Is there any way to restore these??? PLEASE HELP ASAP!

2719 Views 17 Replies 8 Participants Last post by starbai, May 15, 2009

starbai

Discussion Starter · May 14, 2009

2

hEY GUYs!

My grandparents went on vacation with my parents this weekend and they drove down thier element and left it here at our place for the weekend.

I want to clean it up for them beacuse it is always outside, and i dont think its been waxed once since 2005 when they bought it!

Anyway my main question is, what is best to use to protect all the rubber vinyl padding stuff on the side and the roof? I know that wax isn't really a good idea. I think armor-all would make it worse too!

Any ideas?

Also again the thing is in the florida sun 24/7 as they do not have a garage. and the plastic on the roof is fading.

Is there any techinques or products that I could use to help restore some life in to it?

PLEASE help ASAP. They'll be back on Monday, and I only have this weekend to buy whateer products I need and do all the work.

Pics of the oxidation/sun damage to the roof:

Also if replacing these are my only option, does anyone know what the part numbers are from honda, and how hard they are to get to to replace?

Thanks in advance!

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1 - 18 of 18 Posts

RdE_Rnr

· #2 · May 14, 2009

"303 Aerospace" 16oz Bottle Spray, Excellent and Easy application. use it to the side Plastic Panel as well.

starbai

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 14, 2009

i'm thinking about using foreverblack..

stuff discussed in this thread:
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20619

junk-E

· #4 · May 14, 2009

If you can post your location it would help so we know where you are and where to get the Forever Black....

junk-E

· #5 · May 14, 2009

Here is the link for store locator in case you dont trust us

http://www.foreverblack.com/locator.htm

Hajidub

· #6 · May 14, 2009

RdE_Rnr said:
"303 Aerospace" 16oz Bottle Spray, Excellent and Easy application. use it to the side Plastic Panel as well.

Best product on the market for cladding!!!!! Fadetoblack, spf protectant, and conditioner all in one.

starbai

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 15, 2009

junk-E said:
Here is the link for store locator in case you dont trust us http://www.foreverblack.com/locator.htm

I'm sorry i gotta edit my profile on here.

I'm in Fort Lauderdale FL. I found a good location for forever black I'll probably pick it up tomorrow.

You guys recommend it?

Any other suggestions?

starbai

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 15, 2009

RdE_Rnr said:
"303 Aerospace" 16oz Bottle Spray, Excellent and Easy application. use it to the side Plastic Panel as well.

Where do I get this stuff? I'm in fort lauderdale, fl

RdE_Rnr

· #9 · May 15, 2009

here you go! http://www.wheretobuy303.com/index.php?tab=US

Tim Vance

· #10 · May 15, 2009

Since you've seen the thread then I don't have to tell ya again, but I think the foreverblack should be used first, to restore the plastic back to black, then put a coat of the 303 or back to black to provide protection...

it may take a few coats of the foreverblack...

LMntGuy1982

· #11 · May 15, 2009

Tim Vance said:
Since you've seen the thread then I don't have to tell ya again, but I think the foreverblack should be used first, to restore the plastic back to black, then put a coat of the 303 or back to black to provide protection...

it may take a few coats of the foreverblack...

IIRC the 303 will negate the forever black's adhesion. The 303 will penetrate thru the Forever Black and sort of "force" it out. I think the forever black would work since there's never been any protectant on the panels. I have done the forever black and have had pretty lousy results. But give it a shot. Worse that could happen is the panels stay black for a few months before the forever black wears off.

Eww-an E

· #12 · May 15, 2009

starbai said:
Any other suggestions?

Black WOW Exterior Trim Restorer
Great product.

http://www.autogeek.net/black-wow-trim-restorer.html?gclid=CNuJ8cHrvZoCFQNaFQodBg8KtA

Blue Devil

· #13 · May 15, 2009

Eww-an E said:
Black WOW Exterior Trim Restorer
Great product.
http://www.autogeek.net/black-wow-trim-restorer.html?gclid=CNuJ8cHrvZoCFQNaFQodBg8KtA

YES, this stuff is THE best. I don't own an Element (yet, I'm in the process of buying one) but I've been using black wow on my wife's MINI and its absolutely the best product on the market for this. Best of all, it doesn't leave it looking stupid shiny like most do, it just leaves a nice, matte, black finish.

RdE_Rnr

· #14 · May 15, 2009

Why would you use Black on a Gray

Would that ruin surface

Blue Devil

· #15 · May 15, 2009

black wow will work fine on grey plastic too, theres no colorant in it, just cleaner and conditioner for plastic.

Tim Vance

· #16 · May 15, 2009

I used the forever black to change my grey panels to black...

And yes, I need to reapply it once a year....
during the year I just use back to black t keep the plastic protected...

Eww-an E

· #17 · May 15, 2009

Blue Devil said:
black wow will work fine on grey plastic too, theres no colorant in it, just cleaner and conditioner for plastic.

True,I've used Black Wow on various shades of grey/black and no matter which color you apply it to,it always looks great.

starbai

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 15, 2009

hmm all the products sound good.

I like (and I know my grandparents would like ) the idea of turning the gray to a more black color

the 303 looks good but if its going to basically pull up all the forever black thats not the way I wanna go.

I use black wow now, but that kinda just makes stuff shiny, doesn't really restore color.

I dont know which to use... my primary goals in order:

1. Get them back to at least thier original color
2. Maintenance on them every few months, not every wash cuz I know my grandparents wont do it, and it'll sit like that till I have the time to come up there and reapply for them.

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

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