MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring

Nics · #1 10-06-2006, 10:55 AM

You can buy THIS from Walmart for $4

That'll make your exterior trim look like THIS if you miss a few spots while working on the car.

The lighter spot is where I missed while wiping Cherise down since I was working in the dark. The trim is not dirty, as I washed my car and then wiped the trim with the leather cleaner after I was done hand drying her.

You can see the original sized pics at my album here: http://www.moronics.net/gallery/cars/trimtricks/ -- I'll take some more pics afterwards when I decide to wipe her down again before going out and showing her off tonight. ;)

I had a pro detailer tip me off on this trick so I figured I'd share it with you all.

More pics since it's Friday and I can be lazy about working and play with cars instead.

ImagoX · #2 10-06-2006, 11:14 AM

Does that product have UV blockers? I see it's intended for leather. Meguiar's vinyl and rubber trim sauce contains blockers that will help keep the trim from fading due to sun exposure, and I know other products intended for plastic do as well. Just checking...

Nics · #3 10-06-2006, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImagoX

Does that product have UV blockers? I see it's intended for leather. Meguiar's vinyl and rubber trim sauce contains blockers that will help keep the trim from fading due to sun exposure, and I know other products intended for plastic do as well. Just checking...

It says its reistant to UV on the package.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

nics- home depot has some nice flouresent desk lights that are super
bright and only like $20. i use that to detail the lower part of the cars
when more lighting is needed.

Good looking out. I might have to invest in one or two of them, but we'll see since I still need furniture for the rest of the house.

kenchan · #4 10-06-2006, 11:20 AM

ImagoX- we no longer deal with cheap Meg off-the-shelf products, remember?

from Meg, the only acceptable sauce is Octaneguy reinforced #40.

Ords · #5 10-06-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

ImagoX- we no longer deal with cheap Meg off-the-shelf products, remember?

from Meg, the only acceptable sauce is Octaneguy reinforced #40.

"Only The Best Will Do" Club

kenchan · #6 10-06-2006, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ords

"Only The Best Will Do" Club

kenchan · #7 10-06-2006, 11:21 AM

nics- home depot has some nice flouresent desk lights that are super
bright and only like $20. i use that to detail the lower part of the cars
when more lighting is needed.

ImagoX · #8 10-06-2006, 12:02 PM

Super... I may have to try that. I usually don't like pre-wet wipes like this though, since they tend to dry out before I can use them, but it does look nice. Did you do all the trim with a single wipe?

Nics · #9 10-06-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImagoX

Super... I may have to try that. I usually don't like pre-wet wipes like this though, since they tend to dry out before I can use them, but it does look nice. Did you do all the trim with a single wipe?

Yeah, it was pretty soaked right out of the bottle which I didn't like, but ~15 mins after I wiped it, the trim looked dry. And yeah, I only used one wipe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwardell

Show it to me after two days of rain.

And for the record, you can do it even cheaper with peanut or olive oil.

Will do. It's supposed to rain for like 4 days next week; I shall post updates.

Oh and I like to eat peanut butter, otherwise I wouldn't mind putting it on my car.

kenchan · #10 10-06-2006, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImagoX

Super... I may have to try that. I usually don't like pre-wet wipes like this though, since they tend to dry out before I can use them, but it does look nice. Did you do all the trim with a single wipe?

i don't like those wipes either. I got Meg's freebie interior wipes which
does fine, but if that had dressing in it the first couple of strokes are
going to be too much content and hard to evenly disperse afterwards.

jwardell · #11 10-06-2006, 12:04 PM

Show it to me after two days of rain.

And for the record, you can do it even cheaper with peanut or olive oil.

MiniMaybee · #12 10-06-2006, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwardell

Show it to me after two days of rain.

And for the record, you can do it even cheaper with peanut or olive oil.

May be time for another update to your excellent trim test. If you do you should add the stuff from Detailers Paradise as well as this leather care stuff. You did such a good job with procedure and documentation on your other two tests I think you should be elected as the definitive trim detailer stuff ruler of the world!

scatpack · #13 10-06-2006, 12:39 PM

Ah.. but what happens after the first rain?

ImagoX · #14 10-06-2006, 12:40 PM

We shall see...

jwardell · #15 10-06-2006, 01:11 PM

Another update? Three tests and over a dozen products weren't enough?
Sure there are other products that should be similar to products I have tested, but my wallet is empty!

Nics · #16 10-06-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwardell

... but my wallet is empty!

I know how that goes.

ImagoX · #17 10-06-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwardell

Another update? Three tests and over a dozen products weren't enough?
Sure there are other products that should be similar to products I have tested, but my wallet is empty!

Oh fine... NOW we see how you are. Giving up after only a few tests like that!

MiniMaybee · #18 10-06-2006, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwardell

Another update? Three tests and over a dozen products weren't enough?
Sure there are other products that should be similar to products I have tested, but my wallet is empty!

Having funky stripes on your trim and tires wasn't reward enough to compensate for the out of pocket money?

myzamboni · #19 10-06-2006, 02:34 PM

I use NXT Cockpit Shine on all the black exterior bits. Works great! (just don't use on the tires!!!

)

jwardell · #20 10-10-2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiniMaybee

Having funky stripes on your trim and tires wasn't reward enough to compensate for the out of pocket money?

Hah yes, and they were quite noticable! The strange bands went away just yesterday, when I finally had the chance to wash the car and finish applying the forever black on the remaining 3/4 of the trim. It sure is a pain taping the curved wheel trim. And one more thing, the cleaner included with the kit does nothing. But who cares...my trim now looks like it did two years ago

kenchan · #21 10-06-2006, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwardell

but my wallet is empty!

if you have cash left, you're not doing something right!

MiniMaybee · #22 10-10-2006, 11:51 AM

**Detailers Paradise** · #23 10-10-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiniMaybee

Having funky stripes on your trim and tires wasn't reward enough to compensate for the out of pocket money?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwardell

Hah yes, and they were quite noticable!

I know what you mean... my car (aka my dog's car) currently has trim "stripes" all over the back end from various test products! I keep getting tempted to just end the testing and finish it off, but then I decide to hold out. It's tough though! I feel for you. Glad you're done testing for now so you can have your trim back.

-Heather

MiniMaybee · #24 10-11-2006, 01:26 PM

So Heather, perhaps you can share what your testing involved and what the results proved to be.

**Detailers Paradise** · #25 10-11-2006, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiniMaybee

So Heather, perhaps you can share what your testing involved and what the results proved to be.

Certainly!

I was/am (unofficially) testing the durability of these 3 products...

303 Aerospace Protectant
Prima Nero Vinyl/Rubber
Wizards Black Renew (currently not available online; only in the retail store)

... on exterior plastic trim which is exposed to almost constant sun for at least 8 hours per day, in a blacktopped parking lot, located at around 5,000 feet above sea level (read: rather close to the sun and UV rays!).

I started the test in mid-June. By now (4 months later), the 303 AP and Prima Nero have worn off, as expected. What is really amazing is that the Wizards Black Renew is still on there! Hence, the funny looking stripes I've created on the back of Finn's car. Luckily, dogs don't mind the look.

The Wizards has faded just a little by now but has not completely worn off. By comparison to the control group area (which looks like a beater car's trim, complete with some white residue), the Wizards area still looks like a new or semi-new car's trim. By comparison to the freshly applied Wizards look back in June, and even the look in August, it seems a little faded now. Still there though!

Unfortunately, I did this test as the result of a random thought in the middle of a random summer day... I didn't take any before photos nor any along the way!

I also didn't document when the other 2 faded... I remember thinking that they both lasted longer than I thought they would in that intense direct sun, but I really don't know when. I was having a competition for which could go longest, as opposed to how long each lasts. It wasn't one of our "official" product tests... just a random act on my part. Now, I wish I had just made it official and documented along the way!

I can always do another winter round here soon... this time I'll do it officially and have more details for you! I think I would also add 1 or 2 more products if I do a winter round.

-Heather