Plastic Restorer

[MDE]

The wife and I recently bought a 2011 Subaru Outback and it's got a lot of plastic cladding that's pretty badly faded considering the car's age. What should I look for (and avoid) with the plastic restorer products out there?

 

[MrCassdin]

Most of these products are oil based and fade over time. I have personally used Meguiars Ultimate Black Trim Restorer. My cars are garaged at home and at work so I get about 30 days out of it. If it gets wet it will run and need to be re-applied.

There is no perm solution that I know of besides sanding, priming and painting. 🙂

 

[inachu]

My co workers found a trick that uses no chemicals and its just about 100% free.

Only thing is you gotta be careful and this not just restores but gets rid of that paste and makes the surface look brand new but you gottta be careful and test an area you care least about possibly like the underside but it does work. Here is what you use.

A heat gun. Yep. once the air is hot make sure its far away from the surface and keep going over the same surface over and over until you see results.

It melts the waxy grime away and I have seen more restore garages do the same thing.

 

[MrCassdin]

Heat gun can work, but is not sure shot - and of course it takes a steady hand and careful work. I've seen it used more on interior plastic.

 

[MDE]

I don't trust myself with a heat gun and don't really want to reapply the stuff every month. The wife will have to deal with the dingy plastic. Thanks for the info guys.

 

[styrafoam]

Several people i know are very happy with back to black treatment.

 

[iwajabitw]

Most of these products are oil based and fade over time. I have personally used Meguiars Ultimate Black Trim Restorer. My cars are garaged at home and at work so I get about 30 days out of it. If it gets wet it will run and need to be re-applied.

There is no perm solution that I know of besides sanding, priming and painting. 🙂

Mequiars here as well. If you go to the paint section at Orielly's or Advanced auto they have another plastic restore, as well as other waxes, that work really good. Let it stand for an hour or so then wipe off the excess. A heavy dew will cause it to run. I use Mequiars High gloss shine detailer in between or ICE synthetic wax by turtle wax, does not run. You can wax the entire vehicle, trim and all with it. Then buff it off. It will keep the trim black but will not restore it, unless they have developed a product I have not seen yet.