Well, it's been about 10 days and my bumpers are back to the fadded grey look that they had when I picked up the car. So, that stuff is a weekly treatment instead of something that would last a while. To it's denfense, it has rained almost every day here since I applied it a week in a half ago. So, under normal circumstances, I would expect the trim to look nice for 2 weeks, a month at best.

Just ordered some Forever Black from iPd.

 

Slightly OT, but about the top part of the bumpers, anyway...

Is the black/gray/faded etc. top part of bumper replaceable or is it an integral part of the whole bumper cover? The reason for me asking is that there is slight damage to that part on my wagon. If it is replaceable, a salvage yard is probably my best bet, right?

 

It is integral with the whole bumper cover.

 

I went to the dealer to check on replacing my bumper/spoiler a couple of days ago, and they showed me a diagram that showed all that stuff up there in different parts. I believe it is replacable. If I find the paper here in a few minutes, I'll post the pic so you can see the different parts.

 

Thanks, rspi!

I guess I'll stop by at the dealr to check it out. I'm sure they want an arm and leg for it, though. And then some!

 

Yes, the lower part is something like $385. Then it looks a little complicated to install. You may need a body shop to finish and install for you.

 

Damn!!!

Time to search the net and salvage yards...

 

Yes, Mothers "Back to Black" is just a temporary water based Vinyl Dressing. It does great once it's put on, but after 2 washings it comes off. You have to dye the black pieces black or grey in order to keep the color on! That stuff from Ipd should be good. Ibought the dye that JimKW used on his car and I have no complaints. After 2 months still looks great! Good Luck with yours.

 

Question, has anyone tried going from a grey to a black? I have a black wagon, the oem trim is grey, just wondering if I picked up the black showroom new "black" and dyed over the grey trim if it will give me a consistent black across the entire car.

Thanks!

 

Some people have.....search the forum for pics. I have seen pics posted. If you go from one to another, you will need to do a few coats to even up the grey. You will also need to do the door handles and trim thu out the car to even it up otherwise you will have mismatched trim. Good Luck!

 

I know I am beating a dead horse here but I have pictures to help. The top and the bottom of the bumper skin are separate pieces. I have replaced them with aftermarket parts from ebay on a previous 850 GLT I used to have. Anyway, here are photos of the T-5R bumper skin I am in the process of preparing for my wagon.

 

I'm curious how this dye resist rain...

Like rspi I've tried Back to Black and after the first rain it's back to faded grey (even worse - there are drooping lines from the milky stuff on the bumper and doors after the rain)

For the moment, I'm actually using the cheapest stuff from AdvanceAutoParts for about $4 and it's all good as long as I apply it every 2 weeks.

If somebody can provide evidence that this dye survives rain, I'll jump on it.

 

Well I did mine in March and it stll looks good with no water marks at all. I just washed it today and went out and looked at it and it looks very good.

 

Back to Black is just a Vinyl Dressing so it smears and runs when it rains. This stuff is a PERMANENT dye. It actually adheres and dries on the plastic. the other stuff is just a topical dressing.....I did mine a while back and still looks great! I actually got lots of compliments on my bumpers at the Volvo meet we had here a week ago. Member Nicolaselias also used it on his S80 and had his out there and looked good!

 

I've been trying to push Showroom New for quite some time. Absolutely love their products. I had the black on my bumpers & door handles over a year and counting without touchup.

 

I used Forever Black on my 850 about 2 months ago and it looks like I replaced the bumpers. Other 850 Volvo owners notice it pretty fast. The thing with going black instead of the original greyish color is that you have to do everything or it looks a little out of place. My bumpers are BLACK and the rest of the trim is greyish. I like the black so I'm going to dye all the trim.

The big thing is the cleaning prep work and taping the rest of the car off. You don't want to get that dye on the paint or you may be in trouble. I did see one thread where a guy used a heat gun and got the bumpers restored that way. From what I have heard about the heat process it only last between 1 to 3 years.

 

Don't despair, if you get the dye on the paint, have a bottle of cleaner wax and a clean rag handy! It will wipe off with the wax..... I know from experience

 

I was thinkig about popping the door trim off to dye them next weekend but I'd hate to bend them and have to go get new clips for them.

 

Cool, I think this is going to be my first project but i'll have to wait till next spring, since its already fall and winter is just around the corner there's a lot of debris in air right now.

 

Excellent then. I'll buy a bottle.

But here comes the question - grey or black? Which would look better on a dark blue 850...?