Body/Trim: 850: Plastic Bumper Tops - Renovate UV Fading

[riffbiker]

Originally Posted by Harvey1963

Planning to do the same. how did the Wurth stuff work out?

@Harvey1963: Sorry for the late reply - just checking through this thread again. I applied the Wurth Grey to the front and rear bumpers only, not the side trims. Two-and-a-half years on with the car parked outside and it still looks fine!

As mentioned, I had previously used a plastics dye I imported from the USA (branded 'Showroom New' and no longer available) on the bumpers - that did not last very well. So I had to find a product that would go over the plastic dye as it could not be completely removed back to bare plastic.

I removed the bodywork corner trims under the headlights and tail lights, they are held by spring clips and just slide straight forward (front) and back (rear). The headlight wiper arms have to be removed - obviously.

I prepared the bumper tops for the Wurth using a dish washing-up mildly abrasive sponge ('scotchbrite' type, from the supermarket) and isopropanol / isopropryl alcohol as a degreaser / cleaner. One can buy Isopropryl alcohol on eBay, used to be able to get it from any chemist but not so easy now. This will not damage paintwork if a little gets onto it, wipe it off gently with a clean soft rag.

I ran low-tack masking tape over the paintwork close to the bumper plastic, then used the sponge side of a new washing-up sponge to apply the Wurth. It dries quickly, so by the time I had finished the second bumper I could go back and add another coat to the first. I used two coats and most of two tubes of Wurth. It goes on easily and doesn't spray around like using an aerosol of plastics paint, and if a little gets onto paintwork, the alcohol will clean it off. Wear surgical / mechanics nitrile gloves.

When the Wurth has hardened off, I gave a coat of Autoglym Bumper Care gel. I also used Autoglym on the side trims (which I had not previously dyed or given the Wurth treatment) and the colour match is then very good.

The bumpers are beginning to show the slightest signs of wear now and in due course I shall give another coat of Wurth. So all in, I am happy: inexpensive, easy and relatively clean to apply, does not require major masking, lasts well.

[riffbiker]

Originally Posted by Ukwide

Have any of you tried a heat gun or hairdryer on the plastic?

When my plastic suffered with UV I just heated the plastic and it returned back to black, be careful not to burn the plastic, but it’s been fine every since...

Hi, yes I tried the heat-gun technique first of all before the original USA plastics dye. I used a piece of aluminium as a hand-held heat sink to protect the paintwork as I worked around the plastic bumpers and wore suede riggers gloves so as not to get burned. It worked fine and looked nice, but only lasted a few weeks before fading right back to square one, so personally I do not recommend it.