Faded Exterior Trim and Mirrors

This post is all about the little ancillary parts of the car that aren’t very significant, but because they’re old, faded, and shitty, they call attention to themselves.

First up: the cowl cover

The cowl is that weird space between your windshield and your hood.

I’ve only ever thought of this space as where you constantly dig leaves out of, but I don’t know it’s actual purpose. It also was completely unattached to the car, so I guess I’m not the first to get up in here.

Anyway, here goes...First, I sanded it.

Just kidding, it was pre-sanded from simply existing for 25 years. So I went straight to using this plastic adhesion promoter stuff that Amazon told me I needed.

And then to priming...

And multiple layers of painting...

It actually looks quite good.

Wiper Arms

Basking in all my cowl success, I decided to do the same with the wiper arms since I already had them off anyway.

Original, prime, and paint...

Looks great, right? Well after I reinstalled everything they all chipped and I had to repeat the process. Second attempt is equally as weak, but I installed it all more carefully and now they’ll look perfect as long as nothing ever comes into contact with them.

Side Mirrors

I learned that painting plastic is hard or I’m very unskilled. So, trying something new this time with these hunks of junk. Excuse me while I bandage up the bolt holes with tape...

And spray this magic spray onto these...

Not loving the glossy look, but screw it.

These ultimately also came out good not great.

Maybe I just need to replace every single part.