Side molding detailing?

[maxchao]

Last time I wax my car with a cleaner wax I found that my application pad got bluish as I went over the side molding, the thing that prevent people ding our doors. I guess there is no clear coat at all at those side molding but bare paint and my cleaner wax is taking it off a little bit. Well, I don't want to buy pure wax just for these moldings but what can I do to protect it? 303 maybe?
Oh, I have a laser blue 03 P5.

Josh

 

[ThrillRide]

How often do you use the cleaner wax and what product is it? If this has never happend before then it is not likly that they don't have clear or it would have been doing that all along. Plastic body parts are painted with a vinyl base as a flex agent for flexability in those body parts. So if the paint ever begins to dry or lose that flex agent paint can begin to crack or peel. I'm guessing this is what is happening to your moldings. And I have a feeling your products are speeding up that process. Let me know the answer to my first question and I can probably tell you for sure what is going on.

 

[Nomad]

No problem for me. I put the side mouldings on my toolbox so the car door won't hit it.

 

[maxchao]

I use Meguiar's cleaner wax, it is actually the first time I do waxing on my P5 since I just bought the car two weeks ago. The previous owner took care of the car very well and I think he always keep the car "in wax".
I feel the molding is made out of metal, maybe I'm wrong.
The paint on the molding seems fine, doesn't look dried of crack, but it is pretty vulnerable. I easily chip it the other day, and that also shows it has no protection on the paint. Also, the bottom of the chip is pure white.
Also, my pad got bluish everywhere on the molding, not just a certain place. I guess that also shows it's coming off not because of aging.

Oh, you can actually take the molding off?

 

[maxchao]

Here is the molding I'm talking about....

 

[jeg0024]

Oh, you can actually take the molding off?

My molding was black, so I pretty much had too. It looked horrible, and its so much easier to wash/wax your car with those stupid things gone anyways. LINK

 

[Nomad]

It's not metal, it's a rubbery trim. It's only held on with double sided tape.

It'll chip and the rubber is white underneath it.

I peeled mine off on a warm day and used WD40 to get the rest of the residue off. Not "easy", just time consuming.

 

[ThrillRide]

If it were me I would do like the others and take it off. I think it looks better. But it just sounds like the flex agent has lost its moisture. You need an oil rich wax to keep the moisture. Also Meguair's cleaner wax I believe is a solvent based cleaner wax which will break down oils. Not saying that is what caused your problem, especially after just one use, but the previous owner may have used similar or just taken good care of it. Hard to say without seeing it. Try something other than the cleaner wax next time and see if it happens again. good luck!

 

[maxchao]

Ha if I'm not in college and I have a personal parking place, I would probably take it off too. But you know college parking lot is just so bad, new driver and rushing students just scratch people's cars around.
Yes the solvent in the cleaner wax is taking it off. My aunt's SUV has a spot that all the clear coat burnt out and it's the same thing when I put wax on that spot. I probably won't buy a pure wax, I guess I will just use 303 to protect it and take it off if it gets bad.
Oh if I see any pure wax laying around in my apartment, I can steal it and use it.

Thanks a lot for all the advice!

Josh

 

[ThrillRide]

I understand what you mean. Well you don't have to spend a lot of money for a paint sealant. 303 isn't going to last you very long and it only protects from UV. One wash or rain and it will be gone.

 

[maxchao]

Oh yea I can just get a sealant. That can be used on the lenses too.
Good idea.
I remember you said optimum opti-seal would be good right? or klasse.

Josh

 

[ThrillRide]

Yes those are both great products but no they are not just sealants. they are both all-in-one products. they both are polishes with protection. poly-seal has carnauba and klasse is an acrylic. just get a straight wax or sealant and be done with it.

 

[maxchao]

I guess I'll just do that. Thanks!

Josh