Rear Bumper Discolered

[Marre]

I removed the plate on the rear bumper to clean underneath and add conditioner. I first used Mother's Back to Black and when that did not make it darker I cleaned it again and tried another product. Used 3 coats of each product. Same result. The rest of the bumper came out fine. Car is 1 year old and I cleaned and conditioned under the plate only once before, but it came out fine. Had other cars where I only did it once a year and it always came out dark. I know it can't be seen once I put the plate back on, but I'm curious as to why this might happen.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/album.php?albumid=304&pictureid=1886http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/album.php?albumid=304&pictureid=1887[/url]

 

[Marre]

Sorry the photos didn't come out. Idiot!

 

[Pockets@PoorboysWorld]

I'm assuming that you are seeing some sort of sun bleaching on the parts of the exposed bumper.

It's much like vinyl siding on your house that is a different color under the shutters. There is really no way to bring it back to the same color permanently. There is a different amount of dyes in the sun exposed side rather then the covered up side.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Here you go, although I'm not really sure this helps:

 

[Marre]

Here you go, although I'm not really sure this helps:

Thank you!

The lighter color to the right of the photo was the part under the license plate and the part that will not darken after cleaning and treatment. It's kind of like a side by side photo except there is no difference to the right side even after product is added. The product was applied to the entire bumper at the same time.
The hole you see is for one side of the plate where it is screwed on and the dimple is where the dealer messed up and started to drill a hole in the wrong place.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Oh, now I get it. Why would you use Back to Black on a painted bumper like that--isn't it is trim product? Or am I hopelessly lost?

 

[Marre]

This is the lower section of the bumper which is black plastic. Maybe just below the bumper is a better way to describe the area.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

It looks like gray paint to me :dunno:

Could be the exposed part is UV damaged and soaked up the dressing more (which would be temporary). But I really can't tell what I'm looking at.

 

[Jons6.7]

Not sure there is anything you can do, on the plus side when you put the plate back it will not be noticeable.

 

[Marre]

Sorry for the confusion on this. I should have taken a photo of the entire back so the difference between painted and unpainted sections would be clear. It does look like a gray painted piece without perspective to the rest of the bumper. I'll need to take a better photo.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

So which side is the original color? It looks almost like the plate was rubbing or something.

 

[Marre]

Not sure there is anything you can do, on the plus side when you put the plate back it will not be noticeable.

This is true! I've just never seen this happen before and am wondering why. It is the only trim piece, and a usually covered section of it at that, that won't darken when product is applied.

 

[Marre]

So which side is the original color? It looks almost like the plate was rubbing or something.

The original color is on the right side, somewhat faded. Interesting thought but I don't think the plate was rubbing on the trim here since there are no scuff or abrasion marks.