Is the shoe polish a permanent or temporary fix? Most successful paint project depends on the prep work and moldings are no different. I would suggest a product that's designed specifically for bumper and moldings. I think those product have more flex agent in the paint that allows the paint to flex as the bumper and molding flexes.

 

Shoe polish, like the forever black ATB sells, is only temporary.

I have found that the Krylon paint stickes very well and flexes well too. I used some of the "bumper and trim"paint from my local parts house, and it came off with the first wash. I literally stripped the rest off with a pressure washer. I have hit the Krylon hard, and it is holing up very well.

My father backed into a UPS truck and the paint came off a little, but after a quick scoth pad and light feathering, it looks new again.

 

I'm with okdiscoguy, paint them, the other stuff is only temp, I painted mine a couple of months ago, just like he said clean them scuff them and spray. I had to use a Honda flat bumper paint because I guess the town I live doesn't believe in carrying Fusion flat black paint, only glossy "bling bling" crap, ugh.

 

I was curious about this too....

I have used Mothers back to black on my old xterra and it worked great, but lasted a week, if even. The rovers trim now has a rough texture as mentioned before, so I am not even going to attempt to use back to black.

I think that trying to paint them will cause me more frustration that I am willing to put into them. So, I have decided to order new ones. They are a pretty penny ($350 from roverparts.com, search "wheel arch")...but They will look damn good when they are replaced.

The bumper trim still looks great. I wish they would have used the same material on the wheel arches.....

 

at least try to paint them. Light even coats. Might be happy with spending $20 instead of $350.....

 

I painted mine, sanded them down to smooth, masked the truck and painted. Took a little time but total I think I spent 25 bucks and they look new.

 

I might have missed this, but what paint did you all specifically use? Is is a spray paint? I am just worried about it feeling somewhat tacky like most aerosols do after painintg. Also, I have no access to a garage..is it quick dry paint? Thanks everyone for their advice!

 

Everyone recommends Krylon Fusion but I had to use a Honda flat bumper paint which turned out good. Just make sure you clean them real good after sanding, I had to redo the drivers side due to the paint bubbling from not being cleaned well enough.

 

Krylon Fusion for plastics. Most mega stores carry it. It is quick drying and very durable. I would suggest satin or flat(if you can find flat). Satin finish looks like plastic on anything..

 

Agree with OKDISCOGUY. I have used Mothers on my Rover and BMW and it works very good, but does not last that long. Tape off around the plastic with the Blue Painters tape and then scuff and clean with Green Scotch pads. The Krylon paint will work with plastic and will last. I use Armor All on my bumper plastic, window rubber, mirrors tires and it last about a month. The bumper plastic on my D1 was milky looking when I bought it and the Armor All made it black again.