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mp5_toronto

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Hey folks,



I posted this message at the bottom of a long 303 thread, but I thought I'd give it its own thread here:



I've read a ton about 303 and finally got myself some. I applied it on my relatively new Pro5, but found that it seemed to streak when it dried/soaked in. I know everyone has talked about buffing it... but if I wait more than 30 seconds it seems to soak in and there doesn't seem to be anything to buff!



Am I missing something here? Maybe applying too much? Too little?



I just went and looked at it again, and it still looks like hell. Parts are a little glossy, then other parts look like dry. What am I missing here? I guess I can go back and try to buff again...



If you have any suggestions of how I can do this right, I'd most appreciate it!
 
Your results sound to me like oiling really dry furniture. Parts will absorb all of the oil/polish you give to them and other parts will saturate quickly and start rejecting product.



What is the material? I'd probably apply it thicker than you are so that you have excess to buff off, that way it would be uniform across the surface.
 
Yeah, it sounds like the plastic absorbed the product at different rates. I'd apply another coat as evenly as you can and evaluate the results. I haven't heard of any issues with P5's or Mazda's for that matter. 303 is water based so you won't hurt anything by applying another coat or two.



FWIW, my car does this too somewhat. I usually hit it again with a thin coat and it evens out until the 303 starts losing it's protective gloss. Then I do it all over again.
 
Thanks guys. The material in the P5 looks like its just the standard plastic/vinyl. Its textured, and looks pretty good.



It seems wierd that it would absorb the 303 at different rates. I mean, its not like this is a 5 year old car that has been neglected. I've only had the car for 7 months, and have applied 303 a number of times, all with similar results.



Is there something that I can clean the dash with, so I can be sure I'm starting with a clean slate?
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by mp5_toronto [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Is there something that I can clean the dash with, so I can be sure I'm starting with a clean slate? [/b]</blockquote>
That's exactly what I was going to suggest. Your dash is all made of the same material, so absorbtion rate should be the same unless it is worn.

A mixture of Dawn soap and water should work. Rubbing alchohol would work, but test on a small area first. Get it clean, and I'll bet you have great results.
 
I've had varying degrees of results depending on what I used to apply the 303.



The best was what I'd seen suggested here - a sponge (I use the foam paintbrushes sold at Home Depot), not really saturated - and I apply in two coats. Apply, wait a bit, buff off, apply again, wait a bit, buff off.



The buffing was a bit more intensive on our 8 year old Honda than on the new Benz, but either way - the results were about the same.
 
Streaking can also be caused by the surface not being totally clean before application. If you start a regular regimen of applying 303 after a wash the plastic will look better after each successive application. At least that has been my experience fwiw.
 
Hmm - a foam paintbrush. Good idea I think. I'm using a MF towel, and maybe thats why I'm getting what looks to be inconsistant coverage. Maybe I'll try a foam paintbrush, and use the MF to buff.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by mp5_toronto [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Hmm - a foam paintbrush. Good idea I think. I'm using a MF towel, and maybe thats why I'm getting what looks to be inconsistant coverage. Maybe I'll try a foam paintbrush, and use the MF to buff. [/b]</blockquote>
I use the little foam brushes for detailing the airvents and such. Try to find the brushes with the densest foam possible because it will hold and contain the product better and apply a more even layer of product.
 
Let's not forget that plastics are constantly off-gasing; releasing plasticizers. That's why the inside of your windshield gets coated with that flimy stuff.



Perhaps its this off-gassing process that's causing the inconsistentcy in accepting 303.



My guess is that once the dashboard "cures" this problem will go away. Time will tell, I imagine.
 
Sounds like a job for Black Magic Dashboard Protectant (semi-gloss), not as potent (it applies the more the merrier with no streaking and buffing). It rarely happens but sometimes 303 streaks. Sorry for being one of those posters who introduce another product when they're asking help on this other product. But sounds like you've been doing this for awhile and you mention about cleaning your dash every week! I've got so much internal plastic (dash and 4 doors and floor matts) there's no way, so I though I'd suggest BMDPSG for ya :xyxthumbs (not to mention it costs from $2-$3)
 
well if its streaking because it's to potent for your dash then moving down makes sense



BM is apply all you want, no streaks
 
steve can you explain to me how 303 being "to potent" is causing the streaking? Why wouldn't he just apply more to fix it? Doesn't make sense to me -- applying a less effective product just makes it harder to see where there is protection and where there is not.
 
I don't know the exact difference between the two products, all I know, is that I have had no problems with the BM on the few cars I have tried it on. I also know that the product applies well if you apply a liberal amount.



mp5_toronto has had 7 months of no success with 303. I would think that 303 shouldn't be that difficult to apply. Therefore something is going on that we don't know about, so my suggestion was switching products rather than continuing to have trouble.



Rather than trying to analyze what's wrong with my post, why not help offer a solution to his problem. You're the one who suggests BM is a dilute version of 303. I think it contains the same resin but it acts differently. I was say that the differences we don't know about might be causing problems not just resin strength. Otherwise I would have suggest he dilute his 303.



Personally, I think my solution works, if he wants to trouble shoot his 303 more then that's cool too. You might as well use it because it's expensive. Or I'm sure if you post someone will buy it from you. But if you us BM on your dash and it doesn't work, you're only out a few bucks.
 
Thanks for your thoughts guys. Just to clarify, I've had the car for 7 months, but I've only been working with 303 for a few of those.



After further analysis, I realized that the only place the product is streaking is my dash. Yesterday I used the product on all my indoor trim, including doors and other various places. From what I can see, everywhere is fine but the dash. So maybe its because my dash gets the harsh sun all the time, whereas my doors and other trim do not. Or it could be that the dealer applied some oily goo to my dash before delivery, which is why I'm having a problem only there.



Anyway, thanks for everyones input. :up



I'll try some of what was suggested, and if I still have troubles, I'll try something different as per YoSteves idea.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by puterbum [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Steve, BMSG is basically watered-down 303. [/b]</blockquote>
Oh please, give me a break. If that's the case, then every since PMDS dressing is just a derivative of 303? Sorry 'puter, you're wrong.
 
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