Need help to lose my glasses...

Dyson · 10 Dec 2021 at 13:04

I have a Saab 9-5, perfect for my work commute: quick enough (presently remapped at 235 bhp), economical enough (28 mpg average), comfortable.

However, it looks like it's wearing Dame Edna's glasses! I'd like to change headlight surrounds to either matt black, or satin chrome. What would be the best way to achieve this?

Cleisthenes · 10 Dec 2021 at 13:07

Embrace it, anything else will look even more strange imo

Armageus · 10 Dec 2021 at 13:09

Plastidip would probably be the easiest / and can easily be removed.

http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=32671

Dyson · 10 Dec 2021 at 13:22

Cleisthenes said:
Embrace it, anything else will look even more strange imo

I expect I'll end up having to, just curious about my options. If the car was a lighter colour it would look fine.

Armageus said:
Plastidip would probably be the easiest / and can easily be removed.

http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=32671

Will have a read, thanks

Temujin · 10 Dec 2021 at 13:41

If you're going to redo the headlight surrounds from silver IMO it's going to look weird the grille surround still being 'chrome', my vote would be just trying to make them darker, rather than full black..
As above, plastidip is probably the best choice since it can be peeled off relatively easily.

tom_e · 10 Dec 2021 at 13:47

As above I'd plastidip the headlight surrounds and grill in a matt sliverish

paintguy · 10 Dec 2021 at 17:42

Body colour would probably camouflage them best if you did the grille surround as well, but painting chromed parts is always fraught with problems or works out expensive if done properly (blasted to strip the chrome, epoxy primer, paint & clearcoat)

Plastidip seems popular. Being slightly flexible it'll be less likely to chip off than paint, and easy to strip & redo if it does.

Or consider wrapping them.

Dyson · 10 Dec 2021 at 19:08

paintguy said:
Plastidip seems popular. Being slightly flexible it'll be less likely to chip off than paint, and easy to strip & redo if it does.

Or consider wrapping them.

I think they're the winning options if I go for it, will have to figure out how they unclip

Armageus · 10 Dec 2021 at 19:21

With plastidip you can probably get away with just masking it up and not removing the parts. Can always delicately trim and peel away any overspray

adam cool dude · 10 Dec 2021 at 19:41

Lots of people take them off and plastidip them. Does look a lot better. At least with plastidip it is easily reversible. You need to do the grill as well as otherwise it does look a little odd.

Then again I do prefer the second facelift but then I am biased

Dyson · 10 Dec 2021 at 19:43

adam cool dude said:
Lots of people take them off and plastidip them. Does look a lot better. At least with plastidip it is easily reversible. You need to do the grill as well as otherwise it does look a little odd.

Then again I do prefer the second facelift but then I am biased

Another 9-5 owner?

adam cool dude · 10 Dec 2021 at 19:55

Dyson said:
Another 9-5 owner?

Yes had my Aero coming up to 7 years now! Has taken me all over Europe.

Stage 1 tuned. Lowered on Eibach springs and Sachs dampers plus fully polybushed. Still very comfortable but can hustle a b road a little better than standard.

I was doing a 70 mile commute in it during lockdown and managed 33MPG over several thousand miles.

Dyson · 10 Dec 2021 at 20:52

adam cool dude said:
Yes had my Aero coming up to 7 years now! Has taken me all over Europe.

Stage 1 tuned. Lowered on Eibach springs and Sachs dampers plus fully polybushed. Still very comfortable but can hustle a b road a little better than standard.

I was doing a 70 mile commute in it during lockdown and managed 33MPG over several thousand miles.

Very nice! I had a 1999 2.3T estate a few years ago, I loved it, and still think it's the best looking 9-5. Had the best rear lights

I've got a stage 1 NoobTune at the moment, plan for next year is to put the bigger turbo on, another remap, and a brake upgrade.

Did a trip up to the NEC recently, managed 35 to the gallon! Was very pleased with that :cool: