Auto body repair & detailing: fading rubber bumper, fender flairs, best bet

Question
QUESTION: I have an '02 vehicle with a black bumper.  This has faded over the years.  Is there a black dye dressing that can be applied to bring back the black color? The bumper is in great condition otherwise.

ANSWER: Hi Mica,    

It depends on how far gone it is. You can use a rubber or vinyl dressing to bring it back for a period of time but once the dressing wears off it'll look the same again. The best bet is to go ahead and paint it. The only issue with that is you really need to clean it very good. PPG makes  a system for refinishing bumpers called One Choice. It basically involves a cleaning sponge that is presaturated with a cleaner (part # SU4901), a presaturated wipe for adhesion (part # SU4902), and a adhesion primer spray (part# SUA4903). This system is the best I have ever seen on the market for plastic refinishing. You can then paint with basically any type of automotive paint. I would highly recommend SEM's Bumper Coater finishes for a tough durable finish and best of all it comes in an aerosol can so you can do it yourself pretty easily. If this is the direction you decide to take then you can find SEM Bumper Coater colors at this website: www.repaintsupply.com/cat_bumper.cfm.  I hope this helps.

Gary

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QUESTION: my bumper is black rubber.  It is not painted.  Won't the paint peel off of the rubber.  There is no dye that can be absorbed into this rubber?

Answer
It may be a polyethelene plastic which is kind of like an oily looking plastic that can't be painted. Is your vehicle a Jeep or something?
I believe Jeep is the only manufacturer that used that type of plastic from factory that I am aware of and it was used on bumpers and fender flairs. If that's the case then you will have to resort to using a vinyl dressing and re-applying it every time it wears off. To my knowledge the only way to re-apply color to polyethelene plastics is it must be pre-heated with a torch and then a special high temp. paint designed for polyethelene is applied and it is re-heated with the torch. This sort of heat sets the paint into the plastic. I have only heard of it being done by the Corp. of Engineers for the repainting of the buoys in the lakes.