Faded Trim and Road Grime: Mercedes Sprinter Van in Salmon Creek, WA
Exterior detail, roof included, spray sealant and plastic protection
Before and after
Tap any one to zoom in.
BeforeAfter
This Mercedes Sprinter van had road grime dried across the lower panels, dust caked into the wheels and black plastic trim that had faded to a chalky grey. We washed it top to bottom on site in Salmon Creek, Washington, roof included, put a spray sealant on the paint and a plastic protection with UV protection on every black panel. About three hours.
What we did
Dried road grime and spray marks across the lower black cladding, the side step and the rear wheel arch. Dust packed into the bronze wheels and the tire sidewalls. The black plastic on the bumper and cladding faded to a dull grey, with light wear marks in it.
A van like this is mostly plastic below the waistline. The bumper, the cladding along both sides, the arches and the step are all unpainted black trim, and that is exactly where the road spray lands and where the sun does its damage. Once the plastic fades, a wash alone leaves it clean but still grey.
The whole van was washed by hand, the roof included, and the wheels and arches were cleaned until the bronze finish showed through again.
The paint got a spray sealant. It gives road dirt less to hold on to between washes.
Then every black plastic panel got a plastic protection that includes UV protection, so the plastic stays a natural, deep black. On the front bumper it hid a good part of the fading, and the light wear marks on the plastic became noticeably less visible.
What the three hours went into
Most of the time on a van goes into the lower half and the plastic.
- Hand wash of the whole van, roof included.
- Road grime cleaned off the lower cladding, the side step and the arches.
- Wheels and tires cleaned.
- Spray sealant applied to the paint.
- Plastic protection with UV protection on every black plastic panel.
Result
- Lower cladding, step and arches back to clean, deep black.
- Bronze wheels showing their real colour again.
- Fading on the front bumper largely hidden, wear marks on the plastic much less visible.
- Spray sealant on the paint, every plastic panel protected.
Plastic protection makes faded trim look right again and keeps the sun off it, but it is a protective layer, not a repair. Light fading and fine wear marks become much less visible. Deep scratches and gouges in the plastic are still there, just less obvious. The same goes for the sealant: it protects the paint, it does not polish out damage already in it.
About three hours, on site in Salmon Creek.
Finished
How it looked when we packed up.
Questions people ask about jobs like this
How long it lasts depends on the weather and how often the van is washed. While it is on, road dirt has less to hold on to, so the van washes clean more easily between details.
In most cases a long way. On this Sprinter the plastic protection hid a good part of the fading on the front bumper and left the cladding a natural, deep black. It is a protective layer rather than a repair, so plastic with deep damage improves but does not look new.
Yes. The protection we use includes UV protection, which is what keeps unpainted trim from going grey again as quickly.
Yes. The roof was part of this job. Mention it when you book so the time is planned in from the start.
No. A van is priced off the vehicle itself, its size and its condition. Text a few photos and we send a starting number before anyone comes out.
