Black plastic fender flares have been used on a variety of vehicles over the years, including the Jeep Wrangler and an early version of the iconic Volkswagen GTI "hot hatch." Over time, though, plastic flares see their fair share of abuse and can become faded, dull and even scratched. Luckily, removing and restoring a set of black plastic fender flares is not that difficult with the right approach and a little elbow grease.
Remove the fender flares from the car. Flares generally are held on with a series of plastic screws on the inside of the wheel lip. Consult a workshop manual for the procedure for your car. Wash the fender flares with soap and water on the inside and outside so there is no dirt and debris. Dry the flares with a clean, lint-free rag.
Sand the finish of the flares with 220-grit wet sandpaper, using water. This will remove fine scratches. If there are larger scratches that cannot be sanded off, use spot putty to fill these in. Apply the spot putty according to the instructions on the packaging. Let the putty dry, then sand it with 220-grit sandpaper until the scratches are filled in. Sand the entire outside of the flare until you are satisfied that it looks smooth and ready for the paint.
Clean the flares with mineral spirits. Make sure the flares are entirely clean and do not have any oil or residue on them before you begin the painting process. Paint the flares with a plastic spray paint. Use a satin or semi-gloss paint. You can use glossy paint, but plastic flares usually have a more muted, satin finish. Apply several coats of paint, allowing the coats to dry for 20 or 30 minutes between applications. Let the paint dry thoroughly, then wet-sand the flares with 320-grit sandpaper. Reinstall the flares on the car.
