MK5 Golf GTI
General => Detailing => Topic started by: Chris92 on April 20, 2014, 07:50:25 pm
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Is there anything I can use to make my honey combed grill of my gti back to black? It's has faded by the looks of it, it's nearly grey. Want something that looks OEM.
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Im yet to do mine but I tried a section with autoglym vinyl and rubber care and it does good job. I use it on the side skirts rear valance etc and it last a while easily couple of months depending how dirty your car gets. I havent done the upper and lower grills yet as it prob take a while to do a nice job.
Results are nice mid sheen without it looking greasy and gets rid of the greyness
Looks very OEM IMO
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Carpro DLUX for a long term solution.
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Yeh, Carpro DLUX or Gtechniq C4 (or C1/C5, it's all the same).
These products seem to last as long as I keep cars... one application then I can forget about it. Most other products (e.g. poorboys) are good and cheap but only last a couple of washes.
With Carpro DLUX or Gtechniq C4 make sure you prep it properly. It's a bit like painting...all about getting the surface right before application. The are plenty of guides out there... I would look to get it visibly clean then use IPA.
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Just done mine with c4 looks like new now :happy2:
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Gloss Plastikote :happy2:
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Hi,
Plasti cote is the way to go, just done both upper and lower grilles in satin black, put them back on about an hour ago and looks sooo much better!Cheap and not too much work really!
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303 Aerospace Protectant. Reply #88 shows a pic, good stuff and easy to use. Next best thing to getting the Grills painted IMO......
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,76801.75.html
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303 Aerospace Protectant. Reply #88 shows a pic, good stuff and easy to use. Next best thing to getting the Grills painted IMO......
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,76801.75.html
That look great what a difference the black grill makes. How long do you find it lasts before you need to do it again? Seems to be a number of jobs you can use that product on.
Cheers for the help everyone il bare the more semi permanent finish products in mind but I think for now il try the spray on ones either autogylm rubber and vinyl care or the 303 protectant.
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The 303 lasts a while, doesn't need applying again (just yet). :happy2:
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The 303 lasts a while, doesn't need applying again (just yet). :happy2:
The 303 looks great, how do you use it? Might sound daft asking but only because the carpro dlux or gtechniq needs good prep first I've read from various places.
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303 is good for UV protection on a new grill already in a good condition however for an already faded grill any trim gel/spray type product will soon fade back to grey, depends how badly it's faded though.. Mc71's looked really good compared to some! (eg mine! hah)
303 is a great product i don't personally think it will give the results you want.
it's also about the same price as DLUX... Dlux requires just a thorough clean with soap and water.. you are supposed to use car pro eraser on the surface you are using but as a test we used DLUX on a panel with no prep other than a wipe with QD and it's still going about 6 weeks after.
you can just use IPA or cleaning alcohol in place .
maybe plasti dip would be a good solution...painting would be awkward and chip off :(
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If you're feeling brave :scared:
Obv. take the grille off the car first :grin:
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Gtechniq C4 is amazing :) its a permanent trim restorer, should bring it up like new
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I put 303 on my grills the other day when I got a chance to clean my car.
so i'll see how long it lasts.
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I put 303 on my grills the other day when I got a chance to clean my car.
so i'll see how long it lasts.
How's it holding up, still going strong?
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Haven't had a chance to clean the car as I've been working hideous hours in London, what free time I had was spent on another car :sad1: :sad1: :sad1:
This weekend will hopefully bring a bit of time for a clean and I'll report back with some pics!
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I plasti dipped my previous car's grill, lower grill and fog light grills and lasted over a year without one stone chip and hardly faded at all. Make sure you buy the genuine stuff though as there are a lot of water downed fakes about on eBay etc.
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Just used C4 On my front grills they look amazing once again
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Just used C4 On my front grills they look amazing once again
Hi mate I'm looking to get some c4 soon, what did u use to apply it in the small areas of grill?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
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It'll no doubt be massively frowned upon :signLOL: but I just used some "back to black" type trim restorer I had lying around, it was either Car plan or turtle wax, the grill looked fantastic and to be honest it lasted until I sold the car about 12mths later.
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I used cotton wool bud things for your ears. Just keep swapping for a fresh one then buff off with a cheap micro fibre.
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Did my grills with autoglym trim restorer almost 2 weeks ago, what a PITA they are. Starting to fade already though so won't be buying it again in a hurry.
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I washed my Car on Saturday night then on Sunday morning I decided to try some 303 aerospace on my gti front grill, wasn't sure on best way to apply so I just sprayed on then with a brush I worked it in all the cracks then finally I used a towel and dried up what was left.
All looked good but next morning it seems to have gone back to grey :confused: any ideas? Maybes how I applied it or I was thinking next time I should use a apc on the grill first and see it the 303 lasts this time.
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'Carplan tyre slik' creates a really black glossy finish that lasts quite well... I'm sure there's more specific products though...
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I washed my Car on Saturday night then on Sunday morning I decided to try some 303 aerospace on my gti front grill, wasn't sure on best way to apply so I just sprayed on then with a brush I worked it in all the cracks then finally I used a towel and dried up what was left.
All looked good but next morning it seems to have gone back to grey :confused: any ideas? Maybes how I applied it or I was thinking next time I should use a apc on the grill first and see it the 303 lasts this time.
Make sure the plastics are dry... spray it on and leave it for like an hour then wipe off any excess ..
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Posted in General section but worth posting here too. I used Poorboy's APC.
Suffice to say it required some TLC :scared: this is how it looked before using Poorboy's APC:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg822%2F2060%2Fv7dp.jpg&hash=671a11eda1fdc4ee4dabd559a8838deeba80f640)
So i set to work with Meg's QD to ensure a workable clean surface and then went back over the grill, getting into all those wonderful honeycombs with the Poorboy's APC. Once applied I buffed it off with a fresh dry microfibre cloth.
This is one half of the upper grill done (compare and contrast for a before and after):
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg823%2F3051%2Fc0dh.jpg&hash=b0adbd5924bd909cecbe0a1c9b209e423ce030d2)
And this is job [nearly] done:
EDIT this is actually a wider shot of half the grill done and half of the grill in poor condition - thought my workmanship was looking a bit shoddy compared with my usual standards :scared: :grin:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg855%2F8521%2Fyzdx.jpg&hash=6c89e19be444de9835c96efce679f7c99cb21aae)
Or at least job done for now because it's such a mind numbing task. Having spent about an hour on the upper section of the grill (it was in a poor condition not only colour-wise but also in terms of grit and dirt build up in all the cracks and crevices) I couldn't bring myself to tackle the bottom section so I'll leave that for tomorrow. :popcornsoda:
That should last for about a month or so before it slowly begins to fade once more.
Looking at the photos i'll probably have to go over it again to see if i can get a slightly better finish. It's much better than it was but once you start improving something the goal quickly becomes perfection or as close as damn it! :laugh:
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^^ isn't poorboys apc just a all purpose cleaner and not a dressing? Have you use just the apc and nothing else?
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sorry fella, i've been calling it by the wrong name, as you get older names are meaningless, the ones that count are the ones that you give to things/people :signLOL:
Seriously, I bought it a good couple of years ago so the name has obviously escaped me. It's actually Poorboy's Natural Look. It is an APC in as much that it lists that it can be used on vinyl, leather, tyre dressing, etc but it is known for restoring OEM look to plastic trims - other dudes use it achieving similar results so it is definitely proven for use in this task.
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Day 2 with the Poorboy's Natural Look.
1st up it had rained over night and deposited grit and sand in the grill :sick: so a quick wipe down with Megs QD was performed before making a second application of Poorboy's Natural Look. This time i didn't buff it off, i just let it settle and dry which is the alternative way of using this product, said to give a bit more of a gloss look.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg819%2F7453%2Fm6tu.jpg&hash=0914b2aa2bdf8b91d3e9963ef03f309b2d5622f6)
Then it was the bottom section of the grill, again prepping with Megs QD before applying PB NL - i'll make another pass with it tomorrow. Finally i did the fog light sections, the side skirts:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg855%2F9732%2Fthki.jpg&hash=2d4190d1d431c288813216f6854b209fb5092139)
and then the rear valance:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg822%2F4310%2Fqn3e.jpg&hash=359388ee1766fe2e6c47a39baece2436db10e8f3)
All in all she doesn't look too shabby for a 7 year old :drool:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg842%2F2784%2Flhec4.jpg&hash=007d739a60b0eee3a78588e00d2a4fb3d2107da3)
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That does look like a massive difference! The damn grill is so time consuming to clean though...
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yes it is time consuming but like all things involving detailing your car, you only get out what you put in effort-wise :happy2:
that's why i have to bow down to the pros, 4 hours for me and i'm bored. Think my record is 7 or 8 hours and i was spent and still had a finish no where near what a pro could achieve in that time but to amateurs like you and me and to the lazy sods who live where i live and never touch their cars it looked like a magnificent pearl! :party:
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I just can't justify it... would rather pay somebody to spend that time! I only really get one day off a week and, although I enjoy cleaning my car, I cant spent any more than an hour on it!
Oh and the missus comes looking for me after an hour... apparantly my days off are better spent on DIY in the house :sick:
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sorry fella, i've been calling it by the wrong name, as you get older names are meaningless, the ones that count are the ones that you give to things/people :signLOL:
Seriously, I bought it a good couple of years ago so the name has obviously escaped me. It's actually Poorboy's Natural Look. It is an APC in as much that it lists that it can be used on vinyl, leather, tyre dressing, etc but it is known for restoring OEM look to plastic trims - other dudes use it achieving similar results so it is definitely proven for use in this task.
No worries :happy2: I was just thinking this guy will be disappointed when he goes to work tomorrow and finds all his work has gone back to gray and faded if he's only used a apc.
I found using 303 that it was a breeze to do the grills on the front and had them done in no time, from what I know the poorboys dressing isn't a spray type but 303 is so it will be quicker and easier using a spray type on the grills I'd say and it'll say you time.
When I snow my car I use one of my little brushes and give the grills a quick clean as the snow foam dwells then after I've washed car etc I spray the 303 onto the grill and use a brush again to get it into the honey combed grill, leave it for a hour and then finally wipe up any excess. No ball ache what so ever, pretty quick and easy :happy2:
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Just used some C4 on the grill, it was pretty faded. Looks much better now....still not black tho....
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fn179%2Fmattmiciak%2Fgrillb4_zps015b089e.jpg&hash=ff9f7a83d1a356ef08f1c0e19a4664e4ca68ddbb)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fn179%2Fmattmiciak%2Fgrilla_zps35868a74.jpg&hash=ade53f8895c0077394c1e0a2afc97246bee65e21)
I think next time I'll paint it....
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i love c4 :jumpmove:
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Just bumping this up to see how the various products held up? How long did the finishes last before needing redone?
My grill is badly faded and I'd prefer to buy a new grill than have to reapply something every couple of months.
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ever think of hydro dipping?
not sure how it stands up to stone chips like
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I gave my old one a spray with satin black spray paint, only take a couple of seconds to take off and a few hours to dry, by far the best results i can imagine, did the fog light surrounds as well to the same results
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Was it not a pain in the ass to prep? Or did you just clean then spray? No sanding?
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Was it not a pain in the ass to prep? Or did you just clean then spray? No sanding?
Just took the badges off masked up the large panel gave it a good clean with the rough edge of a sponge, nothing to serious and loads of light coats to add the colour, the paint stuck perfect and left the same finish as plastic, ill be doing the same to my new grill when the weather gets a bit better
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My current state at the moment. If your wondering, a rabbit took my gti badge off and picking up a new one tomorrow. I want to get my grills done first tho.
So we're leaning to 303 over C4?
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fzz151%2FGTiBlues%2FDSC_1102_zpssqccknz6.jpg&hash=e697de190907075b77ba3e47ba9f95ac3cc21c7d)
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Was it not a pain in the ass to prep? Or did you just clean then spray? No sanding?
Just took the badges off masked up the large panel gave it a good clean with the rough edge of a sponge, nothing to serious and loads of light coats to add the colour, the paint stuck perfect and left the same finish as plastic, ill be doing the same to my new grill when the weather gets a bit better
Good job. How long ago did you do it and hows it holding up?
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My current state at the moment. If your wondering, a rabbit took my gti badge off and picking up a new one tomorrow. I want to get my grills done first tho.
So we're leaning to 303 over C4?
This is great stuff, (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F61nbCC8724L._SL1440_.jpg&hash=5755d9b47d8180a32158928aff7ec239467943d6)
I tried C4 and it didn't really do alot tbh, it didn't restore it to the factory colour, unlike the autotek. C4 is a good product for sure, just not the right one for this job.
Matt
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Was it not a pain in the ass to prep? Or did you just clean then spray? No sanding?
Just took the badges off masked up the large panel gave it a good clean with the rough edge of a sponge, nothing to serious and loads of light coats to add the colour, the paint stuck perfect and left the same finish as plastic, ill be doing the same to my new grill when the weather gets a bit better
Good job. How long ago did you do it and hows it holding up?
I did it a few weeks after buying my old gti it lasted over a year with me and its been sold now so i couldnt tell ya, even if its once every year or so it beats monthly
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My current state at the moment. If your wondering, a rabbit took my gti badge off and picking up a new one tomorrow. I want to get my grills done first tho.
So we're leaning to 303 over C4?
This is great stuff, (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F61nbCC8724L._SL1440_.jpg&hash=5755d9b47d8180a32158928aff7ec239467943d6)
I tried C4 and it didn't really do alot tbh, it didn't restore it to the factory colour, unlike the autotek. C4 is a good product for sure, just not the right one for this job.
Matt
Wheres the best place to buy? I don't know if a trader on here sells it. If not I'll Google it
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Amazon blud!
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I bought a twin pack on ebay :happy2:
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I'll be doing this again in May - the cleaning method not the spray paint jobby. It will have been nearly a year since i touched it by then so it will be interesting to see the before shot :grin:
Hopefully the after will be satisfactory (going to use sonax this time) otherwise i will be looking to do a spray paint jobby :laugh:
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I bought a twin pack on ebay :happy2:
How did you get on with this?
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I use auto finesse revive on most similar plastics and always happy with the results. Normally lasts 6 months.
My own 2010 leon has a small grille round the "S" badge and a similar one below the number plate and it works a treat on that.
Takes a little time to apply but well worth it. Microfiber aplicator pad wrapped round a finger and dont buff it off.
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Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber Care :congrats:
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Autoglym I found very good and indeed is very similar to the auto finesse but I found the following -
when it rains the autoglym can leave a streak from the plastic down any painted surface
The autoglym doesn't dry as well so it allows dust to stick to it
The autoglym tends to stay a little tacky so subsequent washes seem to "coat" the wash mit.
Could have changed though as I stopped using the autoglym about 5 years ago - I still have some in the garage, tucked away at the back of the cupboard somewhere I'm sure. LOL
I still use a lot of their other products such as glass polish and extra gloss protection so not rubishing their products.
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Autoglym I found very good and indeed is very similar to the auto finesse but I found the following -
when it rains the autoglym can leave a streak from the plastic down any painted surface
The autoglym doesn't dry as well so it allows dust to stick to it
The autoglym tends to stay a little tacky so subsequent washes seem to "coat" the wash mit.
Could have changed though as I stopped using the autoglym about 5 years ago - I still have some in the garage, tucked away at the back of the cupboard somewhere I'm sure. LOL
I still use a lot of their other products such as glass polish and extra gloss protection so not rubishing their products.
Agree :notworthy: