Restoring black plastic trim

Craazysteve

Looking for recommendations on what best I can pick up in Dublin somewhere this week. Family member is picking up a new (to them) car at the weekend and the black plastic trim has all gone very grey, I'd like to have something on hand to sort it out for them on day 1.
gtechniq c4 looks the business, but I think I can only get that online.
Something decent I can pick up in halfords or anywhere D7/D15 would be ideal.

Curran

gtechniq C4 would be a very good choice. However, nowhere in Ireland has it in a walk in store.
CarPro DLUX is a product that is very similar - same application and durability.

There's a detailing shop in Ballycoolin, that sells it, but cant remember the name of it....somebody else might be able to help :P

Craazysteve

A-ha. I didn't realise that particular website also had a walk in shop. Interesting, just had a look through the site, Chemical Guys New Look Trim Gel might do the trick for me, had seen recommendations for that too.

*Kol*

I used the heat gun method recently and it worked out very well.

SmartinMartin

Rub peanut butter into it with a cloth. Seriously, it works.

Moanin

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Rub peanut butter into it with a cloth. Seriously, it works.

+1

biko

I used heatgun but have read it may dry the plastic out over time so use something to protect it after.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=99338298&postcount=6684

There is also "Back to Black" which is pretty good.

Neither will work forever.

The Sidewards Man

Curran wrote: »

gtechniq C4 would be a very good choice. However, nowhere in Ireland has it in a walk in store.
CarPro DLUX is a product that is very similar - same application and durability.

There's a detailing shop in Ballycoolin, that sells it, but cant remember the name of it....somebody else might be able to help :P

Would that be your own business?

Curran

I can neither confirm or deny!

edburg

biko wrote: »

I used heatgun but have read it may dry the plastic out over time so use something to protect it after.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=99338298&postcount=6684

There is also "Back to Black" which is pretty good.

Neither will work forever.

Old trick the heat gun on trim brings black back up, as said need to use regular trim dressing to protect it once done.

Just don't get to close to it, especially with naked flame type heat.

rebel.ranter

I would recommend CarPRO DLux or GTechniq C4 over any of the other methods mentioned. It's a more permanent solution than peanut butter, back to black and the likes. You also won't runt the risk of damaging the trim with the heat guy, which is easy to do.

Try DetailingShed for the DLux. There I said it.

Curran

The previous methods do work quite well, but with the heat gun there is risk of damage, with peanut butter you may have the neighbours dog sampling your trim :P Or the oils in it run down your paintwork when it gets wet.

I suppose it depends on what the value of the car is to you in terms of appearance and monetary - say it were a Transit van, worth a couple of hundred Euro, then the heat gun would be a decent choice; given its a work horse and maybe might have been subject to rough treatment, so a slight scorch mark here or there wouldnt really show in the grand scheme of things - the blacken bumpers would be a massive improvement.

*Kol*

I used the heat gun on the bumper of my camper and it's a massive difference. Like anything you have to be careful and take your time. It's not a quick process. I wouldn't advise using any type of naked flame though. I got a heat gun from Lidl, so for €15 it's a good result.

edburg

Curran wrote: »

The previous methods do work quite well, but with the heat gun there is risk of damage, with peanut butter you may have the neighbours dog sampling your trim :P Or the oils in it run down your paintwork when it gets wet.

I suppose it depends on what the value of the car is to you in terms of appearance and monetary - say it were a Transit van, worth a couple of hundred Euro, then the heat gun would be a decent choice; given its a work horse and maybe might have been subject to rough treatment, so a slight scorch mark here or there wouldnt really show in the grand scheme of things - the blacken bumpers would be a massive improvement.

If it was transit van then owner would give to monkeys and question wouldn't raised or said black bits are in a hedge somewhere in else in country :pac:

Curran

For the majority that may be the case. A similar thread was raised by a Renault Van in the past on this forum, so there are some white van drivers that like to keep their advertisement on wheels looking respectable!

edburg

True that some do like clean motor, was just joking as it be minority who like clean van.

Curran

Ah I know, but I was only taking a Transit as an example of badly faded bumpers and using a life hack approach to getting it looking a bit better easily, but who really cares if you burn a bit of plastic on a Transit!