Wheel trim painting opinions

[admiral51]

Hi all
The trims on my Xantia are getting a little bit tatty and as they are original i would like to keep them.
My idea is to soak them in a bucket of sugar soap solution to get them back to base level and then see where i go from there.

I assume i will then need to use a plastic use paint primer and then similar type paint for the top coat.
Should i also put a lacquer coat on as well, trying to keep the colour the same as original so all ideas and thoughts really appreciated.

Colin

[mickthemaverick]

My cousin used to have a little home business based on picking up the discarded trims you see on the roadside, repairing and refurbing them and selling them on ebay. It was a profitable number for him when he lived in Northeast London but since moving to Colchester there are not enough discarded trims to make it pay. However his method was to clean the trims with paraffin and then rub them down with 400 grade wet and dry until smooth. He then sprayed a plastic primer, two coats of silver and two clear coats. They used to look brand new, he did my BX19 16v trims and they looked so good I had to mop the whole car to bring it up to match!!

[rhgb46-35]

Plastic wheel trims eh - what are they? To keep up with the Jones's round this part of the world you must have alloy wheels on an SUV of some sort, complete with blacked-out rear windows!
Btw, why do all latest vehicles all have different weird curves and sculpted lines on them? If they were all 'wind-tunnel tested', then surely they'd all end up the same shape. Ah, fashion - got to have the latest I suppose, as with the alloys and the 'privacy' glass(or are people carrying drugs barons in their back seats?)
Regards and keep up the trim recycling!
RB

[CitroJim]

Following with interest as my Daffodil needs her trims refinishing

[admiral51]

Thanks for the replies.
I want them to look like nearly new, i don't want them to look like a cheap set bought of the bay just as they are shiny and take away from the car itself as it has been touched up here and there but still looks good. May need to do some digging to find out the original colour they came in and tone it down a little bit.
Guess if i do the sugar soap solution i should get some decent size flakes of paint to go and match ?

Colin

[admiral51]

I have tried to see where i have posted other pictures but can't find them.
The pictures I think are about 2 years old but if you look/zoom in on the n/s rear wheel trim you can see the paint peel.
Oddly enough now looking back at the pictures maybe the colour is a pretty good match to that on the car.
Yes she still has the same shine when washed, no extra dings just a bit of paint flecks missing on the front bumper.

Colin

[mickthemaverick]

I would think that body colour will be fine Colin, as long as you get a good finish they will blend in with the body in a few weeks.

[admiral51]

Thanks Mick.
I will need to check the paint code for the car, and yes looking back at those pics they do look right with a similar colour to the body.
Just checked and those pictures were taken 03/06/2019 and the tyres had not long been put on, they are still on there and have done around the 22k mark give or take.
I reckon 1 plastic primer rattle can, 1 main paint rattle can and 1 clear coat rattle can will do the job then

And i will take pics of the process

Colin

[mickthemaverick]

Yep that should do it but if you use wet and dry to rub them down make certain they are properly dry and degreased with prepaint or a tac cloth, preferably with a heat gun/hairdryer before you put on the primer. If you have the slightest moisture in the form of microscopic droplets when you spray they will emerge through the paint in a few days and give you goose pimples. not good!! I'll look forward to seeing the pics.

[admiral51]

Following with interest as my Daffodil needs her trims refinishing

Jim if i get mine somewhere close then i will be more than happy to have a bash at the trims on Daffodil, and do not forget i still owe you big time for the 2.1 lucas pump help so just getting the first salvo in for any future negotiations

Colin

[CitroJim]

Following with interest as my Daffodil needs her trims refinishing

Jim if i get mine somewhere close then i will be more than happy to have a bash at the trims on Daffodil, and do not forget i still owe you big time for the 2.1 lucas pump help so just getting the first salvo in for any future negotiations

Colin

That'll be magic Colin Thank you! I'll be down your way in May when I ride a cycle sportive around the New Forest

[admiral51]

Sent a PM Jim

[mickthemaverick]

What's Jim gonna do with a Boris?

[myglaren]

He didn't say which PM.

Could be a Jacinda

Or a Sanna

Or a Mette

Or a Kolinda

There are a few other options too.

[CitroJim]

What's Jim gonna do with a Boris?

I know what I'd like to do