Restoring Bumper and Trim Plastics

krzracingcouk · 08-01-16, 08:27 AM

Hi Guys,

Without spraying the black (now going grey) bumpers and trims need refurbing. Is there any treatment I can give them a better shade of black from the faded un even colour they are now?

John. · 08-01-16, 08:30 AM

Heat-gun or careful use of a blow torch works. Tried and tested!

jack1 · 08-01-16, 09:22 AM

Hi,,if you don't want to go to the rounds of a heat gun,,,,,,I would recommend 'plasticare trim dye'' excellent for faded black or grey trim/bumper's the pug crowd love it

Crossle · 08-01-16, 09:27 AM

I have seen many a discussion on this as it is a problem with that trim when it gets old. I have the luxury of selling cleaning sprays at work so I have tried alot of things on it. In the end I found a simple method was a can of silicone spray. I go round with a can and absolutely soak them in the stuff then go over with a cloth and just lightly buff it in.

Not permanent but looks like new for a good month or so before I do it again.

I once paid a triple figure some for a professional valeter to come out and after cleaning he told me theo nly thing they couldnt clean up was the trim and that they had never come across such a difficult trim to clean up!

Flying Frank · 08-01-16, 12:32 PM

Wasn't Craig on about using peanut butter a year or so back....apparently the oil in the peanut butter works wonders, altho' I have yet to "risk" it...scared a flock of sparrows might steal my car!

Hanuman · 08-01-16, 01:01 PM

Autoglym Bumpercare (i think thats it's name) gel is what i use. easy. clean. apply every few months. Its all just simple maintenance. worked a treat on one of my renovations where the mirrors were really grey, and turned nicely black.

jack1 · 08-01-16, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Real MSH!

Autoglym Bumpercare (i think thats it's name) gel is what i use. easy. clean. apply every few months. Its all just simple maintenance. worked a treat on one of my renovations where the mirrors were really grey, and turned nicely black.

That's it's name and I agree it's very good as I always used it,,,,but when someone recommended plasticare I tried it and could not believe the results and lasts easily twice as long

Hanuman · 08-01-16, 03:26 PM

Autoglym won't make any money out of me with bumper care, though. I have the same bottle for over a decade, now. Possibly even 2 decades. It's gone a bit lumpy, so I might invest in another!

theschmallfella · 08-01-16, 05:25 PM

I restored all the faded plastic on the 200 with black plastic dye, very simple to use, 3-4 coats using a cloth and they were like factory new. I would highly recommend using heavy duty surgical gloves and old clothes however, it's serious stuff and it doesn't come out (especially skin!) Can't remember the make of the stuff, bought it off ebay but it's worth getting decent stuff. Oh, and don't bother with any of that off the shelf bumper black shite in Halfords (sorry MSH!), no matter what the make, you end up redoing the stuff every couple of months cos it fades. I did the dye on the 200 5 years ago and they still look new! For the same price the dye lasts and you only have to do it once.

B2AUDI80 · 08-01-16, 07:54 PM

Forever black or g-techniq , never need to bother with anything else after that tbh

08-01-16, 09:27 AM	#4
Crossle Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: northampton Posts: 266	I have seen many a discussion on this as it is a problem with that trim when it gets old. I have the luxury of selling cleaning sprays at work so I have tried alot of things on it. In the end I found a simple method was a can of silicone spray. I go round with a can and absolutely soak them in the stuff then go over with a cloth and just lightly buff it in. Not permanent but looks like new for a good month or so before I do it again. I once paid a triple figure some for a professional valeter to come out and after cleaning he told me theo nly thing they couldnt clean up was the trim and that they had never come across such a difficult trim to clean up! Last edited by Crossle; 08-01-16 at 09:45 AM.

08-01-16, 01:01 PM	#6
Hanuman Trickster Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Heckling from the cheap seats, Phnom Penh, KoW Posts: 7,021	Autoglym Bumpercare (i think thats it's name) gel is what i use. easy. clean. apply every few months. Its all just simple maintenance. worked a treat on one of my renovations where the mirrors were really grey, and turned nicely black. __________________ I wish they would keep the damned Chinese away now that I can go home, so that I can enjoy Fish amok and a draught Angkor

08-01-16, 03:26 PM	#8
Hanuman Trickster Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Heckling from the cheap seats, Phnom Penh, KoW Posts: 7,021	Autoglym won't make any money out of me with bumper care, though. I have the same bottle for over a decade, now. Possibly even 2 decades. It's gone a bit lumpy, so I might invest in another! __________________ I wish they would keep the damned Chinese away now that I can go home, so that I can enjoy Fish amok and a draught Angkor

08-01-16, 05:25 PM	#9
theschmallfella Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Back in the Emerald Isle Posts: 772	I restored all the faded plastic on the 200 with black plastic dye, very simple to use, 3-4 coats using a cloth and they were like factory new. I would highly recommend using heavy duty surgical gloves and old clothes however, it's serious stuff and it doesn't come out (especially skin!) Can't remember the make of the stuff, bought it off ebay but it's worth getting decent stuff. Oh, and don't bother with any of that off the shelf bumper black shite in Halfords (sorry MSH!), no matter what the make, you end up redoing the stuff every couple of months cos it fades. I did the dye on the 200 5 years ago and they still look new! For the same price the dye lasts and you only have to do it once. Last edited by theschmallfella; 08-01-16 at 05:31 PM.

08-01-16, 07:54 PM	#10
B2AUDI80 B2 Brigade Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: here and there Posts: 2,778	Forever black or g-techniq , never need to bother with anything else after that tbh __________________ www.northernretros.co.uk 1984 80 Sport 1970 hb viva 1983 Honda Odyssey 250 1981 Suzuki 450 GS 1980 t25 danbury

08-01-16, 08:30 AM	#2
John. 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Scottish Borders. Posts: 7,530	Heat-gun or careful use of a blow torch works. Tried and tested!

08-01-16, 09:22 AM	#3
jack1 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,319	Hi,,if you don't want to go to the rounds of a heat gun,,,,,,I would recommend 'plasticare trim dye'' excellent for faded black or grey trim/bumper's the pug crowd love it

08-01-16, 12:32 PM	#5
Flying Frank 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Kernow, Gods own county !! Posts: 2,388	Wasn't Craig on about using peanut butter a year or so back....apparently the oil in the peanut butter works wonders, altho' I have yet to "risk" it...scared a flock of sparrows might steal my car!