Over-cab Skylight Black Surround

Hi. I have a 2013 Broadway Low Profile 2 berth which has an area around the over-cab roof light which should be shiny Black. It has become very dull, almost mat.

I have tried T cut and then wax, but it hasn't improved it much.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I don't know whether it has a gelcoat or whether the colour goes right through. I was going to try using cutting/polishing paste, but thought I would see if anyone else has had this problem and if so, how they solved it.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Hi notsli, have exactly same problem and was going to get up close to clean  black GRP to make it shiny. Have doubts about best method believing damage has been done since exposed to the effect of UV over the past two and half years from new?

Black Plastic bumpers can be made to look like new again with a hot air gun and a product is available for motorcycle plastics used on off road bikes to make that look good again I think it was called plastic renew? A bit of a Google should come up with something.

This sounds silly but I am told it works on black plastic bumpers etc..... try peanut butter!!!
If it doesn't work then once you scrape it back off you can at least have a sandwich:allthumbz:

Our Winnie has the same problem. I believe it to be as Paramedic suggested above - exposure to UV light.

Winnie had that area repaired by A/S workshop only 3 months ago, when the "screws through the roof" job was repaired. The affected area was repainted too - nice shiny black - but when I climed to the rooftop I saw the top area above had been left original and dull. I have used Auto-Glym Bumper Care to some good effect, but it still gradually returns to dull. The gel coat would probably benefit from a complete repaint, but at only 2 years old (2014 model)?

I don't know what the final answer will be, but I doubt that A/S will offer to have Winnie back to respray the whole black area under warranty, do you?

Regards, Barry.

When we had our 2012 Broadway we had exactly the same problem. AS advised me to use Farecla G3 products specifically for gel coat restoration, it works but was hard work.

crisp wrote:This sounds silly but I am told it works on black plastic bumpers etc..... try peanut butter!!!
If it doesn't work then once you scrape it back off you can at least have a sandwich:allthumbz:

Linseed Oil, definitely works, bumpers still shiny after many weeks, good for the wing mirrors if black and started to go a bit dull, others thought it was so good who have seen the results, they have used it on their cars.

Hi Milhouse, yes, the A/S hand book recommends "G3 Paste Compound. This is a cutting compound and polish, recommended for use on painted surfaces and GRP. It is ideal for removing the traffic film that builds up on glass fibre coachwork and not only restores it to it's former glory, but adds a high level of polish as well". Umm, me thinks it may restore the gloss finish but not the true black. I have a tub of Silky paste that might be similar so will give that a try.

As this is my first post you would be correct in thinking 'what does he know' but bringing paintwork back to life and then protecting it along with trim and rubber seals on my VW camper has taken me in the direction of a company called GTechniq and although not the cheapest range of products on the market the results are very very good and they do last, so maybe something like this may help

 http://gtechniq.com/products/auto/perfect/exterior/paint/c4-permanent-trim-restorer

or a simpler cheaper alternative which has kept my window and sliding door seals in great condition is this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gummi-Pflege-Rubber-Stick-100ml/dp/B007TNOQDI

just a thought

Rubber seals door / windows I use talcum powder.  smells nice too.

It's GRP just like the rest of the body, not the same material as bumpers. 

I wash and wax like the rest of the van and it is still glossy.

If it's dull use a light "abrasive" polish and then apply a good quality wax such as collinite.

Search the forum there are excellent posts about cleaning, polishing and waxing by people who know more about it than me, I have certainly learned a lot.

Mike

In Member Fact Sheets. https://www.autosleeper-ownersforum.com/t15292-polishing

Hi cotswoldiver, please don't feel the need to put yourself down as all genuine advice/suggestions are truly welcomed on this friendly forum. Regards

crisp wrote:This sounds silly but I am told it works on black plastic bumpers etc..... try peanut butter!!!
If it doesn't work then once you scrape it back off you can at least have a sandwich:allthumbz:

I was going to Tesco this morning so I thought I'd get some Peanut Butter and give it a go. It works!!

It seems that it is abrasive and I used it with a damp/wet rag. It takes off all the traffic film and returns the surface to dull but smooth.
I  then used Autoglym super resin polish and after several applications I got it to an acceptable shine. I used this method on the right side and on the left I started with the Peanut Butter, washed it off, then did it with t-cut and finally 3 or 4 coats of Autoglym. I think this gave a slightly better result.
It's not back to showroom condition, but it is acceptable and certainly better than it was. And I've still got enough left for tomorrows lunch!!
If I can work out how to do it I'll post a couple of photos.
Thanks for the tip
John

This is what I use and it brings the black roof sparkling, I use autoglym super resin polish, to get rid of all the mat dullness,then I use a carnubawax especially for caravans off eBay, and my black parts of the roof come up like new.

John.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291289905815?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Thanks to everyone for your helpful comments.

JOHN

Hooray glad to hear my suggestion works!!!! It came via a used car salesman so you can never be sure. 

Linseed oil brings it back to showroom shine, washed my van today and bumper  is still very shiny after using the oil weeks ago, , I am sticking with that,

Done mine again today with autoglym resin polish then carnubawax and it's dazzling, but hard work with knackered shoulders and elbow.

John.

daisy mae wrote:Linseed oil brings it back to showroom shine, washed my van today and bumper  is still very shiny after using the oil weeks ago, , I am sticking with that,

Be very careful with any cloths you have used. Do not store scrumpled up, but laid flat in the air. They can spontaneously combust otherwise.