Hi all,
I'd like to do something about my sun-bleached AC vents, has anyone else got this going on? Any solutions other than just replacing them?

 

Replacing would probably be the most expensive and most difficult method, and you'd probably have to buy the entire dash from a breaker's yard.
Tape everything off very well and use a good "Back to Black" type product.

 

Our XK vents looked exactly the same when we bought the car. I treated them with a coat of Kent Longlife just rubbed on with a soft cloth and over a year later they still look like new. https://www.kenteurope.com/en/produc...life-20815051/

Richard

 

You're a hero. Anything similar you know of in the USA?

 

Yeah, "Back to Black", as stated in Post #2.
You're welcome.

 

Ah! my apologies! I didn't realize that was an brand name. I've actually used this before, don't know why I didn't connect that. It didn't really do much to the fading.

 

I have just done mine and I used Autoglym bumper care which is probably similar to what’s been suggested.
dead quick and look like new. I didn’t need to mask it up I just used a small paint brush.

 

You didn't mention the dashboard.

 

Eh, that's just dust. Mine is dusty at this moment also. Winter here just WILL. NOT. END.

 

From the site:

"WARNING: Used sponges/cloths impregnated with Longlife may self combust without warning: rinse in warm soapy water before discarding to avoid any fire issue. Dispose according to official procedures."

Linseed oil does that too.

 

That’s what your neighbor’s trash can is for.

 

Presumably that shows how good it is? AFAIK Back to Black doesn't do that. 😉

Richard

 

Is that sun fade? Or the result of a cleaner solution of sorts? All I know it mine don’t look like that.

 

I suspect sun fade, as my 2007 ‘vert looks similar, although not quite that bad. Maybe they changed the plastic formulation for the 5.0 years?
I can’t say what a prior owner may have done to my car, but it’s only the plastic vents that have that appearance (I originally thought it might be water marks from someone leaving the top open in the rain, but it’s not affected by trying to wash them with water).