The plastic on my wife's '14 R57 convertible still looks good. What's the best treatment to keep it that way?

I'm not looking to resurrect gray faded plastic here. More to keep it looking good over time.

 

Everyone seems to swear by Black Wow. It was created by a MINI fan back in the day. I've just started using it and I like it.

 

Aerospace 303 works great to preserve and protect. I use it on my clubby and it works great...

 

I am thinking based upon the plastic being an oil based product and UV from the sun, there is not too much out there that will "preserve" the trim. Perhaps some Chemical PE will chime in.

 

I use Mother's Back to Black... don't let the name fool you, you can use it on any color of plastic, works great for me and the different types of trim on my 5 cars and 2 motorcycles.


Motor On!

 

303

 

+1 for Black Wow!
http://www.blackwow.com/

 

+1

 

Any fans of using Penetrol? I have seen several people recommend Penetrol but I have no actual experience using it. Anybody that has please chime in with some before/after pics and application recommendations etc.

 

+1

 

Another vote for this stuff. I'll smear a decent coat on all the black trim after I wash the car, and it keep it looking decent for a longer time than if I didn't apply it.

 

back in my early Miata days there was plenty of discussion about preserving the top which was vinyl ... the two recommended products were 303 and Zymol Vinyl .....

After playing around with both I settled on Zy and have been using it on rubber, vinyl, dark plastic ete etc for years. I sold my Miata at 12 years and the top looked like new ..... and the dash had no cracks (a Miata issue)

I use it still today ..... not cheap, but a little goes a LONG way. Not a gloss finish and prefered application is when the surface is HOT!

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recent issue of MiniWorld has a comment on the topic in the Q&A section .... they recommend shoe polish!!!!! In a by-line titled RUBBER REVIVAL: "Renovating boot polish is very useful for re-colouring plastic and rubber components."

They do continue to mention that 'renovating shoe polish' is not the same as standard shoe polish and therefore more difficult to find. BUT it has been found to last SEVERAL YEARS between applications . . . examples were Land Rover bumper caps and dash switches .....

 

I've used Back to Black and Black Wow. Black Wow wins. I've used the same little bottle for years. Put in on with little makeup sponges.

 

I am no material science engineer. The biggest threat to plastic and rubber (and just about anything) is UV, and common car caring snake oil products, especially wax. Garaging a car makes incredible difference but not everyone has that option. I keep my outside vehicles covered especially in the summer sun.

 

+1 on the Aerospace 303, I use it on everything.

 

I use black wow and find it to work and last the longest
https://www.waymotorworks.com/black-...eaner-2oz.html

 

I used Wipe New similar which is similar to Black Wow. Dressings don't cut it, fade, and run out-mine has had it for 3 months after a decon and prep on the paint for sealant.
Even used it on my wife's late model Honda CRV that has as much or more black trim like the Mini.

 

After 13 years under the California sunshine and never being garaged, my car's trim does best with Black Wow. Back to Black is good and easier to apply, but doesn't last as long.

 

Which one lasts through rain the longest? I've been using Mothers back to black, and it can't survive even a single good rain and drive. I read the reviews on Black Wow on amazon and that seems to be the same feedback.

 

Back to Black doesn't last. It's like that spray on hair.

 

Black Wow will last through rain, but I recommend prepping the plastic with Pre Wow first if you've been using other products. Pre Wow will remove their residue so Black Wow actually makes it all the way to the plastic and can protect it.

For instance, I've been using a waterless wash system (which has a small amount of paint sealant in, and of course doesn't really get rinsed away) and noticed that Black Wow wasn't sticking to the trim like it used to - it would kind of smear over the surface. Pre Wow took care of that.

 

For OP's question about preserving black trim, I'd say 303--hands down. I've used it on everything from VWs to Mustangs to Porsches, and it has the best UV protection and natural-looking (i.e., low) sheen. It's also awesome on tires, IME lasting and looking better than tire-specific products (unless you like the super-shiny, almost greasy look, then you're probably better off with Armor All or whatever).

For restoring black trim, over the years I've tried everything/looked everywhere, then finally posed the question on a body shop owners forum earlier this year. They told me about this stuff, and on my car it has been amazing. It turned my sun-faded trim a uniformly deep black, and easily removed the baked-on streaks of wax left on the wheel well moldings by the PO. It also made my slightly faded lower valance and grill look like new. https://lmr.com/item/AT-01008/Auto-Tech-Trim-Re-Nu. YMMV, but I love this stuff. (Note, there is a product with a very similar name that is unrelated, make sure you know what you are buying.)

I think on our cars clean, new-looking trim is one of those subtle things that really make the car pop, so it's worth it to keep it, or get it, looking good. Just my $.02.

 

How much black wow is needed for all the black exterior trim on the MCS? Is that little bottle enough? What do you use toapply? Thanks!

 

I had a Miata for a LONG time

the base Miata had/s a Vinyl top

Miata groups - since WAY back - recommended 2 products

303 and ZYMOL Vinyl

I tried 303 and changed to Z'

My Miata top at 12 years still looked good .....

 

The recommended method is to put a tiny amount (the size of a pea) onto a foam applicator pad at a time. That much will cover most of a wheel arch on a Mini, believe it or not. If the plastic is faded, you'll have to use more, but one bottle will last for many, many applications.