A couple of specific tasks...

[Torqueofthedevil]

...which I haven't seen covered in this forum, so I would be very grateful if anyone could assist. Having viewed a couple of cars, there are several minor blemishes which no doubt apply to any car past its 20th birthday; none of them is significant but sorting them out would make a car look even tidier. In no particular order:

1. Faded black plastic trim (eg wing mirrors or along the roof) - any tips on how to restore a uniform finish, given than the extent of fading varies massively?
2. Pitting to the chrome on the door handles - how to repair, or just how to stop it getting worse
3. Chips to the chrome window surrounds revealing black plastic underneath (rear window in particular). I could just dab some gloss silver paint, which would look better than the exposed black, but is there a better way to do it?

Any help much appreciated! Thanks in advance

[AndyN01]

Hi,

The faded trim is an issue for pretty much anything of a similar age to our lovelies.

This gets good reviews so maybe worth a go:

https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/polytrol/

I know some folks who use black shoe polish which works too .

Good Luck

[Torqueofthedevil]

Originally Posted by AndyN01

Hi,

The faded trim is an issue for pretty much anything of a similar age to our lovelies.

This gets good reviews so maybe worth a go:

https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/polytrol/

I know some folks who use black shoe polish which works too .

Good Luck

Thanks Andy,

That does look ideal for the job, much appreciated!

[Arctic]

Hi Charlie.
To fix number 2 Pitting to the chrome on the door handles, is change them over for known good ones not all of them pit, drop Any (trikey ) a PM he maybe able to help you with some good ones at a decent rate.

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I changed mine out for black ones, which was a lot of work, but to just change chrome for chrome is fairly easy.
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[Torqueofthedevil]

Originally Posted by Arctic

Hi Charlie.
To fix number 2 Pitting to the chrome on the door handles, is change them over for known good ones not all of them pit, drop Any (trikey ) a PM he maybe able to help you with some good ones at a decent rate.


I changed mine out for black ones, which was a lot of work, but to just change chrome for chrome is fairly easy.

Thank you, that is no doubt the best way to fix the problem. I'll drop Trikey a line!

[xsport]

i dont think they are actually made from chrome. its more a word to describe the finish. they are some type of polished stainless type alloy, but i dont know exactly what . probably why these trim parts on rimmers are described as "bright " finish. ...

[rab60bit]

Originally Posted by Torqueofthedevil

...which I haven't seen covered in this forum, so I would be very grateful if anyone could assist. Having viewed a couple of cars, there are several minor blemishes which no doubt apply to any car past its 20th birthday; none of them is significant but sorting them out would make a car look even tidier. In no particular order:

1. Faded black plastic trim (eg wing mirrors or along the roof) - any tips on how to restore a uniform finish, given than the extent of fading varies massively?
2. Pitting to the chrome on the door handles - how to repair, or just how to stop it getting worse
3. Chips to the chrome window surrounds revealing black plastic underneath (rear window in particular). I could just dab some gloss silver paint, which would look better than the exposed black, but is there a better way to do it?

Any help much appreciated! Thanks in advance

The handles are made of either a polished die cast zinc (aka Zamak or Mazak) or brass alloy which is chrome plated (never stripped one down to find out) but pitting is a common issue depending on the quality (ie initial cost/quality of manufacture) of the base materials - it's a form of electrolytic corrosion. The internal chemical corrosion within the alloy 'erupts' and breaks the thin chrome coating hence the pitting, once the coating integrity is broken moisture gets in and it slowly spreads/deteriorates. Easiest fix is to try and get hold of a more 'perfect' set or refurbish as suggested by spraying, re-chroming is possible but expensive and it's probably going to do the same again in maybe 5-10 years time if your lucky. I think they are still available new but quite expensive.
The stainless steel rear window trim has a black rubber/plastic trim bonded onto each edge and it's that trim that is breaking down/gone brittle. Members have disguised this effect by clever masking and careful spaying with black rubberised or vinyl products (you'll find a thread somewhere on here). I managed to obtain a good used replacement off a member on here or you can still obtain new from Rimmers if you have +£130 spare...