Smartening up roof bar blanks

Raistlin · 9th June 2009, 18:33

I've just noticed how grey the circular blanking plates which cover the roof bar mounting points are.

Probably because I've been having a play with my new roof bars

Anyway, I thought I'd use "back to black" to smarten them up. All it did was make them a nice shiny...grey

Can anybody suggest a way (other than buying new ones) I can get them back to black please?

GreyGhost · 9th June 2009, 18:35

Spot of polish well rubbed in will bring them back for a few months. I do mine when Auto Glimming.

StevenWilliams · 9th June 2009, 18:43

I used back to black and a hard toothbrush. It gets right into the plastic that way and makes them dark again.

Just rubbing it on the surface is not enough.

Greeners · 9th June 2009, 19:15

warm gently with a hairdryer and wipe with a cloth

Raistlin · 9th June 2009, 19:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greeners

warm gently with a hairdryer and wipe with a cloth

Really? That I will have to try

Greeners · 9th June 2009, 19:38

apparently as the oils in the plastic warm, it loosens the dirt.......i'm sure one of the detailers will elaborate.

Raistlin · 12th July 2009, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greeners

warm gently with a hairdryer and wipe with a cloth

I finally got round to trying this trick today.

I used my paint stripper hot air gun and just gently heated the plastic caps whilst holding them with a pair of pliars. They didn't even need wiping.

The black colour literally flooded across the surface

I'm truly amazed that something so simple can have such a dramiatic effect

Rover418275 · 6th August 2009, 10:24

Would this work on the door posts ?

pab · 8th August 2009, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greeners

warm gently with a hairdryer and wipe with a cloth

will try that method,white spirit works for a month or so,as does brasso.only concern is getting them out without damage

Greeners · 8th August 2009, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by pab

will try that method,white spirit works for a month or so,as does brasso.only concern is getting them out without damage

Don't take them off.....do it in situ....it's only warm/hot air.....you shouldn't let them get very very hot...and keep the heat source moving, don't apply it in one place

9th June 2009, 18:33	#1
Raistlin Banned 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Auto Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 8,450 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Smartening up roof bar blanks I've just noticed how grey the circular blanking plates which cover the roof bar mounting points are. Probably because I've been having a play with my new roof bars Anyway, I thought I'd use "back to black" to smarten them up. All it did was make them a nice shiny...grey Can anybody suggest a way (other than buying new ones) I can get them back to black please?

9th June 2009, 18:43	#3
StevenWilliams This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon 2.5 V6 British Racing Green. 81,000 miles and counting Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Crawley, West Sussex Posts: 6,183 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I used back to black and a hard toothbrush. It gets right into the plastic that way and makes them dark again. Just rubbing it on the surface is not enough. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Rover 75 2.5 2000 Club SE. British Racing Green. MEMBER NUMBER: MMMDCCXXVI Looking for: 7 seater

9th June 2009, 19:15	#4
Greeners Moderator MG-ZTT Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 19,798 Thanks: 161 Thanked 1,249 Times in 1,036 Posts	warm gently with a hairdryer and wipe with a cloth __________________ *David* Impecunity is the mother of ingenuity Useful how to's for common problems Car Of The Month Jan 2014 [SatNav Power Down] [Coolant Level] [SatNav Repair] [Diesel Non Starting] [Paint Codes] [Rear Light Seals] [Reversing Light Switch] [Bleeding Brakes][Sunroof Drain] [Early ZT's][Instrument Pack Diagnostics][ATC Diagnostics]

9th June 2009, 19:38	#6
Greeners Moderator MG-ZTT Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 19,798 Thanks: 161 Thanked 1,249 Times in 1,036 Posts	apparently as the oils in the plastic warm, it loosens the dirt.......i'm sure one of the detailers will elaborate. __________________ *David* Impecunity is the mother of ingenuity Useful how to's for common problems Car Of The Month Jan 2014 [SatNav Power Down] [Coolant Level] [SatNav Repair] [Diesel Non Starting] [Paint Codes] [Rear Light Seals] [Reversing Light Switch] [Bleeding Brakes][Sunroof Drain] [Early ZT's][Instrument Pack Diagnostics][ATC Diagnostics]

9th June 2009, 18:35	#2
GreyGhost Banned 180+ Sport Auto Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bedford Middle Level Posts: 17,787 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 5 Posts	Spot of polish well rubbed in will bring them back for a few months. I do mine when Auto Glimming.

6th August 2009, 10:24	#8
Rover418275 Banned Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northwich Posts: 1,099 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Would this work on the door posts ?