How much does it cost to paint the black trim around the car....did anyone do it themselves, or should I not even try and just take it to a professional?

I'd like to hear the answer too.

I have black paint but a grey skirting around the car. Some serious fading.

What lasts the longest and looks the best? How much is a new set of side skirts, and where is the best place to acquire same?

Try Mother's back-to-black. That's a temporary fix that will probably last 2 car washes. Anyways it wont hurt your paint and your trim will be shiny ;)

Oh yeah.. dont go the cheap route and use silicon tire dressing.. It will make your trim look good but that stuff is the worst stuff you can get on paint..

What I mean is....I have arctic silver car with black side moldings....I want to paint them silver. So, does this need to be done professionally? Or is it something I can do my self?

Originally posted by BMWManiac
What I mean is....I have arctic silver car with black side moldings....I want to paint them silver. So, does this need to be done professionally? Or is it something I can do my self?

A few people have done it themselves but I wouldnt personally. I took my car to a body shop and had it done by pro's. The best way to do it is to have the body shop sand down the textured moldings smooth then paint over it. It has less of a chance peeling. But it will peel and chip eventually no matter what. I dont know the price since I had mine done while my car was being fixed for a hit and run. But I hear around $250-300 for all the moldings.

So, how often will it chip and peel???? If its every year, I think I'll save the money.

Originally posted by BMWManiac
So, how often will it chip and peel???? If its every year, I think I'll save the money.

My old front moldings were painted without sanding smooth. After a few months a small section started to bubble and peel. Chips dont help either... remember ur painting over plastic that wasnt designed to be painted over. Sanding them down Im sure helps the paint stick better. I dont have a years experience with them since I sold the M bumpers but I can tell u its not going to be forever. Saul's front moldings have touch up paint all over it.. looks like spots, he needs to have it repainted and if I recall.. he didnt have it done too long ago.

yo willy ..
my car is white .. and i have a rd splitter up front my car is gonna be dropped pretty low .. and i know the splitter is gonna get messed up .. but i wanna paint all my moldings white .. u think it would like to weird if i left the splitter black and painted all my molding white ?? so the only stuff left on my car black was the rear valance thing .. the splitter and my door handles ??

Originally posted by E\/O
yo willy ..
my car is white .. and i have a rd splitter up front my car is gonna be dropped pretty low .. and i know the splitter is gonna get messed up .. but i wanna paint all my moldings white .. u think it would like to weird if i left the splitter black and painted all my molding white ?? so the only stuff left on my car black was the rear valance thing .. the splitter and my door handles ??

I dont think so.. coz the OE splitter is black and still looks good on a car with painted moldings. Look at MannyG's car.. :) Do it up..!! My splitter started getting chipped pretty quickly so black is a even better idea.... Thats if it doesnt chip white..:D

well i wouldnt even paint the splitter .. just leave it the way it comes hehe

Originally posted by E\/O
well i wouldnt even paint the splitter .. just leave it the way it comes hehe

Depends on which one u buy.. some may come primered.. or some may come raw. In which case u will have to paint it. Only the OE splitter u dont have to paint.

hmm how does the rd one come ?

Originally posted by E\/O
hmm how does the rd one come ?

Pretty sure its primered...