How do people go about blackening the exterior trim plastic things?

ie. the door horizontal thingies, maybe the radiator grille, also the fuel cap.

tyre black?

Mine have stood up reasonably well to 19 years of Australian sunshine, the door parts are the most faded, especially the end pieces at either end of each horizontal. the fuel cap is probably most faded.

****

I noticed today when cleaning the gutter in the engine bay, where the front mudguard meets the body, water leaks through small holes (in the body panel) near where the two panels meet, runs down the inside and around the renix unit and battery, no wonder there's rust around the battery.

Does this indicate the mudguard panels have been removed at some time? I notice the bolts look like the paint has been cracked like they might have been undone at some time.

I'll plug the holes up with silicone or something.

*****

I know someone visiting UK, I'm wondering about getting some impossible-to-find here bits and pieces. the ambient temperature gauge is of most interest to me, maybe also the headlight wipers. ebay.co.uk the best place to look?

I have sprayed some of my trim with black paint. This is ok on hard plastic but on rubbery plasic it will crack and look shite.

I used some proper trim blackner gell stuff that you rub it. but I think it faded back a bit since the summer. It was put on the day before the Taunton meet

VW guys use kiwi shoe dye (NOT polish) but I couldn't find any It seemed to do a superb job.

Finnaly I think I've heard that some type of oil that you put on cricket bats (linseed oil?) is good, but not sure about this.

I'm sure someone can collect parts for your friend to pick up.

cheers

James

I knew that membership of the VOC would come in useful some time. There was an article about this in 'Technical Driver' a few years ago.

...(Thumbs through copies of TD)...

...Well, blow me, I recognise that "1991 340 1.4 GL fitted with Hella grill, CD player, 4 channel speakers etc. and blue illuminated footwells" in issue 117...

Ah, here we are, issue 115 - U-POL PLAST X paint kit. Set of five aerosol cans:

• 1 - Cleaner
• 2 - Adhesion promoter
• 3 - Primer filler
• 4 - Texturecoat
• 5 - Colourcoat

Find 'em on the web at http://www.u-pol.com/ (if it doesn't all sound too much like hard work).

Wow, that sounds like hardwork, and spray goes everywhere. The stuff I got is just a gel. You put some on a rag, rub it into the trim and buff it off with another rag.

Cornholio wrote:...Well, blow me, I recognise that "1991 340 1.4 GL fitted with Hella grill, CD player, 4 channel speakers etc. and blue illuminated footwells" in issue 117...

But what is this car of which you speak Wish I had the time to get it that shiney again at the moment!