Bumper 'smile' - Replace or?

[A horse with no name]

Hi...Our Carrera's front bumper gasket - aka -'smile's' colour has faded over the years... I have used a variety of different products on it that have actually done a pretty good job but they have never produced the original black colour...The 'smile' is otherwise in very good condition... Has anyone used SEM Trim paint to restore one?..If so, how close was it to looking stock?

Thanks in advance!

[sc_rufctr]

Try a 50/50 mix of thinners and boiled linseed oil! ... Rub it in and let it set. (I wouldn't use this mixture on interior trim)

[BlueWing]

Have you tried Vinylex? It got my smile back.

It really turned it around from gray back to black. I used it on the smile, mirror trim, and rear bumper parts. Took maybe 3-4 applications over a week and seemed to have absorbed it up. Made the surface feel newer ans really bought the black back.

Terry

[sc_rufctr]

FWIW... Years ago I saw a modified 930 with painted bellows and rubber strips. It was the same as the body and it looked really well done.
I'm guessing the added something to the paint to keep it flexible after it had set but I have no idea what sort of paint was used. It may have been acrylic or two pac.

If it's too far gone you could do the same with black paint for your smile.

[Tremelune]

If none of the traditional "back to black" treatments have succeeded, your best bet is to add pigment. I've found vinyl dyes (Plastikote, Krylon Fusion, etc) to work extremely well on plastic and rubber. Indeed, if there's real fading, nothing else seems to work unless you keep applying it periodically. I think a satin finish would work best.

If you mask the fenders carefully, and slide some newspaper under the smile, I suspect you could do it on the car.

[RSBob]

Back to Black is a plastic dye which is permanent. It may take 3 coats to achieve a true deep black, but it will last for years. I have used it on the smile, bumper bellows, rocker strip, outside mirror black strips, inside door pulls, round ignition surround, and steering wheel. I use it on my other cars as well.

[A horse with no name]

Hi...Thanks 'everybody' for your info - Much appreciated!

After mulling it around for a couple of days, due to the overall condition of the car, I've decided to bite the bullet and to just go and order a new one...It seems to really be the only way that will give me the look that I want; as new.

Again, thanks!