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So my 2010 C4S here in Florida has a moldy looking rubber trim around windows. See pic.
Before I try some cleaner that makes it worse what is the best solution/method at removing this without damaging the rubber. Thanks
Another vouch for 303 - that stuff is great. For the skinny strips on the roof I use a q-tip and wider sections I use cotton ***** or a sponge soaked in 303, wipe on, wipe off with a micro fiber after. Every 3 months or so I'll do the exterior rubber and it looks factory new, I've even gotten compliments on it. I'll do the interior dash and things like the wiper bay tray at the base of the windshield every year or so.
scrub it with some detergent like simple green and put on some rubber conditioner. just fix it as well as possible. I dont think you will ever get that original coating back -whatever it is
Also in FL, also same deterioration of that trim. First I use yellow painters tape to mask the paint so the products don't get on it. Then I apply Griot's Rubber Prep to clean the trim, let dry. Then I apply Gummi Pflege to recondition the trim. It is the only product I have found that actually does so vs merely applying a cosmetic coating.
Also in FL, also same deterioration of that trim. First I use yellow painters tape to mask the paint so the products don't get on it. Then I apply Griot's Rubber Prep to clean the trim, let dry. Then I apply Gummi Pflege to recondition the trim. It is the only product I have found that actually does so vs merely applying a cosmetic coating.
Gummi Pflege - this works great
I have used that ever since I got my 911 and do not have this problem
I have similar discoloration on my window trim, particularly on the trim above the window. My spots looked like a chemical stain from a car wash, but might just be oxidation.
I never had luck with Gummi Pflege. It seemed to just put a temporary shine that quick faded and made the spots more noticeable. I had the car detailed and they used silicone on the trim. Same story. Looked great for a few days and then went back to looking like ****.
I haven't tried 303, but I will. I use mothers Back to Black on the windshield cowling which works well, but didn't seem to do much for the window trim.
What I have found to work is firmly rubbing the trim with a wet towel while im washing it, effectively scrubbing off the top layer of rubber. It will turn your towel black but eliminated most of the oxidation marks on mine and left the trim a matte finish. I only did this for the trim above and below the driver window. The trim around the rear window is a harder, shinier rubber that didn't have any oxidation marks.
While looking into the recommended 303 aerospace protectant I've found that there are several permutations/formulas/applications. For those of you who have used this/these products, can you please point out which worked best?
Although my cars are always garaged and are only exposed to the sun while doing errands (we're retired), we live in the Caribbean and UV protection is of prime concern.
Please advise how much pressure/force I should be applying to remove dirt. I do not want to damage or scuff rubber seals around windows by pushing too hard, but I notice that even after 3-4 cycles of cleaning I'm still seeing black residue on microfiber towels.
Thanks!!!
The black you're seeing is not dirt, it's the rubber itself sloughing off from deterioration. The only real solution is replacement. But if you go with a coating like Griot's Black Shine and reapply as needed you could probably keep it looking halfway decent for a lont time. Mine on the rear quarter windows is starting to flake off at the upper edge, and because changing it out is such an expensive pain, I'm going to try a black silicone self-cure putty called Sugru to fill it in. Nothing to lose by trying at this point.
Thanks so much for the reply! I guess I'll try some of the griots product and see how it helps. I also checked and the price Porsche charges for replacement of essentially some molded rubber is insane!
12-14-2017, 03:40 PM
How to clean moldy rubber window trim?
