Over time, paint on an automobile's plastic side mirrors can fade or flake. This occurs for a wide variety of reasons, including breakdown of the paint caused by outdoor temperature extremes, chemicals in rainwater and chemicals picked up during road travel. In addition, the paint's age can cause it to fade or flake. With a free afternoon schedule and the right tools, it isn't difficult to paint plastic auto side mirrors. An important thing you must keep in mind when you begin is that to apply the paint successfully---create a long lasting finish---you must prep and texture the plastic surface.
Wash your vehicle's plastic side mirrors with a auto plastic cleaner and a sponge or melamine resin foam eraser. Rinse and air-dry. The auto plastic cleaner should not only clean, but also remove waxy buildup or grease. If it doesn't, use an auto prep wipe and dry with a microfiber cloth.
Tape newspaper over the glass mirrors, side windows and other surrounding areas that you don't plan to paint.
Prep the plastic on the side mirrors by lightly texturing the surface with 800-grit sandpaper and then wiping away the grit and plastic particles with a damp textured microfiber cloth. Air-dry the side mirrors.
Apply primer following the manufacturer's instructions. Typically, application involves lightly spraying, in even sweeps back and forth 5 inches from the plastic, at least three coats.
After the primer has sufficiently dried according to the manufacturer's instructions, spray on touch-up paint by applying in even back-and-forth sweeps across the plastic. As with the primer, follow the touch-up paint's manufacturer instructions and typically spray at least 5 inches from the plastic to ensure that the paint goes on smoothly without running. Spray on at least three coats with 10-minute breaks between each application.
Protect the paint by lightly applying three coats of clear coat with at least a 10-minute break between each application.
Remove the newspaper and masking tape and air-dry the side mirrors thoroughly following paint and clear coat manufacturer curing time frames before washing the newly painted surfaces.
