Idle thought

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 12:20 pm

Too much time on my hands (as if!)?

Why are the sills black on all BXs - (16v excluded)? Has anyone painted their BX's in body colour? I would have thought it's make the car look like it was sitting a bit lower. I guess I could Photoshop something to see.

Vanny · Post by **Vanny** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 12:26 pm

sills on the 16v are black as well, they just have body coloured skirts glued on top. There black because it has a thick layer of protection stuff on it (waxoyl or the like) and as such there NOT flat surfaced, hence body colour would probably look a little daft

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 12:36 pm

Told you my thinking was idle!

Pointless thread really. Sorry.

Unless anyone can answer this question: I have seen a picture of a bright yellow Mk 1 BX at the time of it's launch with colour-coded (to use the rather odd vernacular) window frames and so on - and It might have had coloured sills too. It might have been a prototype, don't know. I must say, without the ubiquitous black window frames it looked dumpy.

Were any models launched with this level of 'colour-coding'?

capri · Post by **capri** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:28 pm

AFAIK the early Leader special edition had no colour coding on the window frames. However, it did have a two-tone paint job which helped break up the colour a little. Personally I prefer BX's with the black window surrounds, but that said, the Leaders' lack of them do make them look a little more modern, and a little more fresh, in my view.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:30 pm

I think I remember seeing that the phase 2 14E (rare car) came with steel wheels with centre trims and possibly body coloured sills?

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:49 pm

And there I was thinking the reason was to try and disguise the relatively old fashioned door construction - with separate frames rather than the skin extending to the roof and making the top frame like a Renault 21 or a ZX.

This then comes down to the engineering question of how to make and fit the window glass flush or near with the bodywork.

Gareth Wales · Post by **Gareth Wales** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 4:46 pm

Whilst we're (almost) on the subject, has anyone come up with a way of freshening up the black window frames other than taping, masking and spraying?
Gareth

mnde · Post by **mnde** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 4:54 pm

I used Autoglym metal polish on the black door surrounds of my GSA. Worked a treat!! I've also used T-Cut (on the BX ones) with some success.

Mark.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:34 pm

I had mine painted on the 16v, didnt cost much and really improved the look. Mine are now satin black.

Vanny · Post by **Vanny** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:07 pm

i seem to remember them not being black but a dark Rover Grey being the correct colour?

In my case the black around the window is predominantly white as the black as worn away to the undercoat so i'll be needing a respray if i ever develop some technique!

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:21 pm

Tempest Grey be the colour. Available in all good motor factors and quite a few crap ones too.

tom · Post by **tom** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:33 pm

There is no other way, Glass out, trim off and mask. Takes half a day but is well worth it.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:05 pm

The paintshop that did mine didnt remove the windows or trim but carefully maked up all the windows, did a sterling job and all for less than £50 at mates rates!

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 3:30 pm

I must be lucky, mine are still uber black

BX Bandit · Post by **BX Bandit** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:24 pm

Think I'm Uber unlucky....my window blacks have faded badly too...like Vanny's...almost white in places. Mysteriously, my sills are slowly turning from black to Ven Red...