Hello all,

I just wanted to know what is the best product to use to make my black panels clean and glossy. Sometimes when I notice i'm just using a a regular towel, I would see some dirt streaks still no matter how much I wipe it.

Lots of information at http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20314

my favorite favorite plastic tx is 303 protectant. imo it's the best there is for plastic and rubber, inside and out.


Katherine

Well if you had a real element I would say 303 Aerospace, but since you have an EX-P, then there is no hope for you :rolleyes:

hehe, just kidding. You can just use the same wax or detail spray that you use on the rest of the car.

my recomendation is Turtle wax ice. I just did mine yesterday and it is real nice!

Well if you had a real element I would say 303 Aerospace, but since you have an EX-P, then there is no hope for you :rolleyes:



By the pic in the avatar and what I remember about '05 models (the Rally Red was only available w/ black composite pannels) I think there is a mix up somewhere in keeranbri's profile. :wink:

Will

By the pic in the avatar and what I remember about '05 models (the Rally Red was only available w/ black composite pannels) I think there is a mix up somewhere in keeranbri's profile. :wink:

Will

Good catch. I didn't look at the picture or the year.

In this case, you should use the 303. Sorry I lumped you in with "the others" :-P

I gave up on the 303. I went to the Turtle wax Ice also . Now I only have to do the plastic twice a year. It looks good all the time now. No streaking or fading, like the 303 does, and the rain beads off with no spots.


Dom

Turtla Wax Ice is my pick also.

Its so easy to use.

Do you guys use the spray detailer for the Turtle Wax or the actual wax? I have the spray detailer which I use from time to time but haven't tried the wax on the panels.

Not sure what everyone else does but I use the Turtle Wax Ice Wax. I just put some on a rag and wipe it in. Let it sit for a while and wipe it off. It works great IMO.

Turtle wax Ice Liquid works great. Plus it takes very little if you use the supplied applicator.:D

go with the ICE, it works best!:D

Mother to black

mcquires (how do you spell that lol) the black can with the pic of the element on it. Goes on even and it looks good only thing is it's extremely toxic and not readily available everywhere.

mcquires (how do you spell that lol) the black can with the pic of the element on it. Goes on even and it looks good only thing is it's extremely toxic and not readily available everywhere.

I've tryed that on my E,it's Meguiars exterior trim detailer coating and it works pretty good,but smells terrible.

Here it is. http://www.meguiars.com/?car-trim-molding-care/Exterior-Trim-Coating

I've used various different products on my panels,but my current favorite product,that I think gives the best look and durability,is Meguiars Gold Class Dash & Trim foam protectant.
This stuff works and smells great,try it.:D

http://www.meguiars.com/?home-vinyl-rubber-care/Gold-Class-Dash---Trim-Foam-Protectant

My panels are sposed to be shiny?

I had bought some 303 to protect my tires on my van, then considered them too far gone and got new tires, so I had a large and a small bottle, maybe a quart and a pint?

I put almost a whole pint on the panels and tires today, made them look really black, of course they are pretty new. I realized after a while that I was spraying much of it as overspray, even though I was just spraying it onto a small rag rather than spraying it on the panels, I did spray it directly on the tires and for good measure the wheel covers, thought it might help with the brake dust. Brake dust on the rears, a new one for me.

Anyway, it seems like the plastic really soaks this stuff in. If I continue to use it, depending on how it holds up, may have to start buying by the gallon. I want to try the Turtle wax ice before making a gallon purchase though. I think the tires will forever get the 303 though, it is pretty doggone easy to apply and they look pretty good, plus I have read there is nothing better at preventing the crazing in the tire sidewalls, other than driving a lot. I tend to drive very little and have to replace tires due to the cracks before the tread wears. So I am going to use this stuff religiously. However, although sunlight is supposed to be a major factor in the cracks, ozone is also a culprit. I don't see my self crawling under the car to do the insides of the tires. :roll:

I hit it with ice on the metal then use the already wet applicator and hit the panels...and it's good enough to hit the interior too. I used it like it's free and it still lasted 4 months. Wash car one a week.
Touch up when eva I'm looking at it.

No streak, spotting and last really long.

With the detailer(which is great/never used detailer before), it take the dirt off and into the towel(wow) compare to say a wet towel that doesn't pick up the dirt but just move it around.

Plus it leaves a smooth finish and when used on the panels it picks up the dirt and shines up the panel.

I'm sold on Ice...I bought the icepolish.com deal and then doubled it. 30(1st)+20(2nd)+10(shipping)=60 (no tax) for approx with tax
Detailer=10*4=40
Ice=20*2=40
Clay=20*2=40

That's approx 50% off.

Hello all,

I just wanted to know what is the best product to use to make my black panels clean and glossy. Sometimes when I notice i'm just using a a regular towel, I would see some dirt streaks still no matter how much I wipe it.

Your profile says you have a '05, RR, EX-P which I don't believe was avaialbe in '05. Your avatar picture shows a RR models with plastic panels.

So if you have an EX-P then just use any good quality auto wax. If you have an DX, LX, early EX then use 303 on the plastic fenders. I just use automotive soap and water on everything.

I just tried out the Mothers , Back to Black product and loved the way it worked , went on super easy and my panels look insane , better than when I bought it for sure, Looks like it may rain today so I'll get to see if it streaks out or not .. so far thats what I'll be using from now on ... Cheers ~ Chris

I hit it with ice on the metal then use the already wet applicator and hit the panels...
Hold on a minute... Turtle Wax Ice Liquid Polish and Paste Polish contain silicone.
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Isn't that why we don't use Armor All? I thought the silicone would cause pitting and fading of the plastic after long term use.

Is the spray detailer what is being used on unpainted plastic panels?
51450
And that stuff doesn't streak after it rains?
The streaks are what bother me most. 303, tire shine products, Armor All all streak. Does Mother's Back to Black streak? How about the Meguiar's stuff in the spray can does that streak?

I saw that about the silicone, any thoughts on using silicone? IIRC, the dealer used to use something that looked like straight silicone on the door rubbers. Had a can with a little mop like thing and the car detailer would just dip it and swab it around the door seals, very quick.

It appears that the product most choose is Turtle Wax Ice. Is it the Spray Detailer?

Also, has anyone used Genuine Factory Honda plastic panel coating? I notice it is backordered on handa (http://handa-accessories.com/elementmaint.html).

It appears that the product most choose is Turtle Wax Ice. Is it the Spray Detailer?

Also, has anyone used Genuine Factory Honda plastic panel coating? I notice it is backordered on handa (http://handa-accessories.com/elementmaint.html).

Good question, I too am curious about that, haven't heard anyone mention it.

...

As to the 303 product, it rained a bit here, not enough to wash all the pollen off, and the 303 streaked on me as well. I think I will take a picture and go to their website and ask them, WTH?

So I got some Turtle wax ice detailer to try out tomorrow.

I started to get the wax, then decided to get the detailer for now, as I need to address the plastic and due to my first real Road Trip coming up, I don't have time for a full waxing.

Even after washing it today, you could see the streaking a bit still, what it looks like to me, is the water is leaching the 303 out of the panel maybe? I put a great deal of the product on the panels, they were absorbing it like sponges, and then went back over and put more on the dry looking places. The places that are streaked look just like they are getting dry compared to the places that are still dark and shiny. So it looks like maybe it rained and the areas that had some water sitting on them or running along them are the areas that lost the 303. Making me think it is not drying and the water is "floating" the lighter weight liquid out of the panel or diluting it, then the water evaporates and leaves that area without the nice look.

Of course the directions say to spray some on, wait a few minutes, forget, maybe five, then wipe of the excess, so maybe you can use too much? Either way, it should be more waterproof.

So I got some Turtle wax ice detailer to try out tomorrow.

Please keep me posted on this. I am very interested in your results.

Will do.

It may be a while before the rain hits it, who knows. No one here on the forum, that I have read has any problems with it, seems to be a perfect solution to the combination of lots and lots of plastic next to lots of paint. The detailer says if you use it regularly, it builds a protective coat similar to the wax, which would suit me fine, if it is quick to do, I wouldn't mind using it every other wash or so.

The idea of waxing the paint while trying to keep it off the plastic is not very appealing to me. Some even suggest masking tape, way more trouble than I want to go to. If it is something quick, I am more likely to do it often. If it is something that is tedious, I am more likely not to do it. It used to take me a day and a half to wax my full size van, which was not clearcoated and was red, so there was a lot of oxidized paint that would come off. Needless to say, my track record was poor, once a year if I was lucky, and it needs it now, I am thinking of paying someone to do it.

Please keep me posted on this. I am very interested in your results.
I haven't tried it on the Element yet but I did use the liquid polish on my wife's '06 Civic. It is SUPER easy to apply and buff out. It left the painted surfaces extremely smooth and shiny. I was surprised. It felt like I spent hours with a traditional wax. The black plastic lower grill and the rubber around the windows blackened right up and doesn't look chalky or weathered. I don't think it'll last long but being so easy to apply, compared to traditional wax, I think I'll do it every other wash. It only took about 15 minutes to apply and buff out. A little goes a long way too. I did the entire car and I'm about a 1/4" below the cap. I couldn't have used more than an ounce.
The only reason I haven't used it on the Element yet is because it contains silicone. Many people here won't use Armor All because it contains silicone. So why are they using, and raving, about Ice on the plastic panels? I'm sure Ice looks good on the panels (especially black ones:D) but even Armor All looks good at first. Seems like over time Ice will cause damage too.

I've used the Mothers B2B on my panels and it worked much better on the old 03 EX panels than on my 07 LX panels.:-? Alot more work to make the LX panels look good.:neutral: While I appreciate a good upper body workout, I'm not a fan of spending a long time in the car wash parking lot being stared at by the creepy guys.. :rolleyes:

I have had good results with 303 protectant and Mother's B2B but it doesn't rain much here. Looking forward to a Turtle Ice detailer review for plastic panels.

... While I appreciate a good upper body workout, I'm not a fan of spending a long time in the car wash parking lot being stared at by the creepy guys.. :rolleyes:

Present company excepted, I hope! E drivers don't do that, do they?

Well, I didn't have as much time as I thought I would today, but what I did notice was that the streaking was all on the black plastic that is above the windows and between the back door and the rear side glass, after washing, the fender panels and the front were not streaky looking, so I just hit the top (roof side) panels with the Turtle Ice quickly to make them not look streaky and it worked. I wonder if I put too much 303 on those top panels, or are they a different type of plastic, perhaps. It was sort of odd when I pulled it outside and the fender panels weren't streaked because I could have sworn they were before and after I washed it yesterday, but the streaking was much more apparent on those top ones. Not even showing on the lower ones, but it was late afternoon near dusk, and when I washed it, it was fully sunny and bright. Maybe that had something to do with it.

I am still worried about the silicone.

I have had good results with 303 protectant and Mother's B2B but it doesn't rain much here. Looking forward to a Turtle Ice detailer review for plastic panels.



Present company excepted, I hope! E drivers don't do that, do they?

In my 4 years of E ownership I've never seen another E at a DIY carwash... :shock::? If I do, I'lll ask what they use on their panels! :D

I just did my panels today with the back to black. It does a good job. I think most of the products start to have white streaks after the multiple days of rain we have had around here lately. I put the back to black stuff on about one a quarter.

I've used the Turtle wax Ice Detail spray,and it definitely works great on painted surfaces,but don't expect it to do much,if anything lasting to your plastic panels.:cool:

I experimented with Turtle Wax Detailer today on WalMart parking lot, while waiting for {She Who Must Be Obeyed} to shop. It is very easy to use and it left a terrific mirror shine. It may not last, I don't know, but I am happy for now.

As I posted on a similar thread:

I just recently tried this Meguiar's product: Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner. I sprayed this on a microfiber mitt and cleaned the plastic panels. This is a great product to use to prep the panels for the protectant you desire to use.

http://www.meguiars.com/?pro-vinyl-r...-Vinyl-Cleaner (http://www.meguiars.com/?pro-vinyl-rubber-care/Heavy-Duty-Vinyl-Cleaner)

The Cleaner worked very well and removed all streaks that I had. It is also supposed to remove wax and polish that gets on plastic, etc. I then applied my favorite product to restore the luster to the panels, Meguiar's NXT Tech Protect. It was once marketed for exterior plastic bumpers, now marketed for interior plastic. I like this stuff and continue to use it for the exterior plastic panels.

http://www.meguiars.com/?vinyl-rubbe...n-Tech-Protect (http://www.meguiars.com/?vinyl-rubber-plastic-protectants/NXT-Generation-Tech-Protect)

Just my nickels worth. Hope this helps.

Well, the rain washed the Turtle wax Ice right off, of course it was a quick job, and the streaks are back on the roof plastic. I think I need to saturate it with 303, then wipe it dry before it dries. I think I put too much on these panels.

If that doesn't work the Mequire's sounds interesting.

It is weird that the 303 is not streaking on the fender panels, only on the roof panels.

It sure is a pain not being able to wash the car at home due to the water restrictions. Makes the process of testing this stuff out more harder, as the scientists say.

I've used the Turtle wax Ice Detail spray,and it definitely works great on painted surfaces,but don't expect it to do much,if anything lasting to your plastic panels.:cool:

There is multiple Ice products, they also make ones for plastics too.

I've been using the Motheres Back to Black but here in Fl it rains alot and my panels never look as good a few days later .. I'm gunna go for the Ice prodicts and see whats up with that ... Hopefully it'll last longer . Plus my NBP only looks completley detailed the day you do it ... Best looking clean and hardest to keep that way . ~ Chris

There is multiple Ice products, they also make ones for plastics too.

Oh yeah,I'm well aware of that,I was only refering to the Ice detail spray,not any of the other Ice products.:)

{She Who Must Be Obeyed}

You must be my brother-in-law ... I married her sister!

I used Ice Datailer on my Element today. Start to finish took less than 30 minuties. It looks very good.

I came in the house and used the Ice Detailer on all the kitchen appliances, they look shiney new.

mother back to black:razz: