Cleaning plastics on a R53 Cooper S

[CO2000]

Ours is a 2006 car bought at 19k miles from a Main Dealer a couple of years ago. Just recently the arches/side skirts were showing slight signs of discolouration/the odd bit of wax as I had never treated them with anything since buying the car. I used Autoglym bumper gel & it looked pretty good for a Month or 2 but now looks shocking. What would a main dealer have used to last so long - maybe nothing due to the low mileage??

Also need to do the inside plastics, what's best to keep it as it is meant to be (ie not too shiny etc)

Thanks for any info

[gonzales]

I use Autoglym bumper cleaner once a month and occasionally back to black for areas where I can't get the wax off.

Interior plastics just get dusty in my car so a wipe with a dry cloth normally works - or a blast out with the windows and sunroof open.

[nickfrog]

You need to thoroughly clean the plastics " in the grain" with a strongish APC mix (1:5)with a nail brush and then apply a quality dressing. Gtechniq C4 is the obvious and will last 6 months+. It's a bit expensive though so for a cheaper decent alternative, Autofinesse Revive or Poorboys Trim Restorer. They don't get washed off by the rain as quickly as AG.

[Justin S]

Our 2003 car plastics are knackered and very grey when needing revival. I use Poorboys Trim restorer and looks great for a while. We have 2 options. Top up once every 6 weeks with Trim restorer or replace the plastics.....Luckily our car is garaged, so kept away from the elements for a lot of the time as not used everyday.

[CO2000]

Thanks for the replies, our plastics were a lot better before I put the autoglym on than now 6 weeks after so its not old age.
A guy I work with was raving about the Poor Guys products the other week, he was an Autoglym man but not now, I'll have to give them a go.