[ZeroPt99]

I know this is an odd one, but I have dark tinted windows and a very lightly tinted windshield (I live in Florida and dark tint seems pretty normal here). When you look in the front windshield, the main thing that sticks out are those chrome headrest posts. It makes it very easy to see if the front seats are empty or not. I dunno, it just bugs me.

I see all these threads about using a smoke vinyl wrap to do a "chrome trim delete" on vehicles these days, but those are always for exterior pieces. I would think if I did that on the headrest posts, it would just scrunch off or scratch up the first time the posts were lowered.

I don't want to ruin the looks of the vehicle, but I just want the glaring chrome to be darkened somehow. What's my best option - just paint? If so, does anyone know the best product that'll stick to something like the chrome of those posts?

 

[veetee]

Maybe just try a piece of fexible electrical tubing?

 

[ZeroPt99]

Maybe just try a piece of fexible electrical tubing?

Well just to explain, I was trying to come up with a solution that still allows the headrests to go up and down. I think the cleanest looking reversible thing would be a vinyl wrap, but that would only work if nobody ever lowered the headrests.

 

[crisps]

probably the best thing may be to sew black lycra fingers (find a winter glove liner with black lycra fingers)
and sew a finger-tube, or hook it somehow, to the top of seat or at the clip, and to bottom of headrest.

it will cover it when extended but also be easy to mush down when lowering headrest

Amazon.com : glove liners

get some cheap liners and cut a finger off as a custom tube for the exposed chrome

 

[veetee]

Well just to explain, I was trying to come up with a solution that still allows the headrests to go up and down. I think the cleanest looking reversible thing would be a vinyl wrap, but that would only work if nobody ever lowered the headrests.

Just cut some pieces of different length for the one or two positions you need, also, the tubing is somewhat flexible…
Wrap or paint will be damaged when lowering the headrests.

 

[Big Daddy]

I am surprised that you move the headrests up & down, I have mine set and that's it for the driver's side. Passenger side is set for the boss & she never moves it, any other people who ride in the passenger seat keeps the same setting.

 

[PDXMOJO]

I have to say that this is the first time I have heard anyone complain about headrest post being something they wanted to change the appearance of.
That being the case I would suggest something simple like a cling wrap in black, or an insulation tube that is split with the tape seam. mainly so its easy to remove if and when you want to lower them. Even the split loom for electrical harnesses would work well for that purpose albeit it would be kinda ugly.
Good luck.

 

[NoMoreDomestic]

Nail polish.
Should be easy to remove when needed. Not sure how well it will hold up to adjusting the head rest, however if you can move the headrest on occasion and only slightly mar it up, that should not be visible by people walking by your car to see if anybody is sitting in the seat.
It should not bother you since you're looking the wrong way. And when the marring is bad enough, just remove and repaint it.
If it doesn't stick you will probably need to use scotch bright to roughen the surface for adhesion. Of course at that point you'll have to keep it covered or deal with looking at a scratched up surface.
I don't know if polish remover will harm the chromed surfaces.

 

[MrPulldown]

paint it black.

 

[crisps]

paint it black.

bad idea. the tolerances are too tight for any additional layers such as paint
maybe a sharpie, but that will get scraped off too

paint will gum it up and the headrest will jam in there
when you do get it loose, the paint will be scraped up


my lycra 'finger sock' idea is best IMHO...fight me

 

[dummyvariable]

Sandblast and parkerize that shit: https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/parkerizing-at-home/

Honestly the lycra "fingers" idea is probably the best one if you adjust the headrests... or just live with the chrome.

 

[JFox562]

It might look a bit odd, especially in Florida, but you could just tie a scarf around that area and have the scarf ends hang behind the seat. The scarf will allow movement up and down but not all the way down. The added benefit would be that you have a scarf if it gets really cold in Florida. You know, those days that get below 70F

 

[Widgets]

It might look a bit odd, especially in Florida, but you could just tie a scarf around that area and have the scarf ends hang behind the seat. The scarf will allow movement up and down but not all the way down. The added benefit would be that you have a scarf if it gets really cold in Florida. You know, those days that get below 70F

If it gets below 70F the native Floridians are breaking out their heavy winter parkas. The scarf is not gonna cut it.

 

[paulday]

Pull the headrests out and use a wide tipped black magic marker.

Go slowly, using a slight overlap. You want to avoid going back over the ink until it's fully dried. Touchup using a blotting motion. Let fully dry before reinserting back into the seat.

Have a good day.

 

[Datsa Noydb]

You want to color them so nobody can tell if the seat is occupied?

Would a FACE in front of them not be obvious that someone is in there?

And, is the concern for occupancy when the vehicle is moving or parked?

Why does it matter whether the seat is occupied?

It is my opinion that anything you apply to the posts (sharpie ink, nail polish, paint, etc.) will be scraped off when the headrests are moved, or simply jam the mechanism to prevent movement. Some of the other ideas (tubing, electrical loom, etc.) would simply prevent movement. The best idea would be the flexible sleeves that crisps presented in post #4.

.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Sandblast the rods? This will remove the specular reflection that is bringing attention to them. Not sure what will happen to the rods- if there is a shiny coating that will peel off or if a little material removal will bring you to a standard iron bar or what. But simply killing the reflective surface by sandblasting will take make a big difference. And not be subject to removal by scraping, etc.

do a test on the bottom section of a rod with a hand sander to see both what material issues might arise and if this will actually help.

The clothe sleeve idea is still the simplest and most effective, a hard combo to beat.

 

[mjb1960]

I wonder if an etchant like gun metal blueing would work on the chrome?

 

[Luna&Barney]

paint it black.

One of the best songs ever.

 

[bdoublesharp]

I think the best idea is to remove the posts, buy some black stockings. I.e. What women used to call pantyhose, cut two sections out that will be wide enough to cover the exposed chrome posts slide them over the posts. Re-insert the posts into the seat back, and then the shine will be covered by the black material. It will bunch up when pushed down. If it does not go back up when raised; adjust accordingly, This way nothing will hang off the back of your seat. Nothing will scrape. It will be the easiest in my opinion. Plus the easiest to remove when, and if you choose to sell the car.

 

[bill.mccalla]

I think the best idea is to remove the posts, buy some black stockings. I.e. What women used to call pantyhose, cut two sections out that will be wide enough to cover the exposed chrome posts slide them over the posts. Re-insert the posts into the seat back, and then the shine will be covered by the black material. It will bunch up when pushed down. If it does not go back up when raised; adjust accordingly, This way nothing will hang off the back of your seat. Nothing will scrape. It will be the easiest in my opinion. Plus the easiest to remove when, and if you choose to sell the car.

Above is probably the best MacGyver solution, other than keeping the headrests down. The only permanent fix would be to use anodized posts instead of chrome ones, but a uphostery or body shop would be needed.