I can't help with points #1 and #2 of your question, but perhaps I can add
some information to #3.

On my A2 GTI, it was prone to the black plastic trim discoloring that
whitish-grey that just screams beater. I was "turned on" to a product called
Forever Black. Great stuff, applies pretty easily and the results are
immediately gratifying. And lasts a while, too! I suspect your plastic
bumper parts fall into this same category; my 82 Westy's bumpers are mostly
chrome and the trim still looks brand new.

I purchased my supply here, but I am sure there are other outlets:
http://www.rapidparts.com/Pages/vwc002e.html

Good luck!

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Hoge" <steve_syncro@TECHIE.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2001 5:16 PM
Subject: Advice on repainting the van?

> After a few years being stored outside a few blocks from the Pacific
> Ocean, my '89 Syncro is finally starting to look ratty enough to justify
> repainting.  It's got the original "Titian Red" paint, which I was never
> too fond of, and I'd really like to see it in that metallic silver color
> that was stock for that year.  So I gotta few questions for the experts:
>
> 1) I have been warned that silver is a particularly difficult color for a
> repainting job.  Anybody have good or bad experiences laying down silver
> over a different (darker) color?
>
> 2) There seems to be a clear coat over the red that's lifting off and
> flaking in places.  Also there was a factory-applied silver tape running
> around the body in a horizontal band (racing stripe?)  Should all this
> stuff be removed as part of the prep for painting?
>
> 3) My '89 has the wraparound plastic bumpers.  They've gone from black to
> grey - should they be repainted or is there another rejuvenation
> technique?
>
> Thanks in advance
> - Steve

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