For those of you like me that don't really like all the chrome and silver accents… I wanted to share the vision and some pics of my car as I go through the process.

Here's stock:



Here's the look I'm after:



Here's the first chrome delete. I had a shop do this part. I may do the rest myself. It just takes time and patience

 

Whoops… Can't edit my posts yet (NEWB)…

Try this:

 

 

I'm planning on doing the two lower grill surrounds in front as well as the main grill surround while leaving the center cross bar silver (with the logo).

I'm also doing the door handles, the chrome strip on the rear bumper, and the chrome edge of the running boards.

Considering doing the exhaust tips. If I don't like it… I can just peel it off.

 

hmm----I guess its just a matter of personal taste. I think the truck looks so much better with the chrome accents. But if you like it thats all that matters. Is that Grigio ?

 

I've seen some blacked-out MDXs and they don't look right. Of course, like you said - it's a matter of personal taste. I find this type of look more appropriate for a Wrangler than a luxury SUV, but that's just me.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. You're both right regarding personal taste. Some will like this… others not so much.

I disagree with the Wrangler comment though as well as the MDX being a "Luxury SUV". I just sold my Porsche Cayenne GTS which I would consider a Luxury SUV by comparison. The fit and finish and attention to detail in the Cayenne (as well as my Boxster S) are top-notch. I would politely place the MDX in an upper middle-class category. BTW… the GTS has zero chrome and I think (my opinion) that it looks very tasteful that way. I would not compare it to a Wrangler.

 

Yes on the Grigio. Haha… I haven't figured out how to pronounce it yet.

 

Sorry… The GTS does have chrome quad exhaust tips. My bad.

Otherwise… very clean black trim pieces accenting the gray.

 

Agreed, but those black pieces on the GTS are not plasti-dipped are they ?.

 

No. They're painted black on the GTS.

I was a little skeptical of the Plasti-Dip at first… But, I figured if I didn't like it… I could also remove it with some elbow-greese.

The end result (so far)… It looks like it has always been there (like the 07-09 models). I'm very pleased with the results and plan on doing the rest in stages. Tomorrow will be the nose pieces.

We just had major hail storms here in Central Oregon and it held up great. I'm very impressed.

 

So its not just for looks ? it protects as well ?

 

Yes. It's the same stuff they put on our hand tools… snips, dykes, pliers, wrenches, etc., Rubber (that used to be a dip but, is now a spray too).

People are Plasti-Dipping their wheels (chrome / alloy) to protect against the Mag-Chloride and other de-icing chemicals that destroy chrome and pit aluminum.

There's plenty of info out there on this product. This is my first time using it. So far… It's everything people say it is.

 

I had the front and rear Plasti-dipped today. I left the Acura badge and plastic / chrome shield stock. But, got rid of everything else chrome or silver on the front.

The rear was the single chrome strip between the two red reflectors.

I'm planning on removing the running boards instead of plast-dipping the chrome. I'm also going to paint the door handles black rather than dipping them. It will be hard to dip behind the handles and if I only did the fronts… they're likely to start peeling at some point from use.

Here's How the front and back turned out

[IMG/http://www.shootpw.com/clients/Acura/Plasti_008.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG/http://www.shootpw.com/clients/Acura/Plasti_009.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG/http://www.shootpw.com/clients/Acura/Plasti_016.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG/http://www.shootpw.com/clients/Acura/Plasti_011.jpg[/IMG]

 

not being able to edit sucks!

 

showing up close

 

The whole thing took about 3 hours. Masking… spraying… peeling…

I may do the front nose plate and badge… but, figured I'd see how I like this for awhile.

The chrome window surrounds got their first high-pressure bath a few days ago and there were zero issues. Super strong. Just like washing a pair of pliers with rubber handles.

 

Looks good man. I really like the window surrounds. My MDX is silver though and I think the door handles would just stand out too much if they were black.

 

Thanks, SHAKEnBAKE. I agree…. the silver with chrome looks good as-is. Or, with silver Plasti-Dip… to dull the chrome a bit. The handles would be fine as-is for sure.

 

looks good!

I'm going to bring ours to the painter that we know and have all the silver "ghosted" in a blk or gunmetal chrome look.

You'll still be able to see a little of the silver through the black or gunmetal paint.. lightly dusted. I've already seen it in person and it looks amazing.

 

That sounds like it'll turn out great. You'll have to post pics once you get it done.

I can say now that after having the Plasti-Dip on the car for a few months… It's holding up very well. I actually hit a young deer (they're everywhere here) and it smacked a good portion of the front end (everything Plasti-dipped of course)… and it completely survived (the dip did). I have to replace my front grill bar (the one with the logo in it that I didn't dip). Everywhere else that was hit… it cracked the plastics but didn't rip off the dip. Pretty amazing for what it costs.

 

I'll post some pics of the damage tomorrow.

40 MPH…. into the sun… deer jumps directly in front of me…. reaction time was quick but, I'm sure I hit it at 35-40 mph. The deer was lights-out on impact… and probably did a 100 foot skid in front of me after I stopped.

 

The plasti-dip looks really great! I think blacking out some of the trim looks really good! Nice work!

 

Thanks, eastcostguy!

 

I did my grill & front end exactly the same last weekend. Your edges came out very professional. I still kept the rest of the chrome throughout the car, but I muted all the silver in the front except the center. Chrome accents, I don't mind, but the silver accents on these cars is too much, starting with the beak (of course, just my opinion). I was surprised by how professional and durable this stuff is. It's nothing like spray painting body parts.

 

The black'd out emblems look great on the grey... thanks!