[H20cleaning]

I take pride in my van and recently i noticed the previous owners bumper spraying technique must have been crap as its all flaking away, and the colour isnt even black its like a dark grey.

I have sprayed things in the past so me and my dad are doing my bumpers tomorrow.
Quick few questions- what colour are black bumpers when they come out of a showroom? Is there a colour i ask for or is it just matt black.
Also whats the best cleaner before spraying them (for removing tar and any sticky materials)
 

[Tadgh O Shea]

This is another good example of the damage caused by high alkaline based chemicals, when bumpers are new they have a nice shine and are usually black, when the vehicle is washed on a continuous basis with TFR (high alkaline based harsh chemicals) the plastic bumpers keep getting faded over time and will eventually go from black to a dark grey and then to a light grey, damage done only option is to respray to get it back to black, the solution to this problem is not to use a detergent that has a high pH value.
Sorry guys i know this might sound repetitive but it is a fact.

[dave f]

right this may sound harsh but i guaratee it dose work i did my sons ford transit conect his bumpers had gone that grey coulour with age  etc ,so this trick is to get an heat gun and work in a circular motion you can see the coulour change from gray to black, obveously dont get to close or you will melt the bumper,note this will not work on  painted bumpers, ive also done a pals tranny comes up a treat lasts for ages.

[mufcglen]

Ok pal I take it your saying they've been painted over the standard plastic in which case the heat gun trick doesn't apply to you as that's just to bring the original plastic back to like new, in your case you need to lightly sand the whole bumper taking the too later off giving a good key and the areas that are flaking really get all the flaking bits off as they will only peel again!
Then depending how bad the paint is depends whether you need a primer, in fact maybe they're flaking if like to say the other guy badly painted them and may have not used plastic primer and that could be why they're flaking?
Than finally paint wise it's up to you, you could colour code them if you've gone through all the effort of prepping them or just get a nice can of something like matt or satin black and blow them in then if you'd like lacquer them?
If your repainting them though take the most time prepping them,that's where the good finish will come from if you don't they'll flake and look turd!
Good luck

[H20cleaning]

Ok pal I take it your saying they've been painted over the standard plastic in which case the heat gun trick doesn't apply to you as that's just to bring the original plastic back to like new, in your case you need to lightly sand the whole bumper taking the too later off giving a good key and the areas that are flaking really get all the flaking bits off as they will only peel again!
Then depending how bad the paint is depends whether you need a primer, in fact maybe they're flaking if like to say the other guy badly painted them and may have not used plastic primer and that could be why they're flaking?
Than finally paint wise it's up to you, you could colour code them if you've gone through all the effort of prepping them or just get a nice can of something like matt or satin black and blow them in then if you'd like lacquer them?
If your repainting them though take the most time prepping them,that's where the good finish will come from if you don't they'll flake and look turd!
Good luck

Great reply very helpful thanks, and i have seen the other trick
With the heat gun, but this certainly doesnt apply to mine.
The bumpers are in relatively good condition just someone has done a poor job of spraying them!

[James Bulton]

I used this product on my connect,came out like new. No spraying its like a die.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plasticare-Trim-Dye-BLACK-Plastic-Rubber-Bumper-Paint-/251475921890?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item3a8d220be2