interior dash chrome pieces

[mchestnut]

Most of my dashboard chrome pieces need to be replaced or re-plated. I took it to a local plating shop and they quoted me $2000 to re-plate all the pieces.  This seems very high to me.  Does anyone know of less expensive alternatives to upgrading my dashboard chrome?

[68_white]

Here in Houston, I have used "A-1". They have done a very nice job on my bumpers. Front and back for $600. Their info: 8130 Braniff St., Houston, TX 77061, Tel. (713) 641-0125
Good luck.



HARRY

68_WHITE

[hands_aus]

Have you priced new pieces from MB?

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[Richard Madison]

Not sure what a fair price would be to rechrome the dash pieces but smaller pieces with complicated surfaces and pieces that have damage or corrosion "pimples" require hand work to prep and finish. Larger pieces with smooth surfaces that do not need much prep work (like rear bumpers) can be done a fairly reasonable price.

The price quoted to redo my original trunk handle (small and complicated piece) was more than the new handle I finally ordered from MB.

Richard M, NYC

[bpossel]

I had my front and rear bumper guard holes filled, along with new chrome on front and rear bumpers, and new chrome on the 2 pieces that sit on the soft top lid, cost was $1,100.

In addition to the cost variables that Richard mentioned, other variables would be the process itself...  copper, nickel, chrome, nickel, chrome, etc... (# of each metal type) and how long the pieces are held in each of the tanks allowing more of the metals to adhere.

I would think that you need to be careful redoing small pieces in that they may not fit well together again.  Some of the good resto shops will do dry fitting at the copper stage, then sand the copper to fit...  then dip and apply chrome, etc...

Bob

bpossel  (Memphis, TN.)
'71 280SL  /  '97 E320