Hi ya'll. I have a 1989 325i. The paint on the rest of the car looks great, but the sideskirts and the bumpers are a little faded. They look pink compared to the rest of the car. Any suggestions on what I should use to make it match a little more before I go for the paintjob?
use some mothers pure carnuba.... wax them a few times. that should shine them up good. if you are talking aobut the back trim that goes around the car, use forever black (at bavauto.com)
The paint is probably oxidized. Also, since its painted on hard rubber it ages differently. You might try some No.7 white rubbing compound and see if it would remove enough to show more of the original color.
My opinion is that you'll have to get it repainted.
Well, I'm willing to do a paint job if necessary, but I know last weekend when I waxed it with just maguires it turned out looking pretty shiny. It still looks a little pink. I'm trying to get some ideas on stuff that could expedite the red coming back. But like I said, I'm not totally against getting a paint job if non of these other options work. Thanks guys!
I checked around on a few auto web sites (googled "restore faded paint") and it appears that removing a small layer of paint (manually or with a buffer) with rubbing compound is the only way to attempt to revive the original color. The problem is "is the paint thick enough to reach good paint before reaching primer/metal/rubber".
Also, if the paint is oxidized all the way through, there won't be any alternative but painting.
If the whole bumper has changed color evenly, it seems that the bumper material is reacting with the rubber/undercoating from the bumper or most likely, after 15 years, prolly some of it in the sun, parked outside, the bumper/side skirts have reacted to the uv rays differently than the paint.
I mean, what if your whole car changed color just like this bumper--red fading to pink---that would be kinda odd! no?
I've seen this on several older cars. Maybe it was defective bumper material or something. mmmm....maybe call the dealer and ask them if they've run into this before, what the problem is and what they do about it? Paint will eventually come off also. If you get it painted, ask them how long the paint will stay on the bumper. Maybe the bumpers/side skirts can be replaced?
btw, I have a '97 honda and the bumper paint has not faded at all. The car is metallic light beige. I also had a '86 toyota van for 9 years (same color) and the bumper paint never faded.
Well I know that the sideskirts are aftermarket parts. I can't remember what brand they are though. As for the bumpers I don't know. But oh well. Eventually I'll probably get them painted. But for now I'll just do the waxing. Thanks.
simply waxing will only make the pink shine. In my opinion, wash the car with dawn.
Then clay bar to get the crap out of the paint
use polish (3M makes a hand glaze, Meguiars has a polish/glaze, etc)
then use 1 layer of cleaner wax
then wax with a better pure wax or polymer. Should be better
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