Any tips on reviving rubber mouldings.

[david22]

I love my XLR, it's been a work in progress, not unlike myself. It's an 05' and looks brand new aside from the rubber mouldings around the windows and at the roof line. Cali Sun brings oxidation. I have tried "back to black" and have discussed with my leather touch up man , possibly staining or dyeing, and he says no way, it won't hold on the rubber. Unless there is another product or method I am unaware of I suspect replacement is the only cure. Open to suggestions and am also curious, does anyone know the $ cost of replacing all the rubber. Is it a big job for the body shop , or G.M. dealer? Thanks!!! David

 

[Rob]

Give Meguiars #42 Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner and Conditioner a try.

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[arv09]

I used silicone grease (Dielectric grease at any auto parts store), recommended in owner's manual on my 2005 and it made a huge difference. Cheap too, but use sparingly and wipe off excess.

 

[david22]

You guys are on it!

I'm off tomorrow and will pick up both recommendations, thanks for a quick response. I'll let you know how it works.

 

[Rob]

I used silicone grease (Dielectric grease at any auto parts store), recommended in owner's manual on my 2005 and it made a huge difference. Cheap too, but use sparingly and wipe off excess.

Yes! Dielectric silicon grease is also excellent to use.

 

[GizmoQ]

Do the McGuires first, then put on some "303 Aerospace Protectant". I know the grease will make it look good, but its still grease (messy and not the best solution). The 303 is designed for planes and boats that are subject to constant sun and weather. It has 100% UV screening, restores and maintains the rubber to almost new appearance, texture, and color. I put it on about every 3 months and a little bit goes a long way.

I didn't do the McGuires my first time so it took some elbow grease to get everything cleaned. Since then its spray on and wipe off.

 

[XLRATING]

After trying several things, I've gone with Zaino's tire shine/exterior trim stuff. It lasts a long time & doesn't have any silicone, so it won't stain the paint. It also doesn't run off when I wash it (although it did run some when I drove in heavy rain for at least 3 hours, but came off easily & didn't damage anything).

We looked into replacing the rubber trim & it was $2000+ dollars. One part alone was $800. Rod/MT ROCKET may be able to chime in with better pricing. The dealer recommended taping things off and using a Scotch scrubber to just go ahead & remove all the shiny & make it evenly dull. I didn't want to do that & am ok with the condition I have it in now.

 

[cubby558]

I actually did the Scotch pad, then rinsed well with soap and water. I found a product BMW uses on their rubber seals--can't remember the name, which applies like liquid shoe polish bottles.

I also have the 303 protectant, that works well.

..................................taping things off and using a Scotch scrubber to just go ahead & remove all the shiny & make it evenly dull. I didn't want to do that & am ok with the condition I have it in now.

 

[Phrede]

After trying several things, I've gone with Zaino's tire shine/exterior trim stuff. It lasts a long time & doesn't have any silicone, so it won't stain the paint. It also doesn't run off when I wash it (although it did run some when I drove in heavy rain for at least 3 hours, but came off easily & didn't damage anything).

We looked into replacing the rubber trim & it was $2000+ dollars. One part alone was $800. Rod/MT ROCKET may be able to chime in with better pricing. The dealer recommended taping things off and using a Scotch scrubber to just go ahead & remove all the shiny & make it evenly dull. I didn't want to do that & am ok with the condition I have it in now.

Be aware of potential top operation issues if replacing the rubbers.

 

[XLRATING]

I found a product BMW uses on their rubber seals--can't remember the name, which applies like liquid shoe polish.

Was it something like Einszett Gummi Pflege? A friend of ours who is a BMW nut gave us a bottle of that. I found that it ran onto the paint when I washed the car, and it was hard to get off plus I wasn't sure what it would do to the paint, so I quit using it for exposed trim. I have found it seems to be pretty good stuff to keep other rubber trim (like trunk seals) in good shape.

 

[cubby558]

Yes, that is it. Use it sparingly!! A little goes a long way. I always wipe everything down after I applied it, to make sure there was no excess. It seems to last a lot longer than anything else I have used.

Was it something like Einszett Gummi Pflege? A friend of ours who is a BMW nut gave us a bottle of that. I found that it ran onto the paint when I washed the car, and it was hard to get off plus I wasn't sure what it would do to the paint, so I quit using it for exposed trim. I have found it seems to be pretty good stuff to keep other rubber trim (like trunk seals) in good shape.

 

[05 GRAND DADDY]

After trying several things, I've gone with Zaino's tire shine/exterior trim stuff. It lasts a long time & doesn't have any silicone, so it won't stain the paint. It also doesn't run off when I wash it (although it did run some when I drove in heavy rain for at least 3 hours, but came off easily & didn't damage anything).

We looked into replacing the rubber trim & it was $2000+ dollars. One part alone was $800. Rod/MT ROCKET may be able to chime in with better pricing. The dealer recommended taping things off and using a Scotch scrubber to just go ahead & remove all the shiny & make it evenly dull. I didn't want to do that & am ok with the condition I have it in now.

Mike this is what I used to it dries to a nice clean sheen look at not real shinny and after it's dry it don't rub back off their windshield cleaner polish works great too!


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Dan & Wendy
" 05 GRAND DADDY"

 

[arv09]

Where do I find the 303 Aerospace Protectant?

Where do you find the 303 Aerospace Protectant? Would like to try it. I haven't used anything on my 2009 and the seals still look good but they need to be lubricated so they don't need to be replaced for years to come.

 

[GizmoQ]

Where do you find the 303 Aerospace Protectant? Would like to try it. I haven't used anything on my 2009 and the seals still look good but they need to be lubricated so they don't need to be replaced for years to come.

Got mine at a boating supplies store.

 

[cubby558]

Try this link for 303 Products. http://www.303products.com/
Click on it and it will take you to their website. You can also find it on amazon.com

Where do you find the 303 Aerospace Protectant? Would like to try it. I haven't used anything on my 2009 and the seals still look good but they need to be lubricated so they don't need to be replaced for years to come.

 

[MarkSki]

Where do you find the 303 Aerospace Protectant? Would like to try it. I haven't used anything on my 2009 and the seals still look good but they need to be lubricated so they don't need to be replaced for years to come.

Any boat supply store will have it. They also make a cleaner a nd other such products. Good stuff, I use it all over my boat which is used a lot in salt water.
Groits a car products company http://www.groits.com has a rubber cleaner and protectant that has a uv protector in it. It,s wet here in the Northwest and theirproducts are used a lot up here and also by the Corvette people for the shine. I use their products on my Corvette and the XLR. I used the rubber cleaner/protectant on my boat trailer's wheels and it gave a nice satain finish. Didn't come off after launching the boat a couple of times in salt water. Doesn't run when you put it on.

My $.02 1/2 cents