Grill refurb

[harris121163]

hi all what is the best way to get my front grills back to black as they are fading with the sun
cheers ed

[meehaja]

i spray painted mine with plasticoat matte black. Came outlooking really good. I wanted to avoid that "brand new" look, but the matte seems to look ok. Going to do the rear grills as well when it stops raining!

[eatcustard]

i spray painted mine with plasticoat matte black. Came outlooking really good. I wanted to avoid that "brand new" look, but the matte seems to look ok. Going to do the rear grills as well when it stops raining!

This

[HarryMann]

Armorall but better than Mer vinyl and rubber treatments.. the Mer is like a thin milky paste, I think ist good stuff

[gaz f]

Painted mine satin black, this gives the 'brand new' look if that is what you are after. In my experience with previous cars if the grills and trim have faded a lot then although bumper care products will make them look good it doesn't last too long before it needs done again. Better just to get the rattle cans out.

[Titus A Duxass]

Gaz,
What rattle can did you use and where did you get it from - ATU?

[gaz f]

Titus.... Practica, cant for the life of me remember the make of the stuff but it's the only make they stock. The cans with the pic of the car on the front, they do 2 ranges the RAL number paints and the basic ones, the satin black I used is the basic range colour, also used their plastic primer first. I would go to the garage and check the make on the can... but I'm in Scotland at the minute!

[Titus A Duxass]

Cheers Gaz,
There's a Praktiker just round the corner from work I'll check it out.

Enjoy Scotland!
We lived in Edinburgh for 2 years - it's one of the greatest places to be.

[HarryMann]

Fine wire-wool is good as matter offer on those... removes grease as well as previous finish if you keep chucking it away, b.messy though

[New Kentish Campers]

Fine wire-wool is good as matter offer on those... removes grease as well as previous finish if you keep chucking it away, b.messy though

Wire wool is ok, but as you say, messy. Bodyshop's use Scotchbrite pads; red is quite agressive and is used for flatting solid colour paintwork prior to respraying, and grey ones for laquered finishes. The grey pad is very good for plastics, but use a de-greasing fluid with it so that you aren't rubbing grease back into the plastic as the paint will likely flake off in time.

[HarryMann]

Thanks for the reminder.

I've 'inherited' a stack of reds and greens fortunately. Where do the Green Scotchbrites come in that list... good for nothings?

[harris121163]

thanks for all the ideas i will get down to the paint shop and tackle it this weekend

[New Kentish Campers]

Thanks for the reminder.

I've 'inherited' a stack of reds and greens fortunately. Where do the Green Scotchbrites come in that list... good for nothings?

We never used Green ones, too aggresive and just gave you more score marks to then remove with a finer pad