Advice needed: exterior plastic body parts

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MickeyB

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Hi all,

I have only recently joined these forums, having kept an eye on them for some time...

I have a question relating to some aftermarket exterior black plastic parts I have fitted: namely a front splitter, and lower front grille. Both companies claim that the quality of their products are on par with OEM (which to be fair, they were as far as fit and finish were concerned).

My concern is regarding how well they can weather the (harsh) Australian sun, so I thought I'd be best served by treating and protecting from the get-go rather than waiting to have to rectify any sun fade, etc...

Now, I have previously used the Meguires trim rejuvenator on my old car, with good, if short term results on the trims which had faded to chalky white when I started treating them:

cea8940308a96515df8183aa63f0fcd4.jpg


Is there a better suited product I could be using on my new parts, considering that they are already in perfect condition, and I'm looking at preventative rather than rectification maintenance?

Any and all opinions and advice welcome!

Cheers,

Micah


No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy
 
MickeyB said:
Hi all,

I have only recently joined these forums, having kept an eye on them for some time...
Click to expand...

Good decision. A quality forum is just as powerful as a quality products.



MickeyB said:
Is there a better suited product I could be using on my new parts, considering that they are already in perfect condition, and I'm looking at preventative rather than rectification maintenance?

Any and all opinions and advice welcome!

Cheers,

Micah
Click to expand...

You're doing the right thing by being proactive.

One year at Mobile Tech Expo I taught a class on plastic trim restoration. Besides showing how to restore faded plastic trim I put STRONG emphasis on starting a regular maintenance program of treating exterior plastic trim while it's brand new and in excellent shape.

The the secret is real simple,

"Find something you like and use it often"



If you follow that sage advice your plastic trim will always look new.

What most people do is nothing. The plastic trim fades SLOWLY over time so people don't notice how ugly it's becoming till it's a real eye sore.

Then they look for a miracle product to undo years of damage with a single application. This approach is insane.

The Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant works great for exterior plastic and the key is to use it on a regular basis.

:)
 
I also like to FULLY clean all plastics before dressing. And yes, as Mike said, frequent applications is the key for long term preservation.
 
Excellent: thanks for the prompt replies!

I guess I've found my happy place on these forums: I've been bagged for years for being finicky and fussy over my cars- with the exception of the one in the provided pic ( it was just a cheap runabout, and too tired in so many areas that I was content to maintain it, rather than try to improve it).

I like to keep my "toys" in as good condition as possible, and I'm a serial modifier (what can I say?, the bug bit a long time ago), I take pride in my cars: as I'm new to "proper" detailing, expect more questions and advice as I work my way through the learning curve.

It would appear at this juncture, after significant research, that there are so many effective ways to tackle cleaning and maintenance, it's going to be a matter of informed trial and error. I'm also getting the impression that although there are a few locally produced alternatives (I like to support my locals), the most effective (or at least the most well perceived) products are produced in the USA (pity about the weak Aussie dollar, because the freight costs are a killer!). My wallet is going to be sore at the end of this!

Heartfelt thanks to all that replied: I can't wait to start getting my hands dirty (and my cars clean!)...

Micah


No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy
 
Kamakaz1961 said:
Hi Micah

I have tried many trim products and IMO this is the best hands down. I used it about 2 months ago and my trim is still black. AGO sells it.

Solution Finish Black Plastic & Vinyl Restorer, trim restorer, black plastic restorer

It is called Solution Finish. The ONLY drawback is that it can get messy if you are not careful. But IMO it is the only Trim product I use.

Try that.
Click to expand...

:iagree:Wear gloves, as it is a dye and if it gets on your hands, you won't be able to get it off.
 
Duly noted!

Here's a closeup of the parts in question: please excuse the fact that they're filthy: I just got back from holidays and haven't had an opportunity to give the car a clean!

d277c80ad37d2301daf7f6dea04f96be.jpg


What's my best approach to applying product to the grille? Given the design, it's going to be labour intensive.. Cotton buds?


No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy
 
I've had excellent success using Wolfgang Deep Gloss Liquid Seal on new trim. re apply about every 3 months. It has worked great for me, very easy to use
 
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