Likelihood of fading on door?

05sxt · Post by **05sxt** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:45 pm

I'm considering removing my door moldings tonight (don't worry, I've already read the How-To) since I have nothing better to do. However I'm afraid it might be faded underneath since it's almost 5 years old already and its a dark midnight blue which might show the difference in fading easier.

The good news is that since I bought it, it has been garaged almost every night (of course this may not make a difference since the sun isn't out at night dedeedeee

)

Do ya'll think I should even bother taking it off? What are the chances its gonna be pretty damn faded? I'm aware that if it is not too bad I can buff and polish it til it matches but I'm afraid it might be too far gone. Let me know what ya think! Thanks

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:04 pm

I'd say take it off still. Over time the fading will dissipate. Also if you take a prewax or color buff (a cutting compound used to smooth over scratches) to it that should help with the fading.

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 9:18 pm

Actually it may be darker under the emblems, but I'm sure that's what you meant.
It is more an illusion of being darker, as the clear coat is in better shape underneath, compared to the surrounding area.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 9:29 pm

I'd say pull a little bit back and see just how off the color is before pulling it all off. A lot depends on how long the car has been in the sun and whether or not it's garage kept. Although after 5 years I'm guessing you'll have some ghost stripes down the side for a while.

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 9:42 pm

Mine was about that old when I took mine off. Or maybe it was four years old. Wait, no, it was six, as it was made in Nov of '02. I have a black car, and I pulled it off after letting it sit in the sun for a while. No problems (except some of the goop remained which was professionally removed).

Haganracing · Post by **Haganracing** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:09 am

I took my moldings off about a year and a half ago.

Its an 02 neon and its black.

Looks great and no signs that the moldings have ever been on my car.

I think you will be ok

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:50 am

Black is probably the best color for this kind of stuff. It's harder to tell different shades of black than it is with certain other colors. It's the same reason it's easier to blend black paint than it is with the lighter shades of color when doing paint repairs.

It mainly depends on the amount of UV exposure to the paint. It also depends on how well the paint exterior was cared for. Properly caring for you paint can keep it in a much better condition, and leave the color more vibrant.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:34 am

I took them off my yellow car last month, and it's an 04. Other than a few little bubbles, the color difference was barely noticeable.

05sxt · Post by **05sxt** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:59 am

Ok so I ended up only having time to take off the moldings on the passenger side last night and I attempted to take pics on my phone so I apologize about the quality.

After removing the moldings and excess glue, I buffed and polished the door with Meguair's which did a great job of taking off any remaining bits of glue.
What boggled my mind is that the rear door was fine underneath the molding when holding up a flourescent light next to it.

Meanwhile the front door had a "ghost stripe" on it. I don't understand how the paint could be lighter underneath the molding. Shouldn't it have been the other way around?

However, the stripe is really only noticeable under the flourescent light and I'll check tomorrow to see if it's visible in daylight. Hopefully 8-9 months of constant, hot Texas sun will take care of it.
Thanks guys for all the advice!

Jeepin' · Post by **Jeepin'** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:43 pm

05 here too. Florida car its whole life. I removed the moldings about 3 months ago, no major problems, some bubbled paint (very small) towards the passenger front. You'll be way more pleased with them off.

Jenni · Post by **Jenni** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:24 pm

hmmm - my car came without them...

FAC3L3SS · Post by **FAC3L3SS** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:35 pm

That's how mine turned out. I just put some rubbing compound on them every few days, let it set in the sun, etc...

I just got my car repainted like 8 months ago, so mine are fine now. That's how mine looked in 07 though, off a 2000.

Red04SxtLuvr · Post by **Red04SxtLuvr** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 8:16 pm

Took the modlings off my Blaze Red 04 a few months ago. Can't tell at all anymore they were ever on there. No buffing or compounding, just whatever southern Arizona sun it got exposed to when I was running around town, which was only every couple of weeks. Other than that was in garage. I love the looks without those damned strips too. Looks like a more expensive car,,,IMHO

opie0669 · Post by **opie0669** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 4:27 am

dam i was fixxin to say meguiers fixes everything in detailing....made an old 79 ford of mine look factory fresh..good S#!t man!!! i still gotta take my molds off...waitin for the hot texas sun to roll back around again...

05sxt · Post by **05sxt** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:42 pm

Had some time on Sunday so I took the driver's side moldings off. No ghost stripe underneath either of those doors so I guess overall the whole project went well. We also buffed and polished the trunk lid where I had removed the emblems almost 3 years ago (and the shadow still remained) and took care of that with the Meguaires (sp?).

Only problem is now, my entire car is still filthy but it has these nice polished "stripes" down the sides of both doors where the moldings were. I just tell ppl that those are custom racing stripes and they add ~20 bhp.

2GN.ORG

Likelihood of fading on door?

Likelihood of fading on door?

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