The chrome is badly blistered and peeling, but still reflects dangerous amounts of sun into the drivers face, either side of mid-day. Can someone tell me is there a TL solara or advance model with a 5 speed tiptronic that has a matt black shifter surround, I could change to. Saw one parked beside me at Mooloolaba spit at new year, looked to be the ticket, didn't get to talk to the owner about what model it was though. Otherwise I will have to peel all the toy chrome off and spray it matt black.

Do Verada door handles peel too or only shifter surrounds?

My chrome gear surround is fracked as well, seems pretty common with them. And I do agree, they are annoying as he'll in the sun. But I love how thy look :) can I pick one up from mitsi dealer still or would I have to hunt around at wreckers. Actually I don't suppose anyone has a spare in good condition?

Can someone tell me is there a TL solara or advance model with a 5 speed tiptronic that has a matt black shifter surround, I could change to.........

.......Do Verada door handles peel too or only shifter surrounds?

It doesn't need to be from a 5 speed tippy to work.

The shift surround from ny TL/TW will replace yours - it has to be from the TL/TW series as I don't think the earlier ones will work with your car.

I haven't seen any peel yet, but could be wrong.

The tiptronic shifter plate from TJ is different from TL/TW - the method of attaching the plate to the shifter mechanism underneath is entirely different.

TJ's have four small screws underneath the chrome plate which screw-in from the sides.
The TL/TW chrome plate attaches by plastic tabs which clip over protrusions on the underlying part.

I learned this the hard way by paying good money to remove the "wrong" plate from a wreck at Campbelltown, in blistering heat...... which I then had to on-sell as it was of no possible use in my car!

I also prefer the Chrome look, tho it does occasionally dazzle.

Raziel, The new mitsi part is still available for $178 but that isn't going to help with the glare. I really wonder if it isn't the stuff people sit around the shifter to shield the glare, scratching the chrome, lets it start to blister and peel.

Why not do what some have done and some are waiting to do: fit leather gear boot over the shift surround. It is cheaper and looks better.

If TH or J you can use the Sports TF shifter plate and there are also some others which had black

YOu will need to keep with TL or W if that is what you have

The boot looks ok but is illegal as you must be able to look down and see what gear or position your shifter is in

I replaced the chrome surround with the mat black version in my TL VRX. The reflection was annoying my wife, and, if she's annoyed, I'm annoyed. I'm happy with the look and it doesn't flake, unlike the rubbish metalised plastic version.

As people have said, you need a surround from a TL or TW. It cost me about ~$100 ~3 years ago. The removal is a little bit tricky, but if the surround chrome is flaking off, you are probably going to throw it out. If you are throwing the surround out, you can just break off the plastic retention clips and remove the surround. Make sure that you carefully push the new surround on, keeping it level, you don't want to break off the clips by getting it skew-wif.

Ken

I finally got the chrome surround out tonight, with out breaking any clips, and peeled the chrome back, if it had all been full thickness it probrably would never have peeled in the first place, but it was quite variable.

I am going to rub it back with fine wet and dry and give it a few coats of matt black exhaust paint, so it might handle the heat which may have caused the chrome to bubble in the first place.

If someone wants to PM me how to post a photo here I will put one up of the finished product.

Probably best to use plastic paint/vynal dye instead of exhaust paint.

Another option I had been considering for my Chrome Gear surround selector - was putting like, window tint over the chrome.

That way, its still shiny has some class, but hopefully wont reflect the light to the passengers.

Not sure how well window tint will stand up to being on a surface that is touched / has stuff on it a lot - and might also scratch off..

Nightshade perhaps?

Find the chrome annoying at times... but its still cool i think personally.

For the record - mine hasnt started to peel / crack - couple of very light scratches on it.

To keep the sun glare reflection down - i generally just avoid cleaning the chrome plate! But then it looks tacky by not being clean :(

I hold my hand over mine. I have also had the tint idea, I think the problem would be the curved surface and the little gear lights.

I re-installed the surround last night, couldn't be happier with the result, the colour and the texture are very similar to the instrument cluster surround. Don't know why they didn't do it that colour to begin with. Just hope the paint stays on.