a Salvage Hunters Classic Cars the other day and they used Howells to restore some parts you would have binned if new parts were available. Fantastic.

I assume others are equally capable.

Regards

[AshM]

+1 for Marque chrome Rory.

My experiences very similar to Jeremy’s.

I had all my bonnet catches chromed - the male and females on the side of the bonnet, etc. They took the time to phone me to check which surfaces needed to be polished.

Very impressed.

[max-it-out]

Also on tv ( forget which programme ) they used a chrome " spraying " technique to restore an alloy ( Mazac ? ) part which was too badly corroded for normal re-chroming , with an excellent result - I might give it a try on my rear lights which need some attention.

[rswaffie]

I think the chrome painting of the car part was on Salvage Hunters Classic Cars.

[neal herridge]

Hi Mark.
I watched that program & had the same thought re saving rear lights, which don't re chrome.
I have been trying to find who they used with out any luck, have you made contact yet.
I found a few firms on line but not the one they used.
Thanks Neal.

[rswaffie]

I had my Mazak rear light holders re-chromed. It can be done but not all chromers will give it a go.
Castle Chrome did mine.

[neal herridge]

Thanks Richard but it was Castle who could not do them.
I also use Howells but they don't like them either.
Neal.