Fading on black plastic

[doommachine]

As the subject states.. all of the black plastic on the outside of the car is faded (door handles, window frame) and looks shitty. Has anyone got any suggestions on how to rejuvenate it? I can't really be bothered spraying them black with a rattle can, there must be some way!

 

[DOUGMO]

heavy cut polish?

 

[JayRome]

black shoe polish if you really cbf...

 

[JAP63]

I used "forever black" vinyl restorer, worked good.

 

[milkandoj]

I used "forever black" vinyl restorer, worked good.

Yeah ive also heard this works quite well. Is that a mothers product, i know they do a good one for this?

I used meguires trim detailer, quite good, just to protect my trims, they wernt faded. does make them darker though.

 

[doommachine]

Hmm.. forever black, I'll give that a go, cheers!

 

[xjokux]

try spraying a coat of clear gloss

 

[EVO-00X]

I bought that Forever Black Bumper & Trim Cleaner & Reconditioner last weekend but didnt get a chance to try it out til today. It was about $22-$24 from Supercheap Auto.

It comes with 2 bottles inside. 1 bottle is a special cleaning solution to mix into a warm bucket of water first and wash the areas you want done down and leave them to dry (important). The other bottle has a sponge tip applicator on it (exactly like boot polish applicators) and you push down on the tip and apply the black stuff.

I had to do 3-4 coats on the Nimbus trimmings all around the car as they had turned nearly grey over time. I also gave the mirrors, window rubbers and trimmings, front windscreen guard and even the mudflaps a couple of coats. They come up good, but not as good as I thought it would. When you apply it evenly, 2-3 maybe even 4 costs if necessary depending on how badly faded they are, it appears to turn shit into shine and you dont need to use much at all... I still have more than half a bottle left.

I'll give the car a wash tomorrow, plus see how long it lasts for as the packet says it permanently recolours with black pigmented dye etc so it could sound promising?

EDIT AUGUST 2011: I noticed that after some time the black paint runs off!!! It dissolves over time and stains your duco when you wash it. Therefore found that I had to use polish on my white paint to remove the black stains. I've since tried K&H Bumper and Trim Paint and results are as per my new post in August 2011.

 

[doommachine]

Awesome! Thanks for making this thread complete haha...

 

[GSRSOL]

+1 on the heavy cut polish. Those bumper rejuvenators are a waste of time and money.

I actually used autosol on the old CB, that worked a treat.

 

[ENGINR]

I'm actually doing this today on the Coupe. I've purchased 2x spray cans of K&H Bumper/Trim satin black and have put a couple of coats on the air plenum, roof strips and the water deflector shield under the air inlet on the EVO bonnet. I've even masked up around the bottom of the rear windshield and sprayed the rubber strip which runs along the bottom of the glass as that had gone all white and funny.

I farkin hate spraying but they seem to have come up alright sofar.

 

[EVO-00X]

After washing the car today the Forever Black didnt come off and it appears to be maintaining its black pigmentation... albeit not perfect as its looking a bit inconsistent in shine. Its still better than what it used to be though.
Lets see what a few months being out in the sun 24/7 does and I'll get back to you
Pic below of what used to be a greyish faded black trim, mirrors etc is now black.

 

[ENGINR]

Van looks good Rob. So it works on plastic and vinyl - could you do the plastic air plenum under the windshield?

 

[doommachine]

I don't see why not - it's designed to dye porous plastics black.

The roof strips.. are they supposed to be black on VR4's? Mine are body coloured and flaky (sorry to go OT mods )

 

[PACEMAKER]

heating plastic up with a heat gun will bring the shine back. Dont ask me how it works but it does. Find some old faded plastic and try it. Dont burn the plastic though.

 

[EVO-00X]

UPDATE AUGUST 2011

OK boys, I noticed with only after a few months of using Forever Black it actually started to dissolve and the black dye runs away with a car wash. So much so that the black dye was staining my white paint job on the Nimbus. Even now in Aug 2011 the black dye still runs off the car and my sponge is still getting black dye on it during a wash! :blink: Id say apart from having to do a few coats to begin with for an even black colour, the wet application and running dye is a major disappointment. Looks wise, it did look a bit greasy and left shiny/dull spots on the bumpers and trims. Soooooo..... their claim of permanently colouring the trims etc is FALSE.

Last weekend I bought K&H Bumper and Trim Paint in an aerosol spray can. The colour is Satin Black. (Thanks for mentioning it above Shayne ). It can be purchased from Repco and Super Cheap Auto etc for about $16.99)
After masking up the areas and rubbing them down with metho and a rag before spraying, this product instantly delivers results.
As far as application goes its a much easier and better product to work with. One light coat almost completely covers with a consistent black hue. A second coat doesnt change texture or colour to the original first coat therefore blends in perfectly for the same colour all over. It hides imperfections too for a professional finish! Its touch dry in just a couple of minutes and makes the bumpers and trims "LOOK AND FEEL" like new again. I even painted the black trims at the bottom of the windows on the doors and they came up awesome too! They actually looked like sh!t and I was tempted to throw them out and replace them but this paint miracuously transformed sh!t to shine and they came up like new also! :lol:
Im very impressed with this product B)

The K&H dries "DRY" within a couple of minutes = Excellent!
The coverage is a nice even and consistent colour = Awesome!
It also covers and hides many imperfections = Bonus!
Plus its cheaper than Forever Black = Well slap my ass and call me Bubba!

I will update this thread again after a few months (say, 1st February 2012 after Summer has well and truly cooked it) to advise how it stands the test of time being subjected to 24/7 outdoor weathering

 

[D3bb4]

Might be worth rubbing with a scotch pad and then using wax and grease to prep it if it comes off after a bit. Would give better adhesion

 

[EVO-00X]

Yeah I did use Scotchbrite pads when I washed it Then I rubbed it clean with metho before painting. The paint has stuck on well

 

[D3bb4]

Cool. they're about the same as 2000 grit paper, but they won't change the shape of the plastic, because they have no backing or shape. Paper might give you flat spots, so scotch pads are ideal. Nice work You have plenty of patience doing that!

 

[SIVART]

Im pretty sure this is the one , but its the best stuff Ive ever used , its lasts a fair while and makes the parts look brand new again , you basically put a tiny bit on and polish it in

http://www.autoglym.com/enau/product-proddetail.asp?v06VQ=KED