Bye bye grey trim!

Hi, I have come to a decision of wanting to have all my exterior trim like the bumpers and arches black and not the dull faded grey that they have become.
I have tried to use back to blacks and WD40 just to try and make it a little darker but with this I have had no luck.

My main question is has anyone sprayed theses parts before or can anyone give me any info on how I could do all the prep work before I apply the satin black that I am going for?

Many thanks

Just stick a hot air gun on them they will look like new but be carefull not to bubble the paint. maybe better to take the wheel arch trims off to do this.

Tanks1989 said:

Hi, I have come to a decision of wanting to have all my exterior trim like the bumpers and arches black and not the dull faded grey that they have become.
I have tried to use back to blacks and WD40 just to try and make it a little darker but with this I have had no luck.

My main question is has anyone sprayed theses parts before or can anyone give me any info on how I could do all the prep work before I apply the satin black that I am going for?

Many thanks

Click to expand...

Hi,

I used the special plastics paint from B&Q to change the bumpers on my Sprinter from grey to black in 2008. Still looking great now.

Instructions on the spray can - no probs - I cleaned everything with meths.

Caio,
Singvogel.

Ok sounds brilliant, did you prep with a primer or do any rubbing down first of all before you applied the paint?

Tanks1989 said:

Ok sounds brilliant, did you prep with a primer or do any rubbing down first of all before you applied the paint?

Click to expand...

Nothing special really.

Cleaned off all tar spots and flies etc with a drop of parafin on an old lint-free cloth (youngest kid's torn t-shirt) and five minutes before spraying I wiped over everything with meths.

I used Autosmart grey plastic primer first and then 2 coats of the B&Q plastic paint, which I had from before.

If I was doing it again to freshen up (but it doesn't need it yet) I would get the Autosmart satin black off ebay.

Check the Autosmart ebay shop - names 'autorocket'.

Caio,
Singvogel.

Get some boiled linseed oil from a DIY shop - its used for staining and preserving wood.

Brush it onto all plastics....go easy - a little goes a long way. Just use a normal cheap paintbrush or a sponge and give it a thin even layer. Lasts for months and costs practically nothing.

Gtechnic I've found best : Exterior Coatings // G|Techniq

Small bottle, but a little goes a long way. Applied with a round cotton makeup remover pad. Lasts a long time. I've also heated plastic trim with a hot air gun and ths does work, but does fade again.

The gtechnic stuff I applied to black trim on my boat and it's still black 2 years on..

Will be doing my td4 van soon, I'll post some before and afters.

Like the linseed oil - looks great!

Air gun will give a more permanent finish, but care is needed around lights etc.....
This method will not work with handles or fuel filler cap as they are made from different plastic.
When painting plastic it is advisable to use an etch primer or it will flake and crack.

etch primer is really just for bare metal (great on alloys where you've kerbed them) but a decent plastic primer (autosmart/autopaints etc) is exactly what its made for....

Wow such great replies and thanks so much for the linseed idea dave21478, I think I will try your idea first, as you said its cheap to try and if I am not happy with the final results I will the go for the spraying with the satin black.

Once again thank you to everyone for you replies and info

you will have to prep it really well if you linseed oil it then decide to paint it cos you'ree gonna have to get all that oil off before you put any paint on

Over on the 911UK Porsche forum, somebody there swears by using peanut butter (the smooth, not the crunchy ones!). Mind you, most Porsche owners keep them in garages where they are safe from the tongues of gourmet squirrels :bounce:

Alien Ghost said:

Over on the 911UK Porsche forum, somebody there swears by using peanut butter (the smooth, not the crunchy ones!). Mind you, most Porsche owners keep them in garages where they are safe from the tongues of gourmet squirrels :bounce:

Click to expand...

I would guess the peanut oil does a similar job to the linseed oil

Richard Martin said:

I would guess the peanut oil does a similar job to the linseed oil

Click to expand...

I would have thought that Porsche owners would have gone for Extra-Virgin Cold-Pressed Kalamata Olive-Oil.

Applied while wearing white-damask gloves, of course. :bounce:

Alien Ghost said:

Over on the 911UK Porsche forum, somebody there swears by using peanut butter (the smooth, not the crunchy ones!)

Click to expand...

That's gross! :crazy:

.

ive seen halfords do a spray paint specifically for plastic bumpers, i didnt read the tin so i dont know if you have to use a primer with it, or even laquer it.

Can someone post a link for suitable boiled linseed oil because I get loads of different versions when searching the web un can't work out what the difference is. Ta.

hi a few years ago now did the heat gun trick and got linseed oil from wilko's it worked a treat on an old polo the bumpers had gone past grey they were starting to look white. just take your time and don't be tempted to touch it when you first do it or you will end up with finger print in your bumper as the plastic is still soft