as title?

i want to restore the shine permenatly to my bumpers, arch spats and a few other bits on the car...

what sort of options are available, back2black and that isnt an option really as its not permenant enough so i may aswell buy new bumpers

but i was thinking there may be some textured black bumper paint, would the bumpers need any preparation beforehand

word

you can get "Bumper and Trim" spray paint from most good motor factors. I used this and can vouch for its effectiveness. No need for any plastic primer as well - just clean it first and spray right on. Hasn't flaked or peeled yet and still looks good as new.

Alternatively I've heard you can use a heat gun to melt the surface very slightly, this is risky tho...

I did my boot plinth with the heat method - looks shit I must have done it too hot. I'm just gonna smooth it and paint it I think.

cheers narrow your a star, ill shall show you pictures when its done :)

plus it means i get to run the car debumpered for a bit which looks dope on the mk1s :)

cheers narrow your a star, ill shall show you pictures when its done :)

plus it means i get to run the car debumpered for a bit which looks dope on the mk1s :)

hey grunge,

you could also try some of the VHT vinyl dye that people use to re-dye their seats etc. I've used it to spray many pieces of plastic including my front wheel arch & it looks like new L-D

sally.

cheers narrow your a star, ill shall show you pictures when its done :)

plus it means i get to run the car debumpered for a bit which looks dope on the mk1s :)

lol no probs, look forward to seein it.

I'm a fan of the debumpered look as well hehe, just don't have a ratty enough car to pull it off

I used the heat gun method on my mk3, and they came up lovely and black, if you hold it on one place for a bit too long it starts to blotch, but if you keep it moving its fine.

I used the heat gun method on my mk3, and they came up lovely and black, if you hold it on one place for a bit too long it starts to blotch, but if you keep it moving its fine.

i done the same to my golf swear by it

Fancy explaining this heatgun method - whats needed, and what to do etc? Just hold a blowtorch to the bumpers and move it just before it starts to melt?

Quite like the idea of vinyl dye too - I'm having the same problem grunge!

EDIT: wait a minute - my sensible pikeytech side is telling me to use either a black marker or used engine oil... not a bad plan! Wheres your pikey dedication?

Edited 17 July, 200719 yr by skatty_01

Someone on here recommended a black dye early this year. I bought some,and the bumpers still look well. But its more like a very thin satin paint than an ink - i think a proper coat of satin paint,as on the Scirocco bodykit (which is white),is the way forward. I didnt use primer on Escort MK3 bumper end caps,but it would be best to do so. The dye was £10 from Motorgeek,btw.

The heat gun method just needs one of those gun like things that you use to strip wallpaper, and you just flash it over all the bumpers, they come up bootiful. Cheapest way if you've already got one of these

The heat gun method just needs one of those gun like things that you use to strip wallpaper, and you just flash it over all the bumpers, they come up bootiful. Cheapest way if you've already got one of these

I might be able to get my hands on a heat gun. if I do it how far back do you hold it and do you just keep movin it?

i would just repaint them with the crackle affect paint you can get as theres no chance of melting your bumpers then lol not that I'm speaking from experiance

The heat gun method just needs one of those gun like things that you use to strip wallpaper, and you just flash it over all the bumpers, they come up bootiful. Cheapest way if you've already got one of these

I might be able to get my hands on a heat gun. if I do it how far back do you hold it and do you just keep movin it?

depends on the power of the gun I guess, I just did a few passes, getting closer each time to gauge what sort of distance, you will visibly see it turn black as you go with just one quick sweep

Does it tend to warp the plastic using a heat gun ?

best tip you'll ever hear - smooth peanut butter.

i shit you not. a guy on E38 discovered it but a freak accident on his porsche when some fell on the spoiler and after he quickly rubbed it off couldn't get the rest the black to blend to the shine. something to do with the oil and fat in the product apparently.

Get some bumper blackening polish by Autoglym tis a weird looking green gloopy gel.

That stuff works well for like 2 mnts or so .. yeah it will take you a hour and a half to do a Mk3 but you know its worth it wspecially when it will take you 4 hours to wax it ..

Put the effort in and it all pays off ..

That black in a flash stuff is well gay you end up with dust around your bumpers were it has stuck to the paint ..

Its about as bad as using motor oil ..

Nice and shinny .. til you drive down the street and stuff sticks to it ..

How does peanut butter get on a porsche spoiler?