Is there a magical product that restores Plastic trim?

[RWebb]

counterpart to the 2 or more rubber trim threads

- so, what about plastic trim? how to make it black again?

[m110]

Which trim?

Outside?
Inside?
Years?

[jdbunda]

I have had good luck with Black Again (the old formula, I think Mothers or Meguiars is making it again). Recently I have been using Adam's VRT which seems to work well. I wouldn't use vaseline or petroleum on plastic as over time it will supposedly embrittle the material.

[RWebb]

outside -- it is the plastic grill on a VW Vanagon

[m110]

Not magic but I would paint it

Painting Grill on Rear Lid

[will hung]

In all honesty, I use the same thing as black rubber. Boiled linseed oil. It rejuvenates the black to a nice, dark, matte finish.

When I bought my SC, the door handles were practically white. So I assumed I was going to have to replace them. My buddy told me to rub a little boiled linseed oil into them, he told me that once every 2 years he'll go over all the black plastic and rubber on all his cars. I did, and they looked brand new. So I proceeded to go over everything rubber and plastic that was aging. Just by bringing those items back to life, the car looked considerably higher end.

[911_Dude]

Go over the old plastic or rubber with laquer thinner and a rag. That will get the old oxidation off. Then use your favorite plastic/rubber dressing. I like Back to Black.

[chuckr]

This stuff...
Tuff Shine Black Restore

[Halm]

Originally Posted by RWebb

outside -- it is the plastic grill on a VW Vanagon

I found Adam's In & Out over on a BMW forum a couple of years ago. It worked great on the plastic deck lid on my 993. And I have used it in several other applications. It is really pretty good stuff.

[SoCalSK8r]

I've used back to black on my previous 84 GTI and the trim was so jacked up that I ended up painting them satin finish with very great long term results. This was I the mid 90s when there was not the krylon Fusion.

Right now I have been trying Adams VRT on my '84 3.2 and I'd say it's OK. Not really astonishing but then again my 911 still had the black trim in decent condition. I know a lot of people swear by "black wow" and that will be my next product once the Adams is gone.

[Halm]

Originally Posted by SoCalSK8r

. . . I know a lot of people swear by "black wow" and that will be my next product once the Adams is gone.

I use / have used Black Wow and it works really well. But it is a PITA because it gets on anything it touches and is hard to wash out. And on my 996 plastic windshield tray and rear bumperettes it seems to attract dust and dirt.

[skrufy]

Clean/ wash the grill-

Then use SEM #39863 Plastic Adhesion Promoter-

Then Paint with SEM #39143 Trim Black-

SEM makes awesome products for the professional, with professional results. Available at your auto-paint stores like Finishmaster, etc. I have had painted 911 grills that look great after years in the Arizona sun. The Adhesion Promoter is basically a primer coating for plastics that allows any paint to stick. I have tried other brands of plastic primers, but the spray is blothcy and not uniform- maybe I just got a bad can of it...... Never had a problem with any SEM product. If you have another brand of satin black paint- Rustoleum, etc- that will work as well. The SEM Trim Black is formulated to match automotive satin black trim and bumper parts. I have used it on the smile seal with good sucdess, but have never tried it on the 911 bumper bellows. Those clean up nicely with Maquires Rubber Treatment.

Good stuff, and good luck.

Tim