E30 Zone

Hello,

Just wanted to ask for some advice.

What's the best way to return the black trim running down the side of the car back to a nice black colour.

Some of the trim on mine has faded a sort of grey but other areas a really nice and black.

Do they have to be painted or is there a dye or polish of some sort that can fix this.

Thank you.

Dye I would use, As it's like a different plastic to the ones on the bumpers. There's a guy that has done this to his front grilles, you could use the same thing. Search for Grill replacement or something should come up with result.

Could even use Back to Black, the liquid version works just as well. not as long lasting though.

Great, i think i'll go for one of those back to black sprays, as i don't think i'd be able to apply the dye without getting some on my paint!

Cheers for the help.

Also, another quetion. My shadowline trim seems to have chipped in a few places. Is there anything i can do to return the shadowline back to black? I assume my only choice would be to paint it black again seeing as it's metal?

Thanks in advance.

Yeh the shadow line you can paint satin Matt black, that's the closest to the original colour and condition I guess and the back to black liquid from turtle wax come very easyly off with a tissue, the dye I am unsure as to whether it stains but the back to black liquid is fine I've always used it works a treat everytime, specially the number plate trim. It's a little messy but ever stains the paint just clean it with a wet tissue and then a dry one. It won't harm the paint.

I used Auto glym bumper restorer that i found knocking around in my garage on the black plastics,rubbers, door handles and the metal shadowline bits.You dont need much to do the lot and its lasted through the boiling hot days and hammering rain of the past 2 weeks and still looks good.Dunno how much it costs tho as it was in a free car care kit my wife got with her new car... 8 years ago!!

Use linseed oil or take the trim off and paint it, or use forever black trim dye on ebay, apparently its the same stuff they use on cars when there new and do the trim.

Or black trim wax.

Ok, how do they come off?

Might take them off and dye them?

Cheers

Clips, just slide one way then pull, be careful though not to damage the clips, is it just the trim down the side of the car you want to do or bumpers aswell? The forever black dye or painting it is the only permanent solution.

Just the ones down the side of the car.

Can I use the dye whilst the trim is still attached to the car.
Will it cause any damage to the red paint?

Thanks

I guess it may stain, but then would come off with tcut or something, personally I would mask it off with newspaper and masking tape. Have you found the dye yet on ebay?

The black trims that run down the side of the car are attached with a 9mm plastic nut. The front doors nut is just on the inner edge, undo this then pry it off until you get to the clip closests to the wing, then slide it backwards to remove.

If you have a 4 door, the nut is behind a rubber grommet on the inner side nearer the hinges. Then same thing as above when removing.

If a 2 door car, the part that runs on the rear quarter, the 9mm nut is in the rear wheel arch, again, once undone, pry off then slide out once you get to the end.

Ok I see,
I think i may just find that dye then and mask it all out and dye it on the car.

I'll do a little test area to see if the dye comes off.

Thanks for the help chaps.

Definately worth taking them off to do it, it litterally takes a couple of seconds to get them off and just as easy to put them back on. Not so easy to remove the dye from your red paint work

Jim320i wrote:Definately worth taking them off to do it, it litterally takes a couple of seconds to get them off and just as easy to put them back on. Not so easy to remove the dye from your red paint work

Hmm, ok, i think i shall take them off and dye them then.

Does anyone know how long the dye will last?

Same length of time as brand new trim from the factory if applied properly so 10 years roughly depending on how well its looked after.

Jim320i wrote:The black trims that run down the side of the car are attached with a 9mm plastic nut. The front doors nut is just on the inner edge, undo this then pry it off until you get to the clip closests to the wing, then slide it backwards to remove.

If you have a 4 door, the nut is behind a rubber grommet on the inner side nearer the hinges. Then same thing as above when removing.

If a 2 door car, the part that runs on the rear quarter, the 9mm nut is in the rear wheel arch, again, once undone, pry off then slide out once you get to the end.

Ok thanks

So, just to confirm, one nut on the door, one nut in the rear wheel tub, but what about the nut for the front wing...Where is that one?

Thanks a lot for the help. I don't want to break any clips lol!

The front wing ones, I think just pop out, but wait for someone to confirm on that!