Repaint wheel lip moldings to match paint color?

RonG

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Is anyone considering repainting the wheel lip moldings to match the body colour? If I were to order a MME it would be the Premium model and probably in star white. I have seen one at the dealers already and it is very nice, except for the black wheel lip moldings. They make the tire area look cavernous. If I buy the vehicle, I think the first thing I would do is have the moldings painted body colour. I have seen a FE with matching wheel lip moldings and they look much nicer.

On most vehicles, black moldings are reserved for the cheaper models and body coloured moldings for the more expensive models.

If someone has theirs repainted, please post some before and after pictures so that we can see the difference. Also, advise if the body shop removed the moldings for painting and how difficult it was to do so.
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Kamuelaflyer

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The wheel well mouldings you’ve seen with colors matching the body color are all First Edition trims lines. Unfortunately, those sold out in just about two days.

While I agree they look better, I’ll be leaving the gloss black on my Infinite Blue MME for quite some time.
 

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Is anyone considering repainting the wheel lip moldings to match the body colour? If I were to order a MME it would be the Premium model and probably in star white. I have seen one at the dealers already and it is very nice, except for the black wheel lip moldings. They make the tire area look cavernous. If I buy the vehicle, I think the first thing I would do is have the moldings painted body colour. I have seen a FE with matching wheel lip moldings and they look much nicer.
On most vehicles, black moldings are reserved for the cheaper models and body coloured moldings for the more expensive models.
If someone has theirs repainted, please post some before and after pictures so that we can see the difference. Also, advise if the body shop removed the moldings for painting and how difficult it was to do so.
I really want to do mine, but I shudder to think of the cost. I’m really not a fan myself. Honestly might just be easier to buy the replacement parts in the original silver and all, I assume they’re plastic and replaceable
 

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I feel like the gloss black moldings are more premium than the painted ones. I went to look at dealers that got their deliveries before my car arrived, and seeing the Carbonized Gray First Edition next to a normal premium, something is lost with the all body color to me. But they should be pretty easily swappable.
 


MrRossKeys

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I feel like the gloss black moldings are more premium than the painted ones. I went to look at dealers that got their deliveries before my car arrived, and seeing the Carbonized Gray First Edition next to a normal premium, something is lost with the all body color to me. But they should be pretty easily swappable.
I agree with this.

I am having ceramic coat and window tint done on my car now and I decided to add some fender stripes to the order just so it breaks up the sea of red from the side profile view of the car. I think more contrast is good from the side view.
 

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I really want to do mine, but I shudder to think of the cost. I’m really not a fan myself. Honestly might just be easier to buy the replacement parts in the original silver and all, I assume they’re plastic and replaceable
Those fender moldings are not available painted any body colors. You can order them from Ford only in black or primed ready to be painted. Painting the gloss black ones on the car is a much cheaper way to go as those moldings are very expensive then you have to have them painted.
 

Sureshot125

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Those fender moldings are not available painted any body colors. You can order them from Ford only in black or primed ready to be painted. Painting the gloss black ones on the car is a much cheaper way to go as those moldings are very expensive then you have to have them painted.
Are you sure? What happens when a first edition or a GT needs a replacement? Those are all body color
 

Ajpeo3

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I feel like the gloss black moldings are more premium than the painted ones. I went to look at dealers that got their deliveries before my car arrived, and seeing the Carbonized Gray First Edition next to a normal premium, something is lost with the all body color to me. But they should be pretty easily swappable.
I feel the same way and First edition wheels definitely look smaller to me. Black wheel lips has a little more mean look to them in my opinion. Does somebody have a side-by-side comparison picture they can post ?
 

markboris

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Are you sure? What happens when a first edition or a GT needs a replacement? Those are all body color
I am sure they have to be painted. I have a F150 King Ranch with tan wheel lip moldings, it came primed when I had to replace one. Same with my Escape which had silver moldings. Both vehicles where body colored moldings. If Ford had to stock every molding in every color can you imagine the inventory they would need?

Below is from Ford Parts catalog. First photo I used a VIN from a Premium and it shows being a black molding, second photo used a VIN from a FE and it shows being primed. I said they are expensive but these are retail prices and can be had for a lot cheaper on other parts sites.

Premium.jpg


FE.jpg
 

markboris

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But they should be pretty easily swappable.
Yes they seem fairly easy to replace. Just have to make sure you use a plastic trim tool so as not to scratch the paint.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Repaint wheel lip moldings to match paint color? Screen Shot 2021-03-06 at 9.48.33 AM


Ford Mustang Mach-E Repaint wheel lip moldings to match paint color? Screen Shot 2021-03-06 at 9.48.53 AM


Screen Shot 2021-03-06 at 10.04.07 AM.png
 
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markboris

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Does somebody have a side-by-side comparison picture they can post ?
These are from the Ford website but at least you can get an idea. I chose Iconic Silver as the color.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Repaint wheel lip moldings to match paint color? Screen Shot 2021-03-06 at 9.56.37 AM


Ford Mustang Mach-E Repaint wheel lip moldings to match paint color? Screen Shot 2021-03-06 at 9.57.22 AM
 

malba2366

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I prefer the gloss black. The seam between the plastic and sheetmetal looks kind of bad, but the black trim hides it
 

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These are from the Ford website but at least you can get an idea. I chose Iconic Silver as the color.

Screen Shot 2021-03-06 at 9.56.37 AM.jpg


Screen Shot 2021-03-06 at 9.57.22 AM.jpg
Thanks, black looks better to me
 

markboris

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I prefer the gloss black. The seam between the plastic and sheetmetal looks kind of bad, but the black trim hides it
I agree the black trim hides the seam against the body and makes it look cleaner but I like the painted mouldings as it gives the appearance to me that the car looks lower. I have a premium coming hopefully at the end of this month and will be changing out the black moulding for body colored painted ones.
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