Need advice cleaning trim to prep for coating.

[ptcary]

Need some advice on deep cleaning this black plastic chin spoiler as well as the grill wiper cowl, and fog light surrounds. 2014 Mustang. This is after Megs APC 10:1. I don’t really know if it is dirt or dried wax. I want to get this trim cleaner, then plan to try Pinnacle Black Label Trim Restore.

Do you guys think 4:1 would have worked better? Should I just go over it again? Anything else better for cleaning plastic trim?

View attachment 74077

 

[The Guz]

Meguiar’s M39 does a good job at cleaning trim and removing wax from the trim. Blackfire wax remover also does a good job at removing old wax from trim.

Have you tried following up with some IPA or a panel prep?

PBL trim restorer should work well to bring some life back into it.

 

[ptcary]

Meguiar’s M39 does a good job at cleaning trim and removing wax from the trim. Blackfire wax remover also does a good job at removing old wax from trim.

Have you tried following up with some IPA or a panel prep?

PBL trim restorer should work well to bring some life back into it.

M39 did less to it than Megs APC at 10:1. 70% IPA As well as Gyeon Prep didn’t make much of a difference either. License plate mount is similar so took that off today and will work on that until I figure it out. Gonna run that sucker through the dishwasher in the top rack just to see what that does for it!

 

[The Guz]

Then try a small spot with the coating or invest in solution finish as it’s a true trim restorer.

 

[Coatingsarecrack]

Try the blackfire wax remover.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ptcary]

You guys think that Pinnacle Black Label Trim Restore would hide this?

 

[briarpatch]

I prep mine with Car Pro Eraser

 

[Eldorado2k]

I’m in the middle of detailing a late model Nissan Armada. The trim is faded so I’m also trying to see what I can do to prep..

I did a test spot with Mothers Heavy Duty Trim cleaner yesterday. This is what it looked like early this morning.

A few hours later. Totally dry, you can bearly see a difference.

Blackfire Wax Remover.

40min. later. Minimal difference, almost like the cleaner leaves something behind. Not a bad thing though.

Also, for a test I applied McKee’s Plastic Trim Restorer on a section without pre cleaning [other than a bucket wash] and let it set overnight.

Today I applied a fresh coat to compare it to yesterdays coat… And this is my biggest problem with this product. Look how much it lost in less than 24hrs.

Just 40min. later and look at how much it’s already lost… This product and WETS is so overrated.

My conclusion: The trim is already clean. Just apply your product. Hopefully you’ve got something much better than I’ve got on hand.

 

[dgage]

Just like real leather, deteoriated plastic needs nourishment so I'd recommend keep coating until you don't notice a change. You're not dealing with longevity here, you're dealing with "malnourished" plastic. Once the plastic doesn't change the look much, then you need to worry about longevity. But for what you're doing, I'd recommend getting Solution Finish as it is made for restoring plastic and designed by a plastic/trim guru. Solution Finish doesn't last that long (weeks) so I'd recommend getting the new Solution Finish Over the Top or Pinnacle Ceramic Trim Restorer to protect Solution Finish for 6+ months. That should have your trim looking its best.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Just like real leather, deteoriated plastic needs nourishment so I'd recommend keep coating until you don't notice a change. You're not dealing with longevity here, you're dealing with "malnourished" plastic. Once the plastic doesn't change the look much, then you need to worry about longevity. But for what you're doing, I'd recommend getting Solution Finish as it is made for restoring plastic and designed by a plastic/trim guru. Solution Finish doesn't last that long (weeks) so I'd recommend getting the new Solution Finish Over the Top or Pinnacle Ceramic Trim Restorer to protect Solution Finish for 6+ months. That should have your trim looking its best.

You talkin to me? If so, what color would you say that trim is originally, grey or black Solution Finish?

 

[Rsurfer]

Nice review, never had a problem with WETS. So I don't think it's overrated.

 

[dgage]

You talkin to me? If so, what color would you say that trim is originally, grey or black Solution Finish?

Didn’t realize it was you when I was first responding and thought of modifying after seeing who I was responding to but still good info I think/hope. Regarding color, that looks like gray trim but I think it should be black.

 

[PaulMys]

Just like real leather, deteoriated plastic needs nourishment so I'd recommend keep coating until you don't notice a change. You're not dealing with longevity here, you're dealing with "malnourished" plastic. Once the plastic doesn't change the look much, then you need to worry about longevity. But for what you're doing, I'd recommend getting Solution Finish as it is made for restoring plastic and designed by a plastic/trim guru. Solution Finish doesn't last that long (weeks) so I'd recommend getting the new Solution Finish Over the Top or Pinnacle Ceramic Trim Restorer to protect Solution Finish for 6+ months. That should have your trim looking its best.

You talkin to me? If so, what color would you say that trim is originally, grey or black Solution Finish?

I'm gonna make you two hold hands in the corner. :laughing::laughing:

 

[FUNX650]

I don’t really know if it is dirt
or dried wax.

I want to get this trim cleaner.. .

From here…
It looks like Meg’s APC got it
fairly clean.

Now, to get it even cleaner:
I’d follow-up with McKee's 37
Wax Remover for Plastic.


Bob

 

[Eldorado2k]

I'm gonna make you two hold hands in the corner. :laughing::laughing:

What do you mean? There was nothing wrong. Lol.

Regarding color, that looks like gray trim but I think it should be black.

Yea that trim is weird, it looks like it could be grey, but then it darkens so much that it looks like it should be black.

I’m going to try layering it like you suggested.

 

[dgage]

You talkin to me?

What do you mean? There was nothing wrong. Lol.

Haha. I didn't think you meant anything but it could have been construed...

 

[dgage]

I’m going to try layering it like you suggested.

Looking forward to your results.

 

[ptcary]

Well finally having some success with the chin spoiler. Ended up using the CG wax and oil remover, then Sonax Multistar. Decided on Gyeon Trim for the coating because I have prior experience with it. Thanks again to everyone and good luck with all the other trim projects going on!
View attachment 74154

 

[Eldorado2k]

Looking forward to your results.

Most people probably wouldn’t have even considered it, but I wound up going with Meguiars Hyper Dressing @1:1

Reason being is that day that I began layering the Mckee’s Trim Restorer with a couple of layers we wound up getting surprise rainfall overnight for about 30min. which totally ruined my vehicle and also happened to ruin the McKee’s Trim Restorer as I woke up to see it in this condition.

The top piece of trim received 2 layers of the McKee’s the previous night. The bottom piece received Hyper Dressing. As far as the way this trim accepted these both products, it’s not even close.

These pics were taken after I gave the vehicle a quick bucket wash, due to the rain. [it’s interesting how the sections that were pre cleaned with Mothers and Blackfire were both more faded than the section that wasn’t prepped]

I applied Megs Hyper Dressing to All of the trim after the wash, and this is how the trim looked 24hrs. later.

To make things even more interesting, with the Hyper Dressing, now both sections that were prepped with the trim cleaners were clearly a bit darker than the section that hadn’t been prepped. I can’t explain this, but it’s clear to see.

Those pics were taken Thursday.^

These next pics were taken just now. [yes, the vehicle is still here. The owner’s taking forever to pick it up] I haven’t touched the trim for 2 days and it still looks the same. Hasn’t faded, which is great.

 

[dgage]

Interesting results. Thanks for sharing.