Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 4502
Soft nudge bar fading away
Morning all,
Has anybody managed to restore the genuine LR plastic soft nudge bar on the front of their D3? The one on my G4 is now 12 years old and is starting to fade to a very dull grey and the plastic is getting rough and brittle.
I've tried all sorts of Autoglym bumper gels and plastic trim restoring polishes but it only ever masks the problem for a few days or until it next rains... I wondered if anyone had successfully painted it or resurfaced it to keep it looking fresh and matt black?
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26702
Not sure it would work on soft plastic, but on my Defender, I resprayed the headlamp surrounds which had gone dirty grey. This was a couple of years ago.
Rubbed them down, used plastic primer, then sprayed Matt black. They still looked as new when I sold it to Bev recently.
Incidentally, I believe Bev also had your family D3 a few years ago. Coincidence!!
8th Sep 2020 9:09 am
CY
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 4502
Thanks Gareth, that might be worth a go then. I just cant tell how the surface would take paint as it's quite soft and squishy.
Yes just spotted the thread about our old D3, I think it's been sold onto another forum member now but trying to track it down. Would love to know how it's getting on.
Can I expect to see your name in the Defender order bank soon Gareth? 8)2007 Porsche Boxster (987) 2.7
2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE G4 Challenge (1 of 68)
2023 Defender 90 D250 X-Dynamic HSE
8th Sep 2020 9:24 am
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13657
Hi
Hope u don’t mind me adding this , just bought a second hand A bar that’s got slight damage to it
Got some of this paint I’m going to try , from the pics it’s supposed to give a textured finish
Wondering if using some wet and dry to clean it up and also hoping by doing that will give it a good key for the primer
Hope it may help
Click image to enlarge
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Last edited by gstuart on 8th Sep 2020 10:29 am. Edited 1 time in total
8th Sep 2020 10:26 am
CY
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 4502
Nice. That's exactly the kind of thing I had in mind.
Will be interesting to see how you get on, looks promising. Keep us posted!2007 Porsche Boxster (987) 2.7
2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE G4 Challenge (1 of 68)
2023 Defender 90 D250 X-Dynamic HSE
8th Sep 2020 10:28 am
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13657
Ur so welcome
Will be starting it more than likely next month but will indeed keep u updated
Got to first do a small repair on it, section has come away and needs regluing , alas that’s why I got it so cheap
Indeed main concern is seeing if the primer will key properly
Have also used a product called Hycote plastic primer / bumper paint on my scuttle panel , but leaves like a Matt sheen, that was last year and no peeling , however for the A bar I’m hoping this tech paint will do a textured as per tin description
Will do a thread when I start it
Ps, also trying to source the bottom brackets that go onto the impact bar, hope it’s not cheeky asking but if u know of anyone would u mind giving me a shout plse, many thks , gary
Those scuttles fade so quickly. I replaced the original one on the D3 & within 3 or 4 years I was almost back to square one with it.
What about RAPTOR for the soft nudge bar? Isn't that supposed to key to pretty much anything & remain "durable". Not sure if that means flexible though
Cheers n Gone Nick MY16 D4 Landmark SDV6 (The Ice Maiden)
Uncle Ray's spare wheel protector
MY08 D3 HSE Stornoway (Miss Moneypit) The money tree withered......
8th Sep 2020 11:41 am
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26702
CY wrote:
Can I expect to see your name in the Defender order bank soon Gareth? 8)
Not sure Chris. My needs have changed and my annual miles are very low now. So no urgency. The D4 is good for now. I do think LR have failed to impress on the engine options. If I could have had a p400 in a lower trim variant, my order would be in already I think. Not excited by the D240. Trying to get a test in a P300, but not successful so far.
8th Sep 2020 12:07 pm
CY
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 4502
Specifications tend to be limited within the first year to reduce complexity while manufacturing ramps up under high demand. Think it's safe to say there is more in the pipeline in terms of engine and derivative choice.
At least you've got an excellent car to enjoy in the meantime!
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13657
Skagg wrote:
Nice job there Gary.
Those scuttles fade so quickly. I replaced the original one on the D3 & within 3 or 4 years I was almost back to square one with it.
What about RAPTOR for the soft nudge bar? Isn't that supposed to key to pretty much anything & remain "durable". Not sure if that means flexible though
Cheers n Gone Nick
Hi nick
Many thks
Must admit took me ages to do that , really pleased as it was my first attempt with rattle cans, my worst worry was paint dripping in the holes of the scuttle panel, so done really thin 3-4 coats of primer and then 3-4 coats of finish , then few coats of lacquer , still looks the same as when I done it
Thks for the link, Did look at Raptor but from what I’ve read the finish is like a satin gloss finish., plus bought the above primer and textured cans
Wanted a matt finish on mine , hoping it will also match my tubular rock sliders that are Matt , did also put a clear Matt lacquer coating , want to get round fitting them
Last edited by gstuart on 8th Sep 2020 12:33 pm. Edited 1 time in total
8th Sep 2020 12:29 pm
trainmanone
Member Since: 19 Dec 2014
Location: stockport
Posts: 366
try a heat gun ,saw a program on tv the other night and they used a heat gun on the plastic to bring it back to black ,something to do with the oils in the plastic they said use a medium heat and keep the gun moving.
just remembered it was on car sos
8th Sep 2020 12:32 pm
pwheeldon
Member Since: 15 Jan 2020
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 1449
The other option is plastidip as it can be peeled off if you don't like it. Ive used it on my wheels and they've come up really well. I am now thinking of doing all my pkastics with it, just waiting a whole to see how the wheels fair. My thinking is tgat as tge a bar is spongey, the plastidip would flex with it and be less likely to crack.
Before
After
Discovery 4 GS 2009 Auto Stornoway Grey
Discovery 3 s 2005 Auto Bonatti Grey Gone
Discovery 3 SE 2005 Manual Zambezi Silver Gone
Range Rover Sport HSE 2006 Black
Aston Martin DB7 VV
8th Sep 2020 2:14 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13657
Hiya
That will definitely be my next project using plastic dip for my alloys , also wondering with my disco being java black if doing the wheels from silver to black would look ok or too much
went with the tech paint in the end because it was textured , must admit , also wondered about the arches bumpers etc , might actually try the textured paint if the A bar comes out ok
Really like the look of this ( not sure about the spots/ roof rack)
Click image to enlarge
8th Sep 2020 3:15 pm
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1923
pwheeldon wrote:
The other option is plastidip as it can be peeled off if you don't like it. Ive used it on my wheels and they've come up really well. I am now thinking of doing all my pkastics with it, just waiting a whole to see how the wheels fair. My thinking is tgat as tge a bar is spongey, the plastidip would flex with it and be less likely to crack.
Before
After
+1 for PlastiDip. I've used it to really good effect on my wheels and it's incredibly durable. I've also used it on my grill and air intake. It lasts extremely well and holds up to a real bashing. I would have thought it would work well on the the nudge bar and wonder if it could be less likely to peel than a spray paint. It also has the advantage of being removable if it doesn't work out. For that reason I'd perhaps start with plastidip and then move to other options if it's not good enough.PAGODA
8th Sep 2020 5:13 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13657
Hiya
Many thks, Indeed would have gone for the plastic dip but alas wanted a textured finish to try and match the A bar which also has a kind of textured finish , going to spray an area on the back first with the tech paint to see how it holds up
Will defiantly try it on my wheels , still unsure if I should change them from silver to black
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