Chrome Delete cost estimate (seems high?)

I got a quote from a local paint/body shop to color match the mirror caps, grill surround, hood bulge, and front bumper ends for my 2014 1794 CM in sunset mica bronze. *see attached image for my quote*

This seems pretty freaking high no? I'm in the DFW area and plan to shop around. I also have looked at scuffing, AP, Primer, painting, and clear coating it myself (for a fraction of the cost minus my time), but figured if a shop was decently priced with a warranty why not look into it.

Any paint shop recommendations in the DFW area are also welcomed.


Thoughts?

 

Ok, that’s way too expensive! You could
Buy the pieces cheaper on the internet. Local guy here swapped out my hood bulge, grill, and front end caps for $400.00. Basically swap my pieces for newly painted ones. The rear view mirror covers I bought online from dealer for $100.00 sold my OEMs for $75 so $25! Way cheaper to go this route if you can find someone who paints parts and swaps.

 

That’s why I left my first limited at the dealer and ordered a nighshade. I hate chrome.

 

When you say local guy you mean a paint shop? I thought $1,800 seemed outrageous especially when looking at the labor numbers.
Where did you get your mirror caps? I have had trouble finding them painted in the bronze color. I may go gloss black for the caps and door handles if it'll be a bit cheaper and easier to find and go with color matched grill surround/bumper ends.

 

I bought this truck from a friend of a friend. I love the color just not the chrome. Lol

 

Painting the chrome is not worth it and most shops won't touch it.

 

Curious to know why. I've seen a few guys doing it successfully by prepping (sanding, cleaning, and priming well), and painting/clearing the chrome parts. I guess you've had poor experiences with it?

 

Alot of people have had issues. Some of the body shops say that the chemicals that bond the chrome plating is never fully removed and it "vents" over time causing the paint to not stick properly.

 

I also asked a local guy why he wouldn't paint the chrome and he said the prep was too extensive to properly do. I asked if I could just sand them down and bring them in "ready for paint" and he said if he painted them they would have flaws that would become more apparent with time. I still don't exactly know what the big deal is but I've stopped trying to go this route.

 

You could replace the bulge, grill surround and mirror caps with OEM parts for about $700 and not have to worry about the quality.
Bumper caps from Bumpershellz for another $175ish and you're there.
Save almost $1000 and put that money into another mod.

 

You’re probably better off ordering the painted parts from factory. If anything, order white or primed parts to get painted locally. If you do some searching, you’ll understand why no one reputable will paint over chrome

 

I've been searching online for a platinum grille in bronze, but the only ones available are on eBay (appear from a dealership?)

I know many recommend sparks parts or trd

I'm not sure why, but I was thinking you couldn't order the grille surround painted from Toyota just because so many people recommend aftermarket I guess. I'll probably go that route and sell the chrome stuff locally.

Bumpershellz doesn't appear to have bronze unfortunately.

 

I'll probably get a price on painted vs primed and see what the cost difference would be. Thanks

 

He’s a professional auto painter that does side jobs at his house. He basically takes your pieces in return for painted pieces you want. So there’s no turn around time. He removes and installs the pieces too. I’ll check on where I bought my mirror caps.

 

Yeah, the bronze color will make your search a little more challenging for sure, but not impossible. I did black TPO bumper caps, good match to the center bumper section.

 

Good luck!

 

Hello! This is my first post here,

That seems way too high IMO, I found some free time and it cost me around $200-$300 in paint, primer, and clear coat, to do it myself... (First time doing any sort of automotive painting) now I am no professional so it isn't exactly perfect show quality but it looks OEM and from the factory. Hood bulge trim, lower grille trim, bumper caps, and then you can pick up some overlays for about $50... I would recommend trying to do it yourself and save a ton of money rather than paying so much money for labor.

 

You know we have a member who sells cover/caps for all the chrome? You could go that route and save a ton of money, looks the same.

If I were to do it all again I'd get the bumper end caps in whatever color I wanted and then replace my grill and the surrounding pieces with OEM (so I could get the 'TRD Pro' look.) No way I'd paint.

 

On Sparks Parts you can get the grill and mirror caps:

grill and bulge: $687.00 color matched / $478.00 black
Mirror caps: $175.00 color matched / $85.00 black
Bumpershellz: $280.00 (black)

You can almost definitely find a shop to paint these for you for under $200.00. I had a grill surround and mirror caps painted for $100.00.

 

Looking into it some more I may just order some pre painted ones from sparks parts or trd shop and seeing if I can't sell my chrome parts to recoup a bit of cash. The only thing I'm worried about is that it's a 7 year old truck and I'm not sure if the paint will be an exact match from a parts store. Should be close enough I imagine.

 

I'll probably just order the parts pre painted since I'll be close to the same price by ordering black and having them painted.

Anyone know if there's a forum discount for sparks parts or anyone else?

 

you could make gloss black work, I think it would be a good look

 

I'm thinking about going gloss black on the mirror caps, door handles, and grille insert. With bumper end caps and grille surround being color matched.

I'll just have to see how all of the pricing shakes out.

 

personally I love chrome just don't like factory offset wheels, If i wanted to do gloss black on a truck like yours I'd put toyota 202 on all the chrome I'd do it myself but take me time so it comes out good and then find some nice wheels and tires in black to match the new accents

 

Sheet shows me nothing aside from cost.

look at page the estimate - any number with a “*” beside it is a user input number - no mark - it’s a platform assigned number (meaning straight from the guide - no user input)

The rate is in line - but without knowing if someone changed the times - or what they are doing - no way to say if it’s right.

R/I (remove and reinstall) and refinish times are pretty much standard - should be no adjustment needed. Anything changed - why?

 

Well I ordered the platinum grill and hood bulge from my local dealership. They actually had the lowest price online and free shipping to the dealer so win win there. I'll be selling the chrome stuff once I get everything swapped

 

Nice, congrats! If you go black on the door handles and mirror caps then you'll make out pretty well price wise.
Most cost effective on the bumper caps is black Bumpershellz. Not color matched, but not chrome either.

 

Any experience painting the black bumper shells or black handles? I'm looking into buying paint from Automotivetouchup.com and giving that a shot.

 

No point in painting the bumpershellz, just get them with the color you want in the first place if that's what you desire. I think the point was that the black bumpershellz are the most cost-effective. I have TPO bumpershellz and they match the center section of the bumper perfectly, no plans to paint.

 

They don't have the bronze color. It'd have to be black I guess. If I wanted it color matched it'd have to be painted.