Interior Black Out

Has anyone tried to paint the chrome parts of their interior? Using flat black spray paint? Meso Customs seems to be out of the black color parts.

 

A lot of people have.

not sure I’ve seen anyone paint door handles though but could be done with some masking

 

I got the door handle covers, they are awesome. I'm talking the vent rings and center console ring and the chrome piece around the gear shift.

 

The factory chrome is an electroplating plating and really tough to remove. If painting them, make sure the surface gets scuffed up well and a primer adheres. Non high-wear items like vent rings, 4x4 ring, etc will probably hold up. But stuff like the cup surround(at Least in my experience) will eventually get dinged/scuffed up.

 

To paint the chrome parts, first scuff them with a scotchbrite pad lightly, then clean with alcohol or decreased. Then dust it with a quality self etching primer. Finally finish off with some quality top coat. Don't try to remove the chrome, just lightly scuff it.

 

Yikes

 

Any idea when your vent rings and other black out kits will be in stock? I got the door handle covers and they are awesome. I'm checking your site daily. Rather have your product than Krylon.

 

You can try soaking the chrome parts in acetone or oven cleaner to remove it. It works with plastic model kit and radio control car kit parts.

@MESO, will the MGM dual zone climate control rings and fuse panel covers be restocked before Christmas?

 

Merely scuffing the chrome plating (to get the paint to "bite") is not enough. You need to remove the chrome plating entirely. And Toyota chrome plating is tough. Acetone or oven cleaner won't work (I tried it). What does work is a bath in extra-strong bleach and Drano. But this method is time-consuming. You need to leave the parts in the bleach bath for at least two weeks, maybe longer. Agitate the bath daily.

Bubbles will start to appear as the bleach does its work. As the solution starts to turn dark, you need to change it. Eventually you will start to see the copper substrate beneath the chrome. The solution will attack that as well, but it won't harm the black plastic underneath.

Once you are down to the black plastic, you can prime and paint the part. Here's how my cup holder surround turned out. (I used Magnetic Gray Metallic because it matched other parts of the dash.) (If you want it black, you can leave the plastic without painting it.)

 

I did plastidip on the chrome bumpers and it's held up 2 years. Really thick coating. I bet inside it would last too.
I did a vinyl sticker kit on the whole interior for mine. Did knobs, door handles, buttons, vent rings, cup holder etc. Looks 9/10.
Wish I had the Meso kits for the perfect look, but out of stock at the time.

 

I’ve thought about plasti dip for the interior chrome parts.. haven’t done it though.

 

I just ordered some black out interior items from MESO. The center cup ring, gear shit ring and the starter ring. I check everyday and thy finally popped up in stock. Still waiting for the vent rings. I tried the vinyl sticker on one vent ring it started to peel after a few months. I still have them. I might have done it wrong, I don't know.

 

Where are the mounting/clip in points on the MT cup holder surround? I’m hesitant to start using my pry tools on mine without knowing where to start.

 

There are a number of tabs on the surround, that stick straight down. I think there are a couple on the ends, and 4-5 along the sides. You can do it the hard way and remove the center console, pushing the tabs out from underneath. Or, simply pry the surround straight up, which is what I did. I didn't have any broken tabs. Use a plastic tool with a thin blade.

 

I hate all the warning tags about child safety seats and such.
I removed a couple but it wasn't easy. A distraction to me.