aging shadowline trim treatment?

[gareth]

my tourer has shadowline trim round the doors. at least that's what i think it's called, not the chrome trim!!! you know the stuff!

it's looking aged and a bit grey now. what should i use on it to revive it? i don't think i should go anywhere near it with wax or polish as it'll go white and streaky and i'm still not sure about silicons stuff as that would make it shiny which it shouldn't be afaik.

short of repainting it, what can i do?

[kevin316i]

The shadowline trim is painted black so so colour coded polish should help revive its colour. However, if you are not sure, try it on a small section first.

[gareth]

i've seen them done both glossy and matt.

what were they like new?

[d6dph]

I think it was a satin finish, I have been using Meguiars trim detailer and applying, leaving for a few minutes and then buffing off to leave it black but matt finished.

Hth
Dave

[gareth]

i've been using that stuff but i'm not as impressed now as i was. it's gone in a week with no driving and no washing!

i'm sticking to putting bumper/trim stuff on it as that does look better than grey and patchy but it still doesn't look 'right'

[d6dph]

In a week? mines been done for just over two weeks of constant exposure to the elements and one wash with no fading at all?

Seems odd mate.

[gareth]

how do you apply yours? i kind of rub it in, a bit like wax and then wipe off any excess after a few mins

[d6dph]

Just been thinking about this, Have you cleaned the trim before you first applied the meguiars stuff.

If you have a silicone based trim product on there to start with it may not let the meguiars stuff actually treat the trim?

I used the Einsett plastic cleaner that Jon recomended for my dash to clean any old products off of the trim before i applied a different product. Maybe they just wont work together?

[d6dph]

how do you apply yours? i kind of rub it in, a bit like wax and then wipe off any excess after a few mins

I use a small square of sponge to apply a small amount, working in very small circles, work around the car, have a cuppa (most inportant step imo) and then lightly buff with a clean microfibre towel.

[gareth]

i didn't clean other than a car detergent and water. there hasn't been any silicone goo on there for a year or so and for most of that time it was parked on the seafront getting sand/salt blasted so there wasn't much of anything left on it

[e30bemer]

some times i use a bumper gel, that works leave a film on them that repels dirt and other nasty stuff, but coz my old mans a valeter, i got it from his van, but i think u can get it from a car accessory shop! or valeting shops!