Chrome Trim Basics
Your car’s trim isn’t very large, especially compared to the surface area of your overall body paint, but for something so small, it can have a huge impact on your vehicle’s look. Chrome auto trim can give your car striking definition and emphasize its sleek lines—and, with chrome trim molding, it can protect ding-prone paint even as it adds style to your ride. Some cars and trucks are blessed with chrome trim by the maker, but vehicles that aren’t don’t have to miss out on the benefits of its aesthetic boost. If you want auto chrome trim, you can have auto chrome trim, lovingly applied by your own two hands.
Locations for Chrome Trim Placement
Chrome fender trim and chrome bumper trim get a lot of attention, but those aren’t the only spots on your vehicle that could use some daring definition. Consider chrome door trim, chrome window trim, chrome rocker panel trim, chrome wheel well trim, chrome pillar post trim, chrome tail light trim, chrome tailgate trim, or any combination of those. Even your interior could use a chrome trim boost.
Your car or truck is a reflection of your personality, so customize it as little or as much as you’d like. Outline every door, keep it strictly to the tail lights and tailgate, or chrome it all out front to back, top to bottom.
Chrome Trim for Cars
Chrome car trim is a fast, easy, and inexpensive way to make your vehicle something truly unique. No matter your make or model of car, chrome trim options are available, giving you flexibility and freedom to express yourself. May we say, though: Black rims with chrome trim? Nice.
Chrome trim is available in a range of sizes, so be sure to select one that complements the angles and proportions of your specific car.
Chrome Trim for Trucks
Three words: chrome tailgate trim. Whether your truck is primarily a passenger vehicle or is a hard-working, load-toting powerhouse, chrome trim can add to its overall look and longevity. Chrome fender trim for trucks, for instance, puts those fenders in the spotlight with a little shine and gives the paint below an extra layer of protection.
Since trucks are generally larger than cars, you’ll probably want to seek out chrome trim that’s a bit wider to ensure that it stands out on the vehicle.
Chrome Trim Installation
Our 3M chrome trim strips are easy to install, giving your car or truck a new look in a matter of minutes. Choose a day that’s warm, but not too hot. Aim for air temperature higher than 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Follow these four easy tips:
Step 1: Do a practice run
The old woodworking saying “Measure twice, cut once” applies here, at least in sentiment. Before peeling and sticking any chrome edge trim to your vehicle, hold it against the application area and eyeball it. Make sure it looks good from every angle, and that the chrome trim tape is positioned precisely where you want it. Depending on the part of your car getting trim, you may want to use refrigerator magnets of the flat, flexible variety as placeholders to guide where the trim should go. These magnets can easily stick to your door, for instance, and can be removed afterward, leaving no hassle or residue behind. If your trim will circle a taillight or is otherwise curved, wrap your unpeeled chrome trim strips around the target area and gauge the length, placement, and appearance. A good fit, which is what leads to a great look, is key.
Step 2: Clean Up
That means washing your car and your own hands. Stick-on chrome trim works best if it actually, you know, sticks on, and one of the key ways to ensure a strong adhesive bond is to make sure no dust, grime, oils, or whatever get between your vehicle and the new tape. Get rid of all spots and splats, water spots and wax residue. Finish off the area where the chrome auto trim will be applied by wiping the surface down with a paint-safe solvent or rubbing alcohol and cotton towel free of oils, dye, and lint.
Step 3: Stick the trim
This is the step all of that prep and practice was for. Fit a line of chrome trim into place by peeling the backing off and pressing the strip down with firm, even pressure, smoothing it out as you go. Consider rubbing it with a new, clean cloth along the way.
Step 4: Let it rest
Give your new chrome trim strips time to set properly to be sure they stick the way they should. Three to five days is generally considered best, but a 24-hour no-washing window is the absolute minimum. Leave the adhesive alone to let it do its thing, then enjoy a long, beautiful relationship with your new chrome trim.
