sorry if repost...I searched but could not find.

My MCS's lower front black grill is getting slightly faded and needs some detailing.

After washing/cleaning the black grill, what are you guys spraying on
to keep it nice and black (but not shiny)? i guess my last option
would be to get a swab and coat each honeycomb with Back-To-Black...


Thanks!

 

Ken,

Try meguires vinyl and rubber cleaner/conditioner #40--apply with long bristled brush (like griots boars hair)--dries to a nice matte finish.

 

^^ thank you! will give that a shot.

 

Oh man, i was going to ask the same question. I'm sure you can apply the same product on the black moldings all around the MINI...right? Cause, i look at my molding around the car and it looks faded and "not new" looking, considering i got the car in October '05.

 

Who has the time to do it by hand???

I spray the lower grille with Stoners Trim Shine. Takes 10 seconds and looks great.

 

Look, i'm 19 and i bought this $35 000 MINI (cdn) for a reason...to take my sweet a$$ time and lather it with the best possible products on the market because i want to make it look brand new. Any objections...

BTW thanks for sharing the product you use. "Stoners Trim Shine", i'll look into it.

Giancarlo

 

Just a test. You ARE one of us!!!!

 

^^ LOL i knew it, i just didn't see it coming

...that was good...

Giancarlo

 

Hee, hee! But I really do like Trim Shine for those hard to reach areas. I use it in places under the hood and in the plastic wheel well liners also. Makes things look really black and clean.

 

Out of curiousity, how long does it last until dirt starts to stick on...FOR GOOD...i'm asking this because my brother used to put "wheel gel" to make it look shinny and when i asked him about it, he told me, "YEA! it's great! for the first 2 minutes of driving and then u'll notice dirt and debris stuck on your molding...you should try it..."

Giancarlo

 

It dries and doesn't attract dirt.

 

When the lower grill on mine gets dirty, I uses a couple dozen cotton swabs and some cleaner to go in every opening and cleand out the dirt. This seems to make it look new again.

 

guys, i tried the Meguiar's Rubber and Vinyl protectant on the grill. took me like 2hrs to finish, but it looks GREAT! thanks roddw!

i used an empty yogurt cup and sprayed like 5-6 times into the cup
and used a soft paint brush. then i cleaned up the 'over brush' with
a towel, waxed the paint around the grill afterwards.

very matt finish. i then took an old rag and just wiped the grill (each
honeycomb) until it was dry. woohoo~! car looks new again.

 

That's really good to know Ken...thanks for coming up with the question and giving us the results...

 

^^ yep. Im also going to try BradB's stoner's (wat a name) trim sauce
next time.

 

I wash the lower grill with plenty of soapy solution then use a blower to get all the water out of the holes. Once it's dry I lightly spray VinylX onto it. Any residual that drips out is spread out onto the surrounding moulding. Also use VinylX on all the trim around the car. Looks great and is long lasting.

 

^^ where can i get this VinylX stuff?

 

I usually get it at PepBoys. I was using it yesterday and noted I spelled it incorrectly - it's Vinylex. Manufactured by Lexol - information is at www.lexol.com/vinindex.html

 

Great Ken--glad to hear it worked! That stuff is my fav for tires too.

But man, we've got to come up with a quicker solution than 2 hours!?

 

I have been using Vinylex for the past four years and have no need to explore anything else.....great product. I use it on my dash, too. My lower front grill is metal, so I have no need for it there.

 

aha! will check this out. thanks.

 

considering waxing a car takes 3-5 hours, that's not too bad?

 

just replace it with some thing thats easier to clean & lets in more air & larger rocks to pulverize your condenser.

 

^^ does your cat live down there too?

 

^^ oooOOOOOOooooo! ...

(i don't mean to offend)

Giancarlo