you can limit the damage of sanding by working up to 400,600,800,1500 grit and then polish it with headlight (toothpaste will work too) renovator polish and buffer ball. you just want to smooth out the grooves that sandpaper makes. you will lose some definition on the lines if you sand so go easy on the heavy grits.
I had to do that on the only lockable glove box door I had that I wanted to use. to repair it was a ***** I went to 3000 grit but I think that was overkill for the amount of chrome on it.
