What's your favorite Exterior Trim Restore?

[ShawnF350]

My 02 Ford Explorer has gray fender flares which really look bleached out from age.
I found Poorboys Trim Restore to be the best I've ever used for old trim so far. I hadn't applied it over the winter so my spring detail required two coats. (Second coat on next day).
I have tried :
Turtle wax (trim restore) .. Still haven't removed the runs from the rear bumper.. Maybe an apc will work?
Meguiars Ultimate Black...
Wolfgang Trim Sealant (love it for trim that's not trashed)

Can anyone suggest something that might be worth a try on old trim.
I didn't plan on using a product that requires wearing nitrile gloves but may in the future if it will last.
Photos in folder....
https://drive.google.com/folder/d/0Bzi7TIColVgBSkRlUXJ1Mm9mb2c/edit

 

[The Guz]

Have you used an APC to clean the trim at all to clean and prep the surface? Is the original color black or grey?

They look pretty faded. You may need a product that is dyed like the turtle wax jet black black endura shine trim coating. It's a black acrylic trim coating. I've used it and the only issue I had was using it on smooth untextured trim. I had streaking issues with it. On textured trim it works great. Lasts just as long as Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant. I have never used it on grey trim.

Meguiar's has a new version of their ultimate black (the lotion version) that is supposed to last longer.

Their is also the new Meguiar's ultimate black in an aerosol format. It works good on both black and grey trim. I recommend masking off any areas that may be affected by overspray because it can be a pain to remove once dried. Here's what it did to the items I used it on. It's pretty durable. I have it on the cowl on my car and it's been on for 3 months and still going strong. Can states it lasts 100+ washes.

Black grilles

Grey engine cover

My all time favorite and longest lasting is Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant. It works great and last long. If the trim is faded and very dry it could take multiple applications to restore it. Mike Phillips stated that applying WETS weekly can restore trim.

 

[PPLd]

Meguiar's has a new version of their ultimate black (the lotion version) that is supposed to last longer.

Where can I find the updated version of Ultimate Black?
Needa buy one to try!

We have tested D163 on various cars and surfaces, from tires of daily drivers that see a lot of rain to engine vent of supercars.
D163 durability is counted by months.

 

[JSFM35X]

The GTech g4 is really good and based of looks and application I think the Geyon trim is basically the same.

 

[PA DETAILER]

Xterra has a ton of trim! First i give it a good cleaning with mothers trim cleaner. Then WGTS. Lasts a very long time! Even thru PA winters!

 

[mnewxcv]

honestly.... if it were my personal vehicle, id say skip the dressings and go with this:

Duplicolor Flexible Bumper Coating, Dark Charcoal, 11 oz. Aerosol FB109: Advance Auto Parts


actually, thats exactly what I did on my cherokee. no more dressing, gets washed and protected like any other painted surface.


Please note that while its considered a "coating", it is paint. you need to tape off and mask the surrounding areas, etc. but in the end, you will likely never have to worry about your trim again.

 

[ShawnF350]

I haven't used an APC yet. Im going to try that on everything and see if I can remove the bumper streaks too. All I do is wash it with what I'm cleaning the paint with.
Everything is Gray. Textured.
Bumper top is black.

 

[RaysWay]

Where can I find the updated version of Ultimate Black?
Needa buy one to try!

Good news! I just checked and we have the new version

 

[MooreImpressive]

there was an amazing right up review I read just last week from a person that VERY extensively tested about 10-12 different trim restorers and sealers. I honestly don't know how or where I found it but it has hundreds of pictures and was just really well done. end result was the Meguiars and Turtle Wax were as good or better than everything else in almost all categories. we use the turtle wax and have very good results with it. we don't sell it or promote it as a trim sealant or even a real "restore" product because I feel like restoring means it should last longer than a few weeks or months, but the stuff really brings life back to things like chevy avalanche plastic, etc. for $5 a bottle including a nice applicator, no reason to use anything else.

 

[davidc]

I have tried numerous products over the years on this particular trim on the Wife's Toyota. I have used Dlux, 303, Solution Finish and every product Duragloss makes with no success. I could get it black but usually for only a few days. Frustrated I eventually gave up. While sitting around I decided to try Collinite 920 which I purchased for the RV. I was amazed with the difference using it by hand and a terry cloth before loading a Yellow pad on the DA. I covered everything with Collinite 476. We shall see on longevity but it has lasted longer than the previous attempts.

Before

Dave

 

[Old Pirate]

At this moment I been using Surf City Black Max Trim and Rubber Dressing. I find very good and a great bargain at 7 bucks!

 

[TroyScherer]

The "best" trim restorer I have used is SolutionFinish. It helps to restore that dark black color. But I then come back a week or so later and rehash the surface and lock it in with another product like DLUX. Because SolutionFinish is almost like a black dye I don't like having to redo the prep and tape process. So locking in the finish with another coating or maintenance product is key IMO.

 

[ShawnF350]

I have tried numerous products over the years on this particular trim on the Wife's Toyota. I have used Dlux, 303, Solution Finish and every product Duragloss makes with no success. I could get it black but usually for only a few days. Frustrated I eventually gave up. While sitting around I decided to try Collinite 920 which I purchased for the RV. I was amazed with the difference using it by hand and a terry cloth before loading a Yellow pad on the DA. I covered everything with Collinite 476. We shall see on longevity but it has lasted longer than the previous attempts.

Before

Dave

Hmmm. Great results Dave
Maybe I'll try some Poorboys Pro Polish on a small area and see what happens. Can't hurt anything.

 

[mnewxcv]

I have tried numerous products over the years on this particular trim on the Wife's Toyota. I have used Dlux, 303, Solution Finish and every product Duragloss makes with no success. I could get it black but usually for only a few days. Frustrated I eventually gave up. While sitting around I decided to try Collinite 920 which I purchased for the RV. I was amazed with the difference using it by hand and a terry cloth before loading a Yellow pad on the DA. I covered everything with Collinite 476. We shall see on longevity but it has lasted longer than the previous attempts.

Before

Dave

to be clear, are you saying you used collinite 920, or 476?

 

[davidc]

Hmmm. Great results Dave
Maybe I'll try some Poorboys Pro Polish on a small area and see what happens. Can't hurt anything.

I think I tried most everything over time including the Solution Finish/Dlux combo, the old Back To Black. The only thing that lasted the longest was 303 buffed in with a rotary and wool pad but it was only 3-4 days before I noticed the gray starting to show again. This is the blackest it has ever been. I hope it stays this way for a while as it is going to follow me to the grave if it does not. All of the exterior Black plastic on this Toyota stains easily but this back hatch pad is the worst. The Gray oxidized kind of blends into the Desert Sand paint tho ., I know what I did does not sound right to most people but desperate conditions required desperate measures and I have already tried a lot of conditioners/protectants. I did throw the initial Terry cloth away and the black did not want to come out of the B&S Yellow pad easily.

Dave

 

[davidc]

to be clear, are you saying you used collinite 920, or 476?

920 brought back the Black and then 2-3 coats of 476 to protect. When I finished the 920 I used water and Microfiber to clean and dry then the 476. 845 will probably work also but Collinite touts the 476 as a step up in longevity.

Dave

 

[Accumulator]

davidc- Gee, so I'm not the only person who's used 476S as a trim product!

Looks like their 920 was just the right product to prep that on your Toyota.

 

[mnewxcv]

davidc- Gee, so I'm not the only person who's used 476S as a trim product!

Looks like their 920 was just the right product to prep that on your Toyota.

I will have to try it. I have a nearly full can of it on my shelf since I primarily switched to HD poxy. I always figured the 476S would stain trim. Live and learn!

 

[davidc]

davidc- Gee, so I'm not the only person who's used 476S as a trim product!

Looks like their 920 was just the right product to prep that on your Toyota.

Just another test/experiment. The 920 was a shot in the dark and took the dead plastic off surprisingly well and may have put some much needed oils back ( not sure on that part ). I did half of that trim with 476s and the other half with 885, another test/experiment.

Dave

 

[Bunky]

My general purpose is Wolfgang trim product but Solution finish for the really neglected stuff but it can be messy.