Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant

[5js]

Ordered some Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant (WETS) and plan on putting it on my new car which has quite a bit of exterior plastic. I also ordered the Tire & Trim Dressing Applicator from AG and picked up some of the foam makeup applicators locally to use for applying the WETS.

Is it recommended to put this on all exterior plastics and rubber seals? Any other suggested applications while I’m detailing?

 

[briarpatch]

I've only ever used it on exterior plastic trim with very good results. According to this from Autogeek, it has many other applications:

Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant works equally well on metal wheels, tires, metal grills, plastic wiper cowls, textured bumpers and smooth wheel well guards. It works on ALL exterior trim and tires! Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant will give plastic, vinyl, and rubber a darker, newer appearance. On metal, Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant forms a clear coating that maintains its luster.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Ordered some Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant (WETS) and plan on putting it on my new car which has quite a bit of exterior plastic.

Is the car new?

Is the trim in excellent condition?

 

[bofh]

I would have to think about using it on rubber seals. I'm not familiar with this product but would be cautious about leaving a film on the painted metal bits the seals contact. I've been using 303 rubber seal protectant which is water-based (actually pretty runny) which is designed specifically for this.

 

[5js]

Is the car new?

Is the trim in excellent condition?

Car is new. just hit 2000 miles. Paint and trim are in excellent condition.

Overall, I plan on doing a full detail before winter. I plan on a pre-treat (any bugs, etc.)/wash/rinse/dry -> decontaminate -> rinse/dry -> clay bar -> inspect -> mask -> polish with Menzerna SF3500 on a white LC pad -> Menzerna Control Cleaner wipedown -> Menzerna Powerlock sealant. Then I will detail plastics & rubber with WETS and clean all glass and dress tires.

For maintenance over winter I plan on washing/rinsing in a coin-op bay then misting with a Wolfgang Uber/SONAX BSD as a drying aid/QD and wiping dry with Griot's PFM towels. (just ordered 4 in my latest AG order. Also ordered some Sonus SFX Ultra-Fine Detailing Clay to try as well as some 3.5" LC pads to go with the 5.5" pads I already had).

 

[5js]

I would have to think about using it on rubber seals. I'm not familiar with this product but would be cautious about leaving a film on the painted metal bits the seals contact. I've been using 303 rubber seal protectant which is water-based (actually pretty runny) which is designed specifically for this.

That's one of the reasons for this post. Want to see if it's a good idea or not to put on the rubber seals.

 

[MarkD51]

That's one of the reasons for this post. Want to see if it's a good idea or not to put on the rubber seals.

WG WETS is an outstanding product for rubber. About the very best I ever used. It leaves a silky soft and buttery smooth tactile feel to all rubber, and restores the look to just like new.

I've noted no detriment of such leaving a film and hurting paint in door jambs.

WETS dries pretty good, but yes, I think you will feel a bit of remaining film left on the rubber. Again, I've seen zero detrimental evidence, and have used WETS for a number of years now on my vehicles.

 

[Bruno Soares]

With a new car and trim in excellent condition I would use a coating instead of a sealant. That will last much longer and will keep the trim darker. Either Gyeon Trim or CarPro Dlux would be my choice.

 

[acuRAS82]

With a new car and trim in excellent condition I would use a coating instead of a sealant. That will last much longer and will keep the trim darker. Either Gyeon Trim or CarPro Dlux would be my choice.

Or PBL Ceramic Trim Restorer.

 

[acuRAS82]

WG WETS is an outstanding product for rubber. About the very best I ever used. It leaves a silky soft and buttery smooth tactile feel to all rubber, and restores the look to just like new.

I've noted no detriment of such leaving a film and hurting paint in door jambs.

WETS dries pretty good, but yes, I think you will feel a bit of remaining film left on the rubber. Again, I've seen zero detrimental evidence, and have used WETS for a number of years now on my vehicles.

I’ll second that Mckees Plastic Trim Restorer (similar to WETS) works very nicely on the rubber seals.

 

[5js]

With a new car and trim in excellent condition I would use a coating instead of a sealant. That will last much longer and will keep the trim darker. Either Gyeon Trim or CarPro Dlux would be my choice.

I had already gone down the path of a sealant for both the paint and the trim (Menzerna PL for the paint, WETS for trim) and ordered all the product. In the spring when it comes time to detail again I may try a coating for the trim, maybe paint, maybe both.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Car is new. just hit 2000 miles. Paint and trim are in excellent condition.

Good idea to be PRO-ACTIVE.


I created a powerpoint presentation and taught a class on how to restore black plastic trim for Mobile Tech Expo one year, the most boring class I've ever taught.

Why?

Because no on cares.


That is unless, you're the person with ugly trim. Then most people look for a miracle product that will undo years, even decades of PURE NEGLECT and then... they only want to apply one thing ONE TIME and have the trim look new.

Absolute ridiculousness.


BUT - in the power point, besides showing how to restore trim and turn it black again I STRESSED what's MORE IMPORTANT and that is to be PRO-ACTIVE and this means START TREATING TRIM WHEN THE CAR IS BRAND NEW.


So credit to you for being smart.


The Wolfgang ETS is a great SEALANT for new plastic, rubber and even vinyl trim. It can also be used to restore aged surfaces by applying with a patch of cotton terrycloth and elbow grease PLUS TIME.


Apply, work over and into the surface and then wipe off any excess and you're good to go. Most important though, for any exterior trim, especially trim that faces up or faces the sun and the brunt of weather, try to apply after washing your drying your car. Or every other time you wash and dry the car. The idea being --> BEING PRO ACTIVE.


By continually "touching" the surface with a product that treats it you will keep it looking new. It's only when you neglect the surface that it goes down hill.

IN FACT - I just wrote a new article about this topic.


Maintaining means doing something frequently - Touching the surface

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I'd recommend this - because it's an actual ceramic coating with carbon black in it - you get the long lasting benefits of ceramic plus the darkening of carbon black.


Review: Pinnacle Black Label Ceramic Trim Restorer





BEFORE

AFTER

The key for any product is always proper prep work.

 

[5js]

I'd recommend this - because it's an actual ceramic coating with carbon black in it - you get the long lasting benefits of ceramic plus the darkening of carbon black.


Review: Pinnacle Black Label Ceramic Trim Restorer


The key for any product is always proper prep work.

Thanks Mike. With the new trim I don't need a dye it the product - HOWEVER - my son just purchased a 2005 Subaru with neglected trim. I will have to put some of that in my next order for him. He put on Mother's Back to Black which did a decent job - but there are sections of the roof rack that are a painted aluminum that the Mothers didn't do anything for.

 

[geekfloyd]

With a new car and trim in excellent condition I would use a coating instead of a sealant. That will last much longer and will keep the trim darker. Either Gyeon Trim or CarPro Dlux would be my choice.

I am coating a new car with CQ lite. Would you go with the lite on the black trim? My Rogue has a good amount of trim. If I use Dlux, will I have a hard time keeping it away from my new lite on the paint? First time using coatings and I want to do no harm.

 

[MarkD51]

I am coating a new car with CQ lite. Would you go with the lite on the black trim? My Rogue has a good amount of trim. If I use Dlux, will I have a hard time keeping it away from my new lite on the paint? First time using coatings and I want to do no harm.

If using CQ DLX. I'd advise to carefully mask off all trim you're wishing to coat.
More work initially, but you won't get any overrun onto the paint, glass, or other areas where you don't want DLX to go.

 

[geekfloyd]

If I use CQ lite on paint and trim, is there any issue if I get some on the coated paint while doing the trim hours after the paint trim was applied?

 

[Bruno Soares]

I think you’d be fine either way. If dlux touches the paint it’s no big deal. And if you do Lite in the trim it can also touch the paint previously coated with Lite. I’ve never used Lite at all, so I’m not sure how it works on trim. I know dlux works really well on texture trim. For smooth painted trim use the same coating you’re using on the body of the car.

 

[FUNX650]

That's one of the reasons for this post.
Want to see if it's a good idea or not to
put on the rubber seals.

•For the rubber (EPDM) seals, I would
forgo using the W.E.T.S.; and, instead:

-I’d use either the aforementioned 303
Rubber Seal Protectant; or:
-Nextzett Rubber Care Stick Gummi Pflege.

Both are Top Shelf products. :dblthumb2:



Bob

 

[Eldorado2k]

What’s your guy’s definition of “rubber seals”?
Are you talking about these rubber bits?

Or are you referring to the rubber weatherstripping that’s in the doorjambs?

Personally, I consider the weatherstripping to be the same as the rubber seals... And anything on the exterior, including alongside the windows to be “rubber trim”.

There’s some mention of EPDM rubber with the recommendation of using the following products:

-I’d use either the aforementioned 303
Rubber Seal Protectant; or:
-Nextzett Rubber Care Stick Gummi Pflege.

But aren’t those products mainly intended to maintain and protect the weatherstripping? I never knew people were using Nextzett Gummi Pflege on exterior rubber pieces..

What do you guys think?
Also, Weatherstripping is EDPM rubber? I know most exterior window trim is, but you can usually tell because it looks and feels unlike the typical rubber.