How do I make my bumpers black again?

[epj3]

Alright all of you E30 owners will know what I'm saying. That black strip on the outside parts of the bumpers (esp noticeable with chrome bumpers like mine) that gets oxidized.

How do i make it BLACK!!!! It would look so sweet if it were shiny black like the trim (the black part around the bumper itself gets shiny with Mother's Back-to-black polish which also does wonders on the lip spoiler and mirrors).

www.bavauto.com has part number FB 01... check it out. I thought it looked like it might work but anyone have personal experiences?

BTW, I posted this here becuase non-e30 owners who might know the answers never check the E30 topics.

 

[DRWWE]

There is a product in the Griot's Grarage catalog called bumper and trim reconditioner that they say will permanently dye faded trim black. The picture shows a bottle with a foam tip kind of like a liquid shoe polish container. Looks like it might be easy to apply. www.griotsgarage.com

I like this company's products. Haven't used this one though. Hope it helps.

[driving2]

 

[aNoodle]

If you're talking about the black rubber/plastic safety strips around the car...I use BMW's rubber conditioner stuff. It's like $7 at the dealership. Serves many purposes...including lubricating the trails that the door windows move over. I smear that on the rubber, let it penetrate and wipe off the excess and it look like new.

I always forget what they call the stuff cuz it's in the German. I joked before it's some Uber-gummy-whatchmacallit. Gummy-fleg?

I swear by the stuff.

 

[epj3]

If you're talking about the black rubber/plastic safety strips around the car...I use BMW's rubber conditioner stuff. It's like $7 at the dealership. Serves many purposes...including lubricating the trails that the door windows move over. I smear that on the rubber, let it penetrate and wipe off the excess and it look like new.

I always forget what they call the stuff cuz it's in the German. I joked before it's some Uber-gummy-whatchmacallit. Gummy-fleg?

I swear by the stuff.

Are you talking about your E30? Becuase this trim will stay white/gray even when sprayed with water at the car wash. They really do need something perminant, but I dont want to use a paint that will crack off and look like crap.

 

[coyotefreek]

Not to just point out the obvous but what about just replacing them? We had to replace those trim pieces on a volvo and it was only about $100 to do it and havent had any problems since (that was wholesale pricing though). Otherwise a lot of those conditioners or dyes will only be tempary. Has anyone though about taking them off and having them primed and painted, like maby a body color or just a black. That way you just wax them and protect them like a part of your car.

 

[aNoodle]

Are you talking about your E30? Becuase this trim will stay white/gray even when sprayed with water at the car wash. They really do need something perminant, but I dont want to use a paint that will crack off and look like crap.

Not sure if it will work...E46 here. But if it's rubber...BMW's rubber stuff is really good at treating it.

 

[Wadula]

i guess any kind of plastic treatment stuff will do the job. the thing i use is called armorall. don´t know if it is familiar. it works well on the outside. for interiour i do not recommend it, as it makes the treated surface very shiny and almost greasy.
unfortunately it does not last for ever and after a rainy day the effect is gone. furthermore i do not know how well it works with way older materials. nothing against an old E30, it´s just that due to age the material is in another condition, you know?

 

[vlad]

If i'm not mistaken, the front are plastic while the rears are rubber, at least that is the way it is with the '86 325 that we own. A good rubber cleaner followed by a protectant should help the rear, but you may need to remobe the fronts and use a plastic paint to help them. Replacement would be the better option, but I think the price may be a deterent.

 

[epj3]

If i'm not mistaken, the front are plastic while the rears are rubber, at least that is the way it is with the '86 325 that we own. A good rubber cleaner followed by a protectant should help the rear, but you may need to remobe the fronts and use a plastic paint to help them. Replacement would be the better option, but I think the price may be a deterent.

Well thats the thing about replacement -- it's not worth it becuase it'll get oxidized after 2 years anyways, and for how expensive they will be it's not worth it. I talked to the parts guy and he said theres not much to be done except buy some of the black rubber paint that bav auto sells.

Tim: I bought Mother's "Back-to-black" plastic polish which did a GREAT job on the trim AROUND the bumper and on my mirrors, but when I applied this (i believe it's silicone based) to the front bumper, it looked good for no more than 5 minutes, then the polish just sort of evaporated.

 

[xLibelle]

the thing i use is called armorall. don´t know if it is familiar. it works well on the outside. for interiour i do not recommend it, as it makes the treated surface very shiny and almost greasy.

LMAO, Tim, i wont rag on you that badly because you live in germany, but in the US, you cant NOT know about armorall - its so in our face due to its popularity, yet not a great product.


Eric, i guess the black parts you mean are the rubber on the bumpers? well i had fading too, but i have the body colored bumpers and those have plastic trim. i ended up taking a sharp knife/blade/exacto and shaving the surface at 90 degrees, just to take the surface off and sanding it with some really fine grade (like 800 and then a 2000) paper and used Tim's favorite product (mine too actually - gotta love those 'wipes').

coyotefreek, those parts are pretty expansive

...let me see what pics i still have from a bumper and valance detailing tutorial i was planning to write up