Protecting roof rails and trim on new car

[MPBGT]

My current favorite trim product is WETS, it lasts a long time and is easy to use. I still use 303 AP after washes on much of my trim. It depends on the plastic. Different textures seem to work better with certain products. I also like UTTG and even Turtle Wax Jet Black trim coating.

 

[Rsurfer]

There was a time I would have agreed with you on this. But, on a brand new car - I wouldn't recommend DLux. The reason is, I've found after using it for 2+ years - that it fades off trim unevenly. I have used it on three brand new cars that are 13-18 mos. old and none are fading unevenly.

Also, it's almost impossible to completely remove it from trim uniformly once it has cures. You maybe right, but I have recoated after one year.I've also noticed that after long periods of time (> 1 year), it can look oxidized (or actually be oxidized?) on horizontal surfaces. I have coated the wiper cowls and none look oxidized.

Once it's starts looking less than what you are happy with - the only solution I've found that lasts is apply more Dlux. But, for whatever reason - subsequent coats do no seem to last as long as the initial one. The oldest car has a second coat that is 6 months old, so it's at the half way point and still looks good.

This phenomena is quite easy for me to see on matte black trim - but maybe not so easy on paint. It makes me wonder if paint coatings may start to oxidize or wear unevenly around the one year mark - leaving them not looking as good as they did initially half way through their lifespan. Of course at this point, manufacturers offer various coating toppers that are supposed to "rejuvenate" (mask?) the initial coating.

On a brand new car, I would use something like Wolfgang or Ultima trim sealant.

I stand by my recommendation of Dlux on trim.

 

[builthatch]

There was a time I would have agreed with you on this. But, on a brand new car - I wouldn't recommend DLux. The reason is, I've found after using it for 2+ years - that it fades off trim unevenly.

Also, it's almost impossible to completely remove it from trim uniformly once it has cures. I've also noticed that after long periods of time (> 1 year), it can look oxidized (or actually be oxidized?) on horizontal surfaces.

Once it's starts looking less than what you are happy with - the only solution I've found that lasts is apply more Dlux. But, for whatever reason - subsequent coats do no seem to last as long as the initial one.

This phenomena is quite easy for me to see on matte black trim - but maybe not so easy on paint. It makes me wonder if paint coatings may start to oxidize or wear unevenly around the one year mark - leaving them not looking as good as they did initially half way through their lifespan. Of course at this point, manufacturers offer various coating toppers that are supposed to "rejuvenate" (mask?) the initial coating.

On a brand new car, I would use something like Wolfgang or Ultima trim sealant.

i've been able to successfully remove cured Dlux rather easily on soft rubber trim as well as hard plastic trim. the last round i removed was over a year old and halfway gone on its own anyway. like always, during a wash, i used full strength Power Clean, some low pile Advance Auto junk MFs and some elbow grease and it disappeared without much work at all. it's amazing how much better the sail panels looked WITHOUT Dlux and just a little Gloss-Coat.

i really do not believe the OP needs anything other than a paint coating or sealant for that hard plastic, especially since it's new. if you clean it well and apply a good sealant/coating, you'll be just fine.

 

[Hoytman]

How about protecting the paint under the roof rails? No one ever talks about how to protect the paint other than simple waxing, but waxing alone won't protect it. Don't understand what I mean? From time to time the position of the rails needs to be changed. I'll let the pictures do the talking.