Tips and Tricks - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

NickCats · 07-12-2006, 07:08 PM

If you are an older model Boxster owner ( like I am - 1999 ) and you hate the way your front grills look ( like I do ) because they have faded, I found a neat solution today. I bought a product called "forever black" from Performance Products with the initial intention of using on my tires. Today after I washed my car I applied the forever black to the front grills and after 3 applications voila my grills are black again and look brand new.

Nick

blinkwatt · 07-12-2006, 07:21 PM

Can you post pictures of the product? How did you apply it?

07-12-2006, 07:28 PM

Could be this stuff:

http://www.properautocare.com/foreverblack.html

NickCats · 07-13-2006, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkwatt

Can you post pictures of the product? How did you apply it?

This is it :

http://www.************************************************************/productpage.aspx?pid=102536&name=Forever+Black

First apply the cleaner ( included ) to the grills to get any of the gunk off. The bottle comes with an applicator, but I used and old rag and wiped it on the grills, let dry for about 5 minutes, and then reapplied. It took about three coats, but it looks great. Also, I did not worry about taping off the area around the grills since my car is black anyway, but be careful if you have a light colored car, once this stuff goes on, it is impossible to come off. Make sure you have some good hand cleaner as well because regular hand soap will not cut it...

Porschekid · 07-13-2006, 05:43 AM

I just took my out and had them resprayed... you can get black paint and clearcoat anywhere to do it.

Silver · 07-13-2006, 05:51 AM

Hm, so they ARE supposed to be black. For some reason the previous owner of my vehicle decided to primer them, so mine are a nice grey color. I know the front bumper has been repainted...but not sure why they felt the need to primer the grills and leave them like that.

I'm assuming this Forever Black stuff wouldn't do me much good... but maybe I'll just pop em out and spray them back to black myself.

Porschekid · 07-13-2006, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver

Hm, so they ARE supposed to be black. For some reason the previous owner of my vehicle decided to primer them, so mine are a nice grey color. I know the front bumper has been repainted...but not sure why they felt the need to primer the grills and leave them like that.

I'm assuming this Forever Black stuff wouldn't do me much good... but maybe I'll just pop em out and spray them back to black myself.

The plastic is just faded... mine was the same way when I got it. I thught they painted them silver and that it faded but they just naturaly become that color.

Porschekid · 07-13-2006, 05:56 AM

Much better after a respray...

NickCats · 07-13-2006, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porschekid

I just took my out and had them resprayed... you can get black paint and clearcoat anywhere to do it.

What did it entail to take out the grills ? I assume you had to remove the bumper ?

Initially I was going to replace them with these :

http://www.************************************************************************************************/productpage.aspx?pid=105189&name=Boxster+Radiator+Guards

or take them out and repaint but this was a lot eaiser ( and cheaper ! )

Silver · 07-13-2006, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porschekid

The plastic is just faded... mine was the same way when I got it. I thught they painted them silver and that it faded but they just naturaly become that color.

Odd, that seems like a lot of fading. Oh well, in either case a coat of black paint can fix. Any suggestions as to what type of paint to use?

Porschekid · 07-14-2006, 04:35 AM

You do have to remove the front bumper cover to get to them. I had my shop do it so i'm not sure what all it entailed. On most cars taking off the bumper cover isn't too bad... maybe an hour job tops. If you plan on doing it yourself, I would invest in a Bentley manual for help with little jobs like this.

Adam · 07-15-2006, 05:21 PM

I second the investment in the B manual.....everything is there from basic stats to engine/tranny removal.......well worth the money. Color me stupid but wouldn't any plastic/vinyl conditioner help "bring the black back."

Jeph · 07-15-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver

Any suggestions as to what type of paint to use?

This is something I need to do too. I just might attempt it using that High Temperature Paint (the kinds that's used for grills... that is, grills for cooking food -homonym).

Temps. here in TX get hot, and it's a nice FLAT black, no shiny or enamel-ish looking.