Bumpers

[Ryan]

Right - mine are skanky.
They were painted probably in the early 1990's and the paint is peeling in some areas.
The textured plastic that's showing through underneath is grey-almost white.

Short of getting new bumper skins (anyone got mk1 bumper skins in amazing condition they want to sell me?) what's the best option?
The bodyshop guy I'm using is not keen on painting plastic...

[dan95x]

If you can get the paint off, I have had success on my Mk1 (which had bumpers in about the same condition as yours sound under the paint) with some bumper dye that seems popular in the sunny parts of the states:

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/forever-b ... tioner.php

It is supposed to do it in one application, I found I did two coats when I first got it, lasted well for 6 months and began to fade, but have since done one more and has lasted two years now and still looking good. That is on a car that is parked outside all year round too (brave/stupid with a mk1 I know, but I have no choice at the moment!)

It is dependent on getting the paint off first tho, which might be a 'mare. When I had a Mk1 Golf which was afflicted with the same crappy bumper colour, I got satin black paint (tin of rather than rattle can) from a body shop place, mixed it with plasticiser (I cant remember which company by, I have a feeling it was U-pol) and painted it over the top of a plastic primer base coat. That worked really well, although after a couple of years I did have a few stone chips on the front one.

I think they are probably your two options. Again if you can get the paint off, I have heard good things about running the bumpers over with a heat gun, rubbing peanut butter in, or rubbing burnt linseed oil in, which are all supposed to restore the original plastic colour, but I havent tried any of those three so cant vouch for longevity of them

[Oli]

I would agree about the forever black - it works really well.

Used it on my bumpers, the front one had nearly gone white in places and its sorted the right out after a couple of coats.

[Ryan]

Cheers guys.
I'll try and get them back and have a play...

[cadillacman]

the hardest bit is getting the old paint work off it flakes in some places and still like Sh*t in others,

I use to be a painter uptill a few years ago and it sould like yours were painted with the old flexy grey coat me thinks ICI.

A good way to strip paint is to pressure washer it off and paint has moved on given that most cars has plastic in them, the currenty 3 series has plastic wings ! and the paint sticks no problems
hope this help

[Ryan]

the hardest bit is getting the old paint work off it flakes in some places and still like Sh*t in others,

A good way to strip paint is to pressure washer it off

This is exactly what the guy told me!

[Markone]

Try using a heatgun on faded placcy bumpers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-dtbBzk ... 5B&index=2

I did mine a couple of months ago, 5 mins on each bumper then a quick wipe with wd they looked great

Before...



After...





They havent faded at all since unlike some of the bumper black polishes you can buy that last all of a week!

[Ryan]

Wow!
That is a great result!

[fourmk1s]

This is great advise.

I will try this out on my bumpers.

[dingorocco]

Just to let you know, front bumpers are still available from VW classic parts centre [ http://www.vw-classicparts.de]

Have ordered 2 which are on their way to Oz with 2 roof panels and a few other goodies.

Jorg tells me they had at the time of enquiry enough bumpers to cover my fleet of 4 cars. 256 Euro's a piece tho..

HTH

[Ryan]

Just to let you know, front bumpers are still available from VW classic parts centre [ http://www.vw-classicparts.de]

Have ordered 2 which are on their way to Oz with 2 roof panels and a few other goodies.

Jorg tells me they had at the time of enquiry enough bumpers to cover my fleet of 4 cars. 256 Euro's a piece tho..

HTH

Grant you're a bad man
That's very steep - and I can't find them on the site!

[dingorocco]

Click the availabilty check on the opening page.

Click access without prior registration

Type in 531* in the find box ( search for part numbers beggining with 531 )

Comes up with this :-

Part Number Description Type Qty
531 827 565 handle Genuine Part

531 121 281 K air duct cardboard Genuine Part

531 121 281 L air duct cardboard Genuine Part

531 121 281 N air duct cardboard Genuine Part

531 121 282 K air duct cardboard Genuine Part

531 121 282 L air duct cardboard Genuine Part

531 121 293 C air duct cardboard Genuine Part

531 121 293 D air duct cardboard Genuine Part

531 201 129 B fuel filler neck Genuine Part

531 201 129 S fuel filler neck Genuine Part

531 201 129 T fuel filler neck Genuine Part

531 253 609 exhaust silencer, rear Genuine Part

531 419 951 A drive axle Genuine Part

531 419 951 B drive axle Genuine Part

531 601 025 A wheel disc Genuine Part

531 611 931 A vacuum pipe with check valve Genuine Part

531 611 931 D vacuum pipe Genuine Part

531 698 053 brake pads Genuine Part

531 711 121 gearshift lever Genuine Part

531 711 125 gearshift lever Genuine Part

531 713 025 B operating mechanism Genuine Part

531 721 335 clutch cable Genuine Part

531 721 335 A clutch cable Classic+ Part

531 721 335 C clutch cable Classic+ Part

531 721 380 grommet Genuine Part

531 721 555 F cable Classic+ Part

531 721 555 F cable Genuine Part

531 721 555 F cable Genuine Part

531 803 157 F rip plate Genuine Part

531 803 181 bracket Genuine Part

531 803 231 B seat support Genuine Part

531 803 405 B longitudinal member Genuine Part

531 803 406 B longitudinal member Genuine Part

531 803 421 wheel housing Genuine Part

531 803 422 wheel housing Genuine Part

531 803 439 edge plate Genuine Part

531 803 440 edge plate Genuine Part

531 805 415 tensioning strap Genuine Part

531 805 563 C lock carrier Genuine Part

531 805 563 J lock carrier Genuine Part

531 805 591 P rear apron Genuine Part

531 805 903 spoiler Genuine Part

531 805 917 spacer sleeve Genuine Part

531 807 103 bumper Genuine Part

531 807 103 06W bumper Genuine Part

531 807 113 A bumper bracket Genuine Part

531 807 114 A bumper bracket Genuine Part

531 807 119 insert piece Genuine Part

531 807 120 insert piece Genuine Part

531 807 123 reinforcement Genuine Part

531 807 123 A reinforcement Genuine Part

Do the same for 171 , 155. etc..


Only down side is yes, expensive !!! but we are talking the last of the last !!


Roof panels are to replace the same here with glass sunroof's that have been fitted Gets a wee bit warmer here than merry o'l england...

[chopperoli]

Hmm too expensive really, I just bought this for £10 or so:

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/forever-b ... cf1c99c083
Will do a before and after if I can. I've heard that using a heat-gun on bumpers can gives good immediate effects but damages them in the long-run,