How are you cleaning the black body cladding?

[Jamieskitele]

Hey Team, I am attempting to treat the black plastic cladding with Gtechniq C4. But... I am having a hard time cleaning and prepping the surface. There are water/mud spots that wont go away. I tried a medium bristle brush and even attempted a Simple Green solution. Has anyone had a simple solution for this problem? Any recommendations how to clean this surface?

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[Friscorays]

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/best-product-for-plastic-trim-bumpers.13749/

 

[DaveA]

Hey Team, I am attempting to treat the black plastic cladding with Gtechniq C4. But... I am having a hard time cleaning and prepping the surface. There are water/mud spots that wont go away. I tried a medium bristle brush and even attempted a Simple Green solution. Has anyone had a simple solution for this problem? Any recommendations how to clean this surface?

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. They work great!

 

[TxBeachRivian]

I have used Armour All wipes with great success and ease of use.
Seems to have a lasting affect, maybe not as long as ceramic, but much easier.

may try to ceramic version of the wipes.

 

[valkyrie]

Meguiar’s Ultimate Black Plastic Restorer

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

I use use P&S bead maker after washing truck. Please come back and let us know how the C4 turns out. I'm interested in some ceramic coating for the black trim as well.

 

[Kacey3]

I was just watching a video testing several different plastic restorer/protectants. As a result, I just ordered the Cerakote Trim Coat. I'm looking forward to how well it works on the Rivian trim.

 

[freshpow]

I was just watching a video testing several different plastic restorer/protectants. As a result, I just ordered the Cerakote Trim Coat. I'm looking forward to how well it works on the Rivian trim.

Just applied my cerakote yesterday and it looks fantastic.

 

[Trandall]

I also just did my bumpers and fender flares with Cerakote. Looks great and lasts for almost a year. I was able to get mine reasonably clean with a combo of Gtechnic G-wash a soft bristly brush and plenty of pressure sprayer.
Cerakote for black plastic exterior trim is hard to beat.

 

[Jamieskitele]

So I ended up cleaning with Simple Green then Dawn then a isopropyl alcohol prep. I used about 1/2 the 15ml bottle to coat the rockers, fenders and bumpers. I did also coat the tonneau cover trim but not the side rails yet.

I plan to use the rest of the bottle to coat the rails, under the hood and plastic exposed on the door trim and gear tunnel trim.

The Gtechniq C4 was easy to use and you don’t have to use very much. Here are the results.

 

[utahraptor]

So I ended up cleaning with Simple Green then Dawn then a isopropyl alcohol prep. I used about 1/2 the 15ml bottle to coat the rockers, fenders and bumpers. I did also coat the tonneau cover trim but not the side rails yet.

I plan to use the rest of the bottle to coat the rails, under the hood and plastic exposed on the door trim and gear tunnel trim.

The Gtechniq C4 was easy to use and you don’t have to use very much. Here are the results.

Simple green, as in the all purpose cleaner? I am in the same boat. I need to prep before using my ceramic wipes. Having a hard time prepping the plastics as soap/water isn’t working.
Yours turned out great!!!

 

[avigneault]

Beware alcohol on plastic trim. It can cause molecular deterioration and might look good at first, but can lead to UV penetration and cracking.

 

[freshpow]

Simple green, as in the all purpose cleaner? I am in the same boat. I need to prep before using my ceramic wipes. Having a hard time prepping the plastics as soap/water isn’t working.
Yours turned out great!!!

Are you using Cerakote? FWIW I just followed their instructions using Dawn soap to prep. The trim still looked a bit dirty after I used the soap to prep but the wipes took care of that and made it look as good as new, if not better.

 

[utahraptor]

Are you using Cerakote? FWIW I just followed their instructions using Dawn soap to prep. The trim still looked a bit dirty after I used the soap to prep but the wipes took care of that and made it look as good as new, if not better.

yes, going to use the cerakote wipes. I will let you know how it goes!

 

[Milermore]

I use a entry-level pressure washer to wash my Rivian. I make sure to go over the lower trim and get any debris off before soap cannon and normal washing, then pressure wash to rinse. Usually blow-dry the whole car after wash, depends on the weather.
I've tried 303 and it seemed to me that it worked good. I would be happy with just the 303. Last week I tried cerakote for longer-lasting care and was pleased with the results. The next day after it was dry and I was out and about I thought some parts looked like I wasn't as careful putting cerakote on as I could have been and I could see a bit different sheen where overlaps in the application weren't smooth.
Over the long weekend I drove through dirty, dusty roads and the Rivian really needed a wash afterward, so I did my normal wash. Before wash the trim was covered in dust and dirt, after the wash it was clean and black like new, with no additional treatment needed. I'm happy with it.

Also, I used Adam's graphene tire dressing on the tires and it looked nice. After getting coated with dust and pressure washed and brushed, though, it looks like the tires had nothing on them. I assume that's the same for any tire dressing, though.

one final note - and a question - I have a R1S and noticed that the trim on the leading edge of the rear wheel is a bit chewed up. To me it looks like a lot of speed driving on gravel roads kicking up gravel roughed it up. But I noticed it like that before I ever took it off pavement. Anybody else notice this on their vehicle?

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