Black Plastic Arch Trim Replacement

[MickCooperS]

Hey, i'm getting a bit annoyed with the black plastic arch trims on my 04 MCS. The front right and left plastic arch trim (where there's side lights on the US MSC) are quite greyed/ stained along with the black plastic strip at the bottom of the bumper. I'm pretty sure its possible to replace the parts at the wheel arch- has anybody part no.s/ prices? Also can the front bumper part be replaced/ And lastly how do the trims come off and is it difficult to change them? Cheers!

[-=cHiLli=-]

Quote:

Hey, i'm getting a bit annoyed with the black plastic arch trims on my 04 MCS

Me too... but mines an 52!

Font bumper trim seems to have layers of scum.... which even the autoglym is failing to shift!

Would be interested in a front arch and bumper trim replacment .... anyone for a group buy??

c2d()

[laura f]

Don't quote me but I think they are about £8-20 a piece depending on which bit you want... your local parts people will be able to give you more info

[MINIAC]

R53 Cooper S EXTERIOR TRIM / GRILL

R53 Cooper S FRONT BUMPER MOUNTING PARTS

[Journeyman]

Hi,

It's very easy and cheap to replace black plastic arch trims. I've had a scratch on the rear one, so I went to BMW and paid around 15 gbp for new one and replaced it myself. The rear one has two or three screws and few clips. It's around 10 min job. Sorry I have no part no.s. Just go to your dealer and they will have what you need I think that front bumper part should also be easy replaceable.

[Root Ginger]

The best thing to clean up plastic trim is peanut butter of a smooth variety.

You may think I'm nuts (geddit) but it works better than any other product and is cheap. I think a jar of Tesco smooth is about 68p.

It's the peanut oil that removes the grime and gives it an as new shine. Then finish off with your trim protector of choice.

Made my 5 year old arches shine on my Works before I sold it and they had all sorts of marks, including wax, that would not shift with a variety of products.

If they have turned grey they can be restored by heating them with a hair dryer or a paint stripper on low setting.

[MickCooperS]

Cheers for the replies evryone! - i think i'll try peanut butter first and see what happens- I thought you had to buy peanut butter oil but I couldn't find it anywhere. I didn't think of smooth peanut butter - how do you apply and remove it though!!!

[mGP]

Quote: Originally Posted by Journeyman (original)

Hi,

It's very easy and cheap to replace black plastic arch trims. I've had a scratch on the rear one, so I went to BMW and paid around 15 gbp for new one and replaced it myself. The rear one has two or three screws and few clips. It's around 10 min job. Sorry I have no part no.s. Just go to your dealer and they will have what you need I think that front bumper part should also be easy replaceable.

So how do they come off?/How do you get to the screws?

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by MickCooperS (original)

Cheers for the replies evryone! - i think i'll try peanut butter first and see what happens- I thought you had to buy peanut butter oil but I couldn't find it anywhere. I didn't think of smooth peanut butter - how do you apply and remove it though!!!

Erm, with a cloth

It's the peanut oil that does the work but pure peanut oil is expensive and hard to find. Easier to use peanut butter that naturally has peanut oil in it. The added benefit is that peanut butter gets into the texture of the plastic and has a mildly abrasive nature to it to help shift the grime and wax.

[Vitesse]

Quote: Originally Posted by Root Ginger (original)

Erm, with a cloth

It's the peanut oil that does the work but pure peanut oil is expensive and hard to find. Easier to use peanut butter that naturally has peanut oil in it. The added benefit is that peanut butter gets into the texture of the plastic and has a mildly abrasive nature to it to help shift the grime and wax.

I wondered where I was going wrong, I was putting it on with a cloth and the licking it off with my tongue

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by Vitesse (original)

I wondered where I was going wrong, I was putting it on with a cloth and the licking it off with my tongue

As if putting peanut butter on your car wasn't enough to get your neighbours curtains twitching I'm sure licking your wheel arches would take it to another level!

[m1m0]

And after you've had the peanut butter on them for a few weeks, the layer of ants should be thick enough to protect the plastic from future wear and keep it looking black indefinitely!