Advice on replacing oxidized parts
 

Hi All,

My 2015 BRZ is looking shabby. She only has $10k miles but being outside in the sun has taken it's toll. Hubby is building a carport for me, and I want to fix the things that are messed up.

The spoiler, top antenna fin, and the driver side "garnish" are all oxidized. I wasn't sure what that accent piece was called but Subaru looked it up and I guess it's a garnish.

Subaru wants $959 for all these parts, without installation.

I took the car to a body shop and they quoted me $950 just to repaint the spoiler.

What is the most cost effective way to get this done? I guess I'm not opposed to after market parts, but I don't know where to get those installed after I buy them and if that would even be a good route to go.

Any advice is much appreciated. I'm heartsick that the car has this damage. I think it was the really hot past two summers we had. I was so sad when I noticed the damage and I just want it to look new again.

Start with a cleaning and polish if you clear coat has not failed. From there a good wax if you are old like me.

I am old LOL. I had the car professionally detailed, buffed and waxed. It didn't help enough. I mean it looks better, but it still isn't right. :(

We had 116 degree heat here in Oregon summer before last and then a pretty hot summer this year too. I could kick myself for not covering it during that.

Also could kick my husband for taking all the garage space, hence my new carport. :)

if new is too much, you could try the used market-- i usually scour ebay for something of the same paint color, then message the seller to see if they still have the parts i'm looking for.

outside of that, i think repaint, or replacement parts is really going to be your only option.

it sounds mostly like clearcoat failure. some will argue it's direct sunlight, some will argue that repainting always fixes it, but most agree simply replacing the parts doesn't always fix it long term.

so that said, a re-application of clear coat might be slightly cheaper than an entire re-paint job if they'll do it, and it might be a better formulation that lasts longer.

Yeah, it is the clear that is the issue on the painted plastic parts. My front fender garnish has the same issue. I had two DGM stock spoilers I just tossed not that long ago, one was drilled for a Perrin gurney flap.

I found a local shop that specializes in Subaru. We are ordering OEM replacement parts. I'm happy to have found an enthusiast to work on my car. He's excited to do it and helped me find the best price. ~$700 for all three plus labor.
I've been looking for someone to trust with my car since I bought it. Hope this goes well!

ETA - turns out the garnishes aren't painted from Subaru. I posted in the WTB section for a used one. It's either that or go with the after market carbon fiber. I'm not sure I'll like the carbon fiber with the DGM.

How about vinyl wrap for the oxidized parts.

The wrap will bubble up because the surface is not flat enough. Can retain moisture and accelerate the rust like cancer

That is simply not true. A quality vehicle wrap vinyl is made to contour to other shapes than a flat "calendar" media.


We wrap anything from Amazon and USPS vans, to prosthetics used for swimmers.


Although I do agree and would never wrap over rust.