Pride, man, Vanagon-pride!� Keep that baby looking sharp!� Order new endcaps, then clean and scrub thoroughly with rubbing alcohol to dissolve mold release; paint with ACE Hardware Satin Black paint, two light coats baked in the sun.� (Can also use this paint on the exterior rearview mirrors, upper and lower front grills, and rear air intake grills with great results.)� Or alternatively, just use a good conditioner like 303 Aerospace Protectant on the raw plastic after washing; let the sun warm them up and let the 303 absorb in before wiping off, that will keep them looking like new.� Armor-all works sorta-OK, but doesn't last as long and attracts dust and dirt.

You'd be surprised how much the little "trim" details affect the overall look of the vehicle.� So better treat your tires, too, after scrubbing and washing.

Maybe after your ankle feels better.....

Rich
85 Vanagon GL (with Great-Looking Bumper endcaps)
San Diego

--- On Tue, 8/25/09, Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET> wrote:

From: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Stupid Bumper End Pieces
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 9:11 AM

New plastic bumper thingys that fade to grey after 10-20� years are
only $10+- apiece at your favorite Vanagon vendor.

& they can be changed from a wheelchair?

YMMV,

Mr. BZ

On Aug 25, 2009, at 10:01 AM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:

> My 84 has sheet metal bumpers fore and aft. These take stupid snap-on
> plastic ends, which after a few years fade to charcoal gray and look
> cheesy.
>
> One has gone missing. I reckon my options are;
>
> A) to ignore it
> B) to order another stupid plastic snap-on plastic end that will
> fade to
> charcoal gray and look cheesy.
> C) ...any other ideas that don't involve buying a new bumper or
> welding?
> These appear to be in working order and I've never used them to bump
> anything out of the way.
>
> I'm leaning toward A). It's very inexpensive.
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR