Removing bumper paint from textured grey bumpers

[Davie]

Evening,

Recently acquired an older car with textured grey bumper tops, door mouldings, door handles and mirror bodies but some character has previously painted them with a darker paint, I'd assume the sort of aerosol based stuff you buy in Halfords and the like for painting such trims. Howevr, it needs to come off as it's terrible...

It's already looking a bit patchy / thin in places and so I'd hoped attacking it at close quarters with the pressure washer would take it off and whilst it does something, it's more like is just buffing the surface rather than actually lifting the paint off and so I need to up the ante with more effective methods... however, not at the detriment of the original plastics below so that rules out any harsh solvents etc.

Appreciate it may be trial and error but any suggestions for softening the paint but without collateral damage?

Regards

[somouk]

Any solvent/chemical that attacks the paint will likely ruin the plastic. You may need to look at replacing the trim, sandblasting or maybe painting it properly.

[Davie]

Thanks.

Using acetone along with a paintbrush to agitate, then a vigorous rub with a microfibre cloth has slowly removed the paint from the sidemouldings, mudflaps and door mirror bodies however the same technique isn't even scratching the surface of the bumpers.

I suspect the latter have either been better pre-paint prepped or their more textured surface has given the paint a much better grip. Though I'd have thought the acetone would soften the paint as on the other smoother parts but no such luck.

Unless I can find good, non scratched replacements I'm now thinking repainting over the black with a dark grey colour more akin to the OEM plastic shade will be the next, cost effective option. Can but try I guess and if it looks crap, continue to hunt for replacements.

Cheers