Tarting up old bumpers?

Le_Petit_Lapin · 23 May 2007 at 14:49

As in title really, is there any way of tarting up old bumpers?

I think they were some dark grey colour originaly, but have over time become this streaky white and light grey colour? Can you paint them? Is there special undercoat required for the plastic? Is there some product specifically designed to tidy up old bumpers?

Also, anyone know what the easiest way of removing those side bump strips from a car? They're awfully old and tacky in my opinion, in roughly the same state as the bumper, and have this nasty "GSi" logo on them. Looks a bit chavtastic tbh.

do they come off easy or is there filling, sanding and repainting to do?

cheers!

paradigm · 23 May 2007 at 14:51

When you say GSi, i'm assuming corsa? My bump strips just peeled off (attached with strong double sided tape, stikoflex?). The bumpers can either be sanded, primered, painted and laquered (with rattle cans from halfords), painted professionally, or just returned to their original state either by "back to black" (or similar product), or by using a blowtorch (seriously!).

Le_Petit_Lapin · 23 May 2007 at 14:54

paradigm said:
When you say GSi, i'm assuming corsa? My bump strips just peeled off (attached with strong double sided tape, stikoflex?).

yeah, Corsa. Good good, I assume you just get a hairdryer out to heat the sticky stuff a bit first, then peel them off? Sounds good and simple.

paradigm said:
The bumpers can either be sanded, primered, painted and laquered (with rattle cans from halfords), painted professionally, or just returned to their original state either by "back to black" (or similar product), or by using a blowtorch (seriously!).

Blowtorch? :eek:

I think I'll give that one a miss. I didnt know Back to Black was for bumpers, I was under the impression (probably wrong) that it was for tyres? I'll give it a go, seems the easiest solution.

paradigm · 23 May 2007 at 14:58

Yeah, a bit of heat and pursuasion and they come off, you may need to use a bit of white spirit or tcut to get off any residue left behind by the glue.

Back-to-black is a brand and comes in many forms, interior plastics, tyres, leather, exterior plastic trim.

I've even seen good results from black shoe polish!

The IPB · 23 May 2007 at 15:01

I was about to say black shoe polish works, I used it on my old astra. As the bumper was a bit grainy not smooth I used a brush and basically painted it on, worked well.

[TW]Fox · 23 May 2007 at 15:34

paradigm said:
Back-to-black is a brand and comes in many forms, interior plastics, tyres, leather, exterior plastic trim.

No, Back to Black is a specific product for exterior plastics produced by the Simonez brand.

L1J · 23 May 2007 at 15:42

I used Halfords Vinyl Paint on the exterior trim on the Golf, they have come up very well.

Before:

After:

paradigm · 23 May 2007 at 15:44

[TW]Fox said:
No, Back to Black is a specific product for exterior plastics produced by the Simonez brand.

Go into halfords and take a look.

I have back to black spray for my dash thanks.

SoliD · 23 May 2007 at 15:46

Trying the black plastic bumper spray from halfords which seems very similar to the vinyl paint i used before, probably just different can, will post up some pics later of the results.

[TW]Fox · 23 May 2007 at 15:51

paradigm said:
Go into halfords and take a look.

No need. Simonez is a brand owned by Holts Automotive. Back to Black is a product of Simonez, and comes in a few different forms but for the same application.

http://www.holtsauto.com

Simonez's dashboard stuff is, as you'll note, not marketed as Back to Black.

paradigm · 23 May 2007 at 16:30

[TW]Fox said:
Simonez's dashboard stuff is, as you'll note, not marketed as Back to Black.

But tyre stuff is, as you'll note, marketed as Back to Black.

So no its not purely a product for re-blackening external plastic bumper trim.

fonzee · 23 May 2007 at 16:39

get a paint stripper (haha

im not joking either)... turn on... keep it about 20cm from the plastic bumpers and do a swaying movement with it until you see it go back to its original colour. obviously keep it away from the paint.

it very slightly melts the top layer of resin on the bumper (not noticable to the eye) and therefore brings the original colour back. couldnt believe it at first but this is what a very successful valeter i know does... impressive i tell thee

moss · 23 May 2007 at 16:40

According to the catalogue at work:

SIM01 Simoniz Back to Black 500ml
SIM0330TR/SIM02 Simoniz Back to Black Tyreshine 500ml
SIMT11/SIM12 Simoniz Back to Black Gel 500ml
SIM0310PR/SIM31 Simoniz Back to Black Int/Ext Protector 500ml
SIM0330TRE Simoniz Back to Black Tyre Shine
SIM0901 Simoniz Back to Black Wipes
SIMBTBX Simoniz Back to Black 400ml
SIM0901 Holts Wipes Back To Black
SIM0330 Simoniz Back to Black Tyre Shne 500ml
SIMH066 Simoniz Back to Black Gel 500ml
SIM0310 Simoniz Back to Black Aero 500ml

[TW]Fox · 23 May 2007 at 16:42

I declare a draw. He was right that there are other products, I was right that isn't not a brand in itself, merely a product of the Simonez brand

Le_Petit_Lapin · 23 May 2007 at 16:50

L1J said:
I used Halfords Vinyl Paint on the exterior trim on the Golf, they have come up very well.

Before:

After:

That looks well tbh, I might look into using the vinyl spray instead. Cars currently SORN until I get a new registration document, so a bit of spraying action might pass a Sunday afternoon.

Anyone got pics of what type of finish Back to Black (brand or other, not particularly bothered

) gives?

moss · 23 May 2007 at 16:51

Le_Petit_Lapin said:
Anyone got pics of what type of finish Back to Black (brand or other, not particularly bothered ) gives?

It looks basically like arches in the pictures do, unfortunatly none of the products last that long, the gel probably lasts longer than the spray, but takes longer to apply.

Le_Petit_Lapin · 23 May 2007 at 16:53

moss said:
It looks basically like arches in the pictures do, unfortunatly none of the products last that long, the gel probably lasts longer than the spray, but takes longer to apply.

Ah right, but I assume the vinyl spray lasts longer than the other stuff would providing you dont drive your car through hedges and the like on a regular basis?

Mackass · 23 May 2007 at 16:57

L1J said:
I used Halfords Vinyl Paint on the exterior trim on the Golf, they have come up very well.

Nice one mate, do you know if I can spray my plastic exterior trims without taking them off the car? i.e. by sticking newspapers around the valances and trims etc.

Lopéz · 23 May 2007 at 17:05

Le_Petit_Lapin said:
Ah right, but I assume the vinyl spray lasts longer than the other stuff would providing you dont drive your car through hedges and the like on a regular basis?

I should hope so, it's paint!

Tesla · 23 May 2007 at 17:19

[TW]Fox said:
No, Back to Black is a specific product for exterior plastics produced by the Simonez brand.

Apparently Simonez Tyre Black Stuff is EXACTLY the same as the Bumper Black stuff. Just different packaging.

I would like to have a go at the heat method but I would take the bumpers off of the car to be on the safe side. My bumpers are colour coded so I wouldn't do it on my own car either