Black Trim Rejuvination

[ldavies83]

So many questions today so little time!

As above really, I've been trying exterior trim treatment and back to black for the blackwork around the rear quarter and above the Toyota Decal, but I just cant get it half as good as some of you guys can . One guy I was chatting to at the Mid Wales run said he used a Autoglym product, I'm guessing it needs to be some sort of intesive treatment as its really bad. I could also use it in the engine bay for the hoses then!

[MegatronUK]

I used a big 'ol can of cheap satin black spraypaint to paint mine seperately to the car, rather than try and polish them.
They come up really well and don't take particulary long to mask up or dry (2 or 3 quick coats and they're like new). You could probably get the whole lot done inside two and a half hours.

[ldavies83]

Thanks, I have a can of Satin Black Ready for just such an occasion , If anyone else has any suggestions please let me know!

[Karl_T]

So many questions today so little time!

One guy I was chatting to at the Mid Wales run said he used a Autoglym product, I'm guessing it needs to be some sort of intesive treatment as its really bad.

My guess would be that the Autoglym product the chap uses is the same stuff I use, called 'Bumper Care', and it does the plastic bits quite well. Not so good on the bits that are painted metal. Those, where I can, I've taken off and repainted with satin finish paint round the windows, and I used a matt finish on the bits either side of the windscreen and the wipers themselves. I wouldn't spray the plastic bits though, they'll almost certainly flake or chip. Crusty mouldy rubbers can be brought back to life with fine wet and dry to get them smooth then a good silicone polish, to get them black. Just make sure the wet and dry is really fine or you'll spend forever getting the scratches out. As for hoses in the engine bay, a friend just put me onto a new product from, er, names gone someone help me, American firm, does lots of polishes. Well anyway it works quite well, but again it's basically just silicone. Spray it on the cloth, rub it in.

Karl

[ldavies83]

Thanks Karl, I'll bear that in mind and pick me up some of that stuff this weekend. I'll give give it a try a let you guys know, before/after pics usuall ginge!

[MegatronUK]

...and I used a matt finish on the bits either side of the windscreen and the wipers themselves. I wouldn't spray the plastic bits though, they'll almost certainly flake or chip.
Karl

I cleaned mine up with some thinners and then gave them a bit of a key with a scouring pad. They seem to have come up ok. Agreed though, if you spray straight on the plastic it won't last long.

[mr2mk1chick]

autoglym rubber and vinyl restorer is also v good for some of the trim.

[absolut]

autoglym bumpercare will bring it up like new but u have to polish every week to keep its shine give it a try u will be impressed also good for the wing mirrors if there not color coded

[MWallace]

names gone someone help me, American firm, does lots of polishes

Meguiar's? Excellent stuff, IMHO. I used to use their products when I was a car detailer in a previous life.

On a similar topic, anyone know where you can buy 3M Imperial Hand Glaze? I used to use it on my car in New Zealand and it was far and away the best polish I'd ever tried. But I can't find it in the UK...

Mike

[Goldy]

My uber tip for bringing up matt black trim is to use sunflower oil (yes plain old cooking oil), put it on lightly all over the trim with one cloth, and wipe / polish it off with another cloth. Brings back the trim real nice, doesn't discolour and lasts around a month. I used to use this all the time on my old rover. I found it worked better than the "back to black" stuff

Hth...

Simon

[Karl_T]

names gone someone help me, American firm, does lots of polishes

Meguiar's? Excellent stuff, IMHO. I used to use their products when I was a car detailer in a previous life.

Mike

Yes Meguiars, that was it, expensive, but quite possibly worth it.

Karl