Do your moldings make your car look old?

A

ACURA95

New member
Hello Fellow Autopians,



Do you have an older car with plastic moldings? If you do, I'm sure you have experienced the same problem I'm having. In the past, I never used any kind of silcone or any other products to protect my window moldings and boy am I regreting it now. They are now rough and quite dull and Im looking for a way to bring them back to life.



At one time I though changing them would solve the problem but on my car I have pocket windows which are attached to the moldings and theres no way Im changing out my windows. I also attempted to lightly sand and paint them but because they are porous they never cure.



Any product and/or application advice will be greatly appreciated.
 
Well in my car's case - 98 Ford Falcon , the predecessor to 6 cyl of fury's BA XR6, I have tediously looked after the exterior trim to the extent that my six year old car has exterior mouldings almost like new. I use the following but every car needs different products due to the rubber and plastics used.



Omikron klearview blue window cleaner - bottom rubbers

meguiars hi gloss endurance tyre gel - upper rubbers

non scented baby oil and sometimes valvoline synpower tyre shine for the rest



I touchup the hard plastic bits that sit where the side doors meet with a black texta
 
I have a '98 Integra also and I'm pretty sure that the trim is separate from the window. If it's that bad, you might want to consider replacement. Might be a little expensive. The trim on my GS-R is like new however the Legend just might get new trim. I just have to get up the nerve to DIM.
 
spoiledman- when I took it to the dealer ship and to a couple of body shops, I was told just the molding could not be replaced and to put in new windows was ridiculously expensive.



However unorthodox this sounds, One process I tried that helped to appearance was to sand the plasic lightly coat it with black shoe pollish. This usually lasted a couple of weeks and made the problem less visible.
 
If its black rubber you talking about try this .. Vigorously wipe it down with Isopropal Alcohol .. you may see black come up .. thats the oxidized rubber. Do it a few times till no more black then the color should be better.. then once happy .. dress with dressing of choise.
 
I just went outside and checked my car. The part in question is plastic. Im going to put some AIO or PwC on mine tomorrow to keep it looking new after learning this.



[puts cover back on car]
 
ACURA95 said:
Hello Fellow Autopians,



Do you have an older car with plastic moldings? If you do, I'm sure you have experienced the same problem I'm having. In the past, I never used any kind of silcone or any other products to protect my window moldings and boy am I regreting it now. They are now rough and quite dull and Im looking for a way to bring them back to life.



At one time I though changing them would solve the problem but on my car I have pocket windows which are attached to the moldings and theres no way Im changing out my windows. I also attempted to lightly sand and paint them but because they are porous they never cure.



Any product and/or application advice will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...



classic-motoring_1792_13077721




or



classic-motoring_1792_13087849




http://www.properautocare.com/blacagextrim.html



http://www.properautocare.com/fb-1k.html



Works for me.
 
overtheedge-

Wow, If these products as well as they boast, my problems might be over. Does anyone here have experience with either of these products and if so, did they work well?



Also, which one worked to best for you and do you know any retail stores that might sell them?
 
jesstzn-

thanks for the suggestion. I actually tried that process a couple times and looked a little bettter but would only last a very short period of time. The dressing, even silicon would dissipate pretty quickly, not to mention could be quite messy.



Have you ever used or heard anything about these products overtheedge recommended?



Spoiledman-

I dont think it will happen to your car as long as you apply protective dressings on a regular basis. Just dont slack on it, and Im sure you'll be fine.



Im just trying to get my car to look sweet again. I even just swallowed my pride and ordered the PC 7424 because of the advice of so many professionals on this forum.



Trust me, you hearing me talk about the plastic moldings, I havent mentioned anything about how bad the paint looks. Im going to take before and after pics and post them.
 
I won;t even get into the silicones & rubber debate...and, I'd be shocked if those mouldings were actually part of the glass.



But...a product I had some good luck with is AutoTech's Trim Renew. you have to work it a bit, but it cleans nicely and leaves a dull sheen.



Another old trick of car restorers is to dampen the mouldings and give 'em a light work over with a softer scotchbrite pad. Evens out the texture and when you add your protectant..they look new. I did this on my '72 Plymouth's vent wing weatherstrips and they look new.
 
ACURA95 said:
jesstzn-

thanks for the suggestion. I actually tried that process a couple times and looked a little bettter but would only last a very short period of time. The dressing, even silicon would dissipate pretty quickly, not to mention could be quite messy.



Have you ever used or heard anything about these products overtheedge recommended?
Click to expand...



I have used the Forever Black tire gel on my B5.5 lower valances and one coating lasts for 4 months and I wash 3/5 times a week. I am assuming the recommeneded stuff would even work better.



First pix is after 3 months .. second pix is after 1 day



DSC00753.jpg




DSC00755.jpg
 
I have used Forever Black on the black door handle surrounds (plastic) on my CRV and the plastic window trim and also plastic rocker panels on my son's '92 Prelude. I've been completely amazed by it, it's been on my door handle plastic for almost a year and still looks terrific. The Prelude rear glass plastic trim has faded a bit, but it's also been a year and that part directly faces the sun all day in a parking lot a school, so it still gets my vote as a great solution. Also, if you're looking for a quick temperary fix, you might try peanut butter applied and rubbed in with a MF cloth. I know, I know, my wife also thinks it's crazy, however, it does work and lasts quite a while.
 
Rubber & Tire Treatment. One of our cars (8 yrs. old) has much soft black trim around all the windows. I hit the strips 2X/year and they still appear excellent...



I agree with Jess' super cleaning strategy: scrub clean with IA using a toothbrush and plenty of old rags (you can toss out).
 
SpoiledMan...wow....that's nuts! Never saw that before.



I was also thinking that if the parts are hard pastic...you could always use a plastic polish on them..or re-spray them. SEM makes a good line of paints for exterior palastics.
 
Wow, Spoiledman

Awesome research, It does suck doesnt it. I guess its another way the manufacturer is attempted to screw the customer.



I am going to go the forever black routine since it has worked so well for you.



I appreciate everyones help and its nice to finally talk to people who know what thier talking about.



"I finally found a home" <warm feeling> lol
 
Matt M said:
But...a product I had some good luck with is AutoTech's Trim Renew. you have to work it a bit, but it cleans nicely and leaves a dull sheen.
Click to expand...



Didn't think anyone else used this stuff. For me, it a toss up between this stuff and PB's trim restorer. My rocker panels are plastic, and its tough to keep them clean and black. The AutoTech product does give a nice shine but does take some elbow grease.
 
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