The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: clonmore1 on March 29, 2015, 02:33:21 PM

Title: Would this work on the dashboard cover I wonder?
Post by: clonmore1 on March 29, 2015, 02:33:21 PM

http://youtu.be/RJyFlJW5rbk

Title: Re: Would this work on the dashboard cover I wonder?
Post by: Bob_Roller on March 29, 2015, 02:58:50 PM

Well, that was quite interesting !!!!!

Title: Re: Would this work on the dashboard cover I wonder?
Post by: clonmore1 on March 29, 2015, 04:07:17 PM

Bob,

I am going to try it on the lower panel first because if I screw it up, that's the cheapest part to replace!

I will try and film it to show the results ::)

Title: Re: Would this work on the dashboard cover I wonder?
Post by: Tony Smith on March 29, 2015, 04:34:02 PM

Quote

Bob,

I am going to try it on the lower panel first because if I screw it up, that's the cheapest part to replace!

I will try and film it to show the results ::)

I woudn't......

The method in the youtube clip "works" because the heat acts to bring some of the "plasticizing" chemicals to the surface. The effect is temporary and, as you rightly point out, not without some risk.

I have been trialing a product called "VuPlex" on my spare dashboard, currently it is spending a few days in the sun to make sure there is some permanence to the process.
 
I am using VuPlex because the Queensland Ducati club (my person name for them "Bevel-n-Bull$hit" recommend it for use on scratched helmet visors (and I will attest that it is fantastic for that).  When I looked at the can it made claims about plastic rejuvenation so I tried it - photos and opinion soon.

There are numerous plastic rejuvenation products around. A visit to a local car/bike/boat detailign place might prove educative

Title: Re: Would this work on the dashboard cover I wonder?
Post by: mrclubike on March 29, 2015, 07:13:35 PM

I would not do that to a R65 dash
I think it is more of a vinyl and may just lift off the backing.
I think he is doing it on a plastic type stuff  

Title: Re: Would this work on the dashboard cover I wonder?
Post by: clonmore1 on March 30, 2015, 02:00:06 AM

Thanks for the response.

I'll ask about the longevity, in the video he did mention that it doesn't work on all plastic surfaces.

Love to hear about your results when you have them Tony

Title: Re: Would this work on the dashboard cover I wonder?
Post by: coffee_brake on March 31, 2015, 09:14:17 PM

I think using the same heat that caused the fading in excess is just going to cause even more damage, especially when exposed to UV again.

On my plastics I've had the best results with straight-up DOT 5 brake fluid. Not the DOT 3 or 4, or DOT 5.1. These will eat the paint. But DOT 5 is made of silicone, and it soaks into faded plastics like nothing I've seen before. I use a cotton gardening glove and just wipe it all over, with some on a q-tip for the crevices. Lasts through many rain storms.
I dribbled some on the plastics and blacked-out engine on a Harley while servicing the brakes. Knowing the stuff was not going to eat the paint, I left the spill there overnight and when I wiped it off, I was amazed at how it had refreshed the blacked out engine paint and all the plastic and rubber bits it had touched.

I think it's loads better than the overpriced S100 stuff. Lasts a whole lot longer and way cheaper too.

Title: Re: Would this work on the dashboard cover I wonder?
Post by: Tony Smith on April 02, 2015, 05:22:16 PM

Quote

Thanks for the response.

Love to hear about your results when you have them Tony

Looked prettier after being wiped with VuPlex but three days in the sun and it looked old and battered.
 
i have just last night read a procedure used by car restorers to revive old dash covers. Boil in water (or if too big, steam) for 10 ~ 15 minutes and then soak in synthetic gun oil.
 
The last time I let gun oil near plastic the results were a bit "sad" so someone else please try this.