ReaperGT

Hey guys,

So this week Im am going to be detailing my car and one thing that has been bugging me is that my matte black stripes are beginning to have a 'shine" to them. Unlike when I bought them and they were pure matte. I was going to try to clay bar them but I dont wanna scratch them all up. What are some techniques that you guys use?

5SPD07GT

hmm, in almost 2yrs my matte black stripes have never shined. I just wash them like i do the rest of the car and use spray detailer on them at shows. No issues on shine

ReaperGT

What kinda detailer do you use? And one more question, I have a small scratch on part of my vinyl, any tips for removing it?

yc420

As far as keeping them up goes their are a few things to know, no wax, minimal detail spray, and keep the car out of the sun as much as possible, and every time you wash it, spray vinyl protectant on them.

This is straight from a guy I know from another forum that IMO, has the cleanest looking stripes ever. They look brand new and this is what his guy who did them for him told him to do.

Hope this helps

ReaperGT

Did he have any suggestions to get all the gunk off of the stripes? I think its cause i mostly wash my car at a self wash with the high pressure hose and i think some soap residue gets left on the stripes or something cause they look alot different (shine wise) from when I first put them on

5SPD07GT

i used meguiaqr spray and wipe detailer in the maroon bottle

yc420

What kind of gunk do you mean? Washing your car at a car wash is also bad especially with stripes. Over time, you'll see that they will peel. Soap residue could be an option

ReaperGT

I mean the quarter car wash though, not the one with the huge automated brushes. And since everyone uses it on their matte engine, do you think simple green might clean the stripes good?

yc420

I don't know about black stripes but with the white ones on my GT you can use some degreaser and that cleans them up a little bit. Vinyl is just a PITA. I definitely do not recommend using wax or detailer spray on them. If you read the back of some waxes you'll see it says not to use on unpainted surfaces and vinyl. Our stripes are vinyl...

AmericanMuscle4.6GT

turtle wax ice, end of story. trust me.