Trunk question.

[Directedby]

The Black face of my trunk (right and left side of lic plate/reverse lights) is black plastic as is the strip that goes along the botton and the strip along the bottom of the taillights.

Is this new for 04 or are the 03's like that too.

Reason I ask is that the plastic is duller than the paint and it bugs me.

[SouLRioT]

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=500/903tn_DSC00603.JPG this is what mine looks like.

[Directedby]

Plastic or painted? Hard to tell from photo. If you tap it with your fingernail, you can tell.

[Logan]

Can you post a pic up Directedby?

[Logan]

Everything on the rear should be painted, with exception of the rubber seam piping.

I haven't seen a 04 in person, but the 03's are all painted. No semi-gloss plastic trim.

[Directedby]

The face plate and trim including the bottom strip on the taillight is most definitely black plastic.

You can tell by these pics. I have seen this on the CV. They use the black plastic panels on the trunk face.

[RCSignals]

That tail panel and the taillight trim is black plastic, but it should be just as shiny as the rest of the car

[Directedby]

RC -

Are you saying that your car is also plastic and not painted?

Before I get my dealer to paint it, I really need to know what is up.

Thanks

[RCSignals]

mine is not painted, but you cannot tell, the match with the paint is as perfect as you could expect.

If yours is like the picture in person, I'd say your dealer should either replace it, or paint it to match. It looks like they have cleaned it with something abrasive and that made it "cloudy"

On the non-black Marauders, I believe it is painted

[Directedby]

It is cloudy. I bet they used something on it when they prepped the car.

Although I requested that they only clean the car and not wax it, they did wax it. I spent 3 hours cleaning all the white dust out of all the cracks today.

What kind of product would you use to clean it and polish the plastic?

This pic was taken at close range with a flash.

during the day, you really can't tell unless you really look hard.

Maybe it is OK?

maybe I am just a picky 2%er.

[RCSignals]

If it is as it looks in the picture, I think I'd see f they'll replace it, r paint it.
If not, Meguire's has some good plastic polish, or just use a quality automotive polish followed by a quality wax.
The "cloudiness" might be hard to polish out though

[Directedby]

I will take a picture during the daytime and post it. It will probably look jsut as black.

The current pic was taken with a flash, close up and I found an angle that would shot the difference.

Look here tomorrow for new pic and I would like to get opinions, from those interested in giving them.

Thanks,

Paul.

Now what do I do about the two scrapes/ 2 inch dents on the bottom of my gas tank?

I know they will replace it, but I am concerned that they will scratch the car. So maybe I will leave it alone.

[RCSignals]

dents on the gas tank, or the trunk pan? Because of the way the bodies are carried on a buck at the factory, the rear of the trunk pan gets marked, but there shouldn't be huge dents.

Dennis R had this problem with his blue one.

[Directedby]

I thought Dennis had dents in the floor pans. My floor pans are fine.

Maybe I am talking about the trunk pan. I think the gas tank is behind the trunk pan.

Here is a pic

[67435animal]

Originally posted by Directedby
The Black face of my trunk (right and left side of lic plate/reverse lights) is black plastic as is the strip that goes along the botton and the strip along the bottom of the taillights.

Is this new for 04 or are the 03's like that too.

Reason I ask is that the plastic is duller than the paint and it bugs me.

These two pieces are black plastic inserts. I used Meguiar's plastic cleaner and polish on them and they match the gloss of my paint now. I can post is you'd like to see.

Bob

[Smokie]

Directedby

Panels on either side of reverse lights are plastic (tested with a magnet). However paint job is flawless and matches rest of car perfectly in color, depth, reflection. You should expect no less I believe.

[stumpy]

The best thing to remove wax is Dawn dish washing liquid. You're car will NEVER look better, however, there isn't any protection! Great for car shows and such where you want the edge over anyone using a wax.

[Directedby]

67435animal

Thanks for the advice. I will go get products now.

Here is a pic of the trunk - looks normal, but I can still tell.

[Directedby]

another

[67435animal]

The products did the job for me. Your inserts looks like the right color but they seem a little dull compared to the trunk. The plastic cleaner and polish should fix that for you.

Use them on the molding around the base of the trunk and the tail lights too. The cleaner is the more important of the two. It will clear up any scratches and stains as well. It also does a nice job on the shift insert which is plastic...don't press too hard or this piece may break.

Bob

[RCSignals]

Directedby

That is the trunk pan in the picture