Removing & painting side bump strips "successfully"

[Argos69]

Did a bit of a search but still not quite sure what these bits are actually called!

I want to remove and successfully paint the black plastic side protection "bits" on my 2012 van.
I'd like them to come off without damaging anything, take a nice layer of silver paint, then go back on.
Anyone completed this without major trials & tribulations?
Any tips for a painless job i.e. should I buy spare clips (assuming they're clipped on)?
Are they a cheap part, that is, should I buy another set & paint & fit those?
If you did it, what did you do?

As usual, any help & advice is welcomed & received with gratitude.

Especially if it saves me money or yet another injury 

[Col]

If you want the paint to stay on, you really need to use a plastic primer, then 2 pack paint.
Rattle can paint won't last.

If you haven't got the equipment / knowledge to paint it yourself, then take the parts to a paint shop. Paint is one area where a badly executed job sticks out like a sore thumb.
From memory you unclip it at one end, the slide it along. They are on a sort of keyhole slot.

[Argos69]

With the Multispace, you pay extra to get them in black (XTR) instead of body-coloured as they are on the midrange VTR!

Does that mean they're available off the shelf painted? Anyone know? I'd ask my local Citroen dealer but experience has taught me that it's best to talk to them prepared, as I often think I know more than they do. 

Is there an online source for looking up part numbers etc? I've tried the ones I know but they're not shown.

[Argos69]

Well, another heart-stopping moment at the Citroen parts counter.....

They can supply a new set for the van, painted (by them, as not available from the factory) for £451.....

I think I might stare at them as they are for a bit longer....

Now if someone has a set in silver but longs for a black set.....

[prunty]

Taking them strips of is a bit of a pain and almost guaranteed to break some of the clips. As Col said above they are in a sort of keyhole slot but the slot is in different directions (i.e. facing back at one end and facing forward at the other end). From experience you are best getting your fingers in under one end and giving it a quick sharp tug and it should come away from the vehicle. But as I state above some of the clips will break...

[Argos69]

As it happens, I saw a white 15-reg Berlingo L1 van yesterday with all-white bumpers and side strips.  It looked OK actually.

It's the "look pack", which is a £200 option on only some new vans now (I think it's just the posher ones)

So save your pennies for a new one!  Or perhaps don't bother, as this won't be a unique look for very long.

How come the "Look Pack" for £200 gets you painted side doo-dahs as well as painted bumpers? When £451 gets you just the side doo-dahs? This must be the "Robbin' B@stards Pack".

Okay, I realise someone's going to point out there's a world of cost difference when something's done at the time of manufacture, but I just wanted to vent my dismay at the bloomin' cost!!   (which btw didn't even include new clips!)

[Col]

If you built any car from the parts list the bill would be massive - I wonder if anyone's ever priced it up, just out of interest?

Start with the price for a bodyshell, engine, then every other tiny component - all at dealer's list price. You've got to be into the £100,000s for any make or model.

You might find this of interest http://www.mmoc.org.uk/index.php?page=485