Recommedations needed for "back to black" plastic treatment

MarkDavis

MarkDavis

MarkDavis

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Okay, this should be a simple one for you knowledgable folk.

The black plastic trim on my 323 (that's Beemer version, not the Mazda version :D ) has faded almost to a dusty white colour. Washing ti doesn't make any difference, as when it dries its gone to dusty white again.

What's the best "back to black" treatment that I can get? I used ArmourAll (?) years ago but thought it was a bit crap. Any better recommedations?
 
Could've sworn I read somewhere about heating the trim up with a hairdryer...

If I can be bothered to find the link after beer, I'll post up :)
 
The only back to black I've found to work is the Meguires stuff, as it is a gel rather than a spray. Found it lasts for weeks :)
 
I found they all work, but only last a small amount of time. However the best one i found was just like black car polish that you rubbed on, lasted a year without reapplying.
 
I use the spray autoglym one, either onto a clean rag and rub it on/off or spray it onto larger surfaces and then wipe off after achieveing the desired finish.

One word of warning though - sometimes it has very patchy results on interior rubber/material (only on more modern things, as I've recently found out! :D)

I only use it on exterior trim & tires now :)

It's "Interior & Vinyl" care or something like that.
 
Blowtorch.


Seriously. Clean & dry the trim thoroughly first. Take a blowtorch, and holding it about 4-5cm away from the bumper, wave it gently over the bumper. Do NOT stop, or go back over the same part too soon/often.

Gently wave it over the whole thing a couple of times, and it'll bring out all the natural oils in the plastic, and will last longer than any chemical product you apply to the surface.
 
Go for a nice gel and apply it once a day over the space of a week or so and it should be back to black in no time.

I wouldnt trust using car oil as suggest above as the detergents in it can do damage to the plastic, or thats what I heard anyway :/
 
wd40 to dive it a good clean (really work it in), then a bumper treatment such as autoglym or meguiars to bring it up nice and shiny.
 
I'm definitely going to do the bumpers on my GF's car one day with a blowtorch and video me doing it - I swear no one takes me seriously when I say to use a blowtorch!
 
ConfusedTA said:
I'm definitely going to do the bumpers on my GF's car one day with a blowtorch and video me doing it - I swear no one takes me seriously when I say to use a blowtorch!
Click to expand...

Bit risky tho, just to get bumpers looking good! :eek:

Insurance company - "So what happened to cause your car to catch fire then?"

You - "Oh, I was just back to blacking my bumpers with a blowtorch when......"

Insurance - "No worries, we'll definately settle this claim."
 
You can get different sized blowtorches though.

My Dad has one that I used to loosen the lambda sensor on my exhaust. It's handheld and did the job just fine. I reckon something like that would be ideal.

I got lazy one time and decided to use the spray 'tyre black' stuff. Did a good job. Didn't last long on the bumpers but the side trims have come up really well.
 
My bumpers were so bad nothing would get them back (She is 19 after all ;) ). I ended up going to Halfords and getting their own make satin black spray and doing them.

Before:


After:


Been lowered 40mm since that shot ;)
Sniff. I miss her :( . She's still in the UK and I'm in the Netherlands. But I go back every 6weeks so it's nice to have a car waiting for me.
 
Megs or autogylm stuff are brill, just ran out of autoglym stuff and bought the megs, be buying the autoglym stuff again though. Works a treat, vaseline is ment to work great too.
 
I used Linseed Oil on the black bumpers/door handles ect of my girlfriends Clio and they look great, just as good as the back to black i normally use. I read somewhere it worked so i tried it and it does..........
 
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