Painted G60 arches...

[twistedblack69]

Looking at buying some arches that have been painted, but they haven't been smoothed, they're still textured, but my car isn't smoothed, so was gonna buy these and use some paint stripper on the paint, is this likely to damage the plastic, and is the texture likely to be left?

[Wayne]

Looking at buying some arches that have been painted, but they haven't been smoothed, they're still textured, but my car isn't smoothed, so was gonna buy these and use some paint stripper on the paint, is this likely to damage the plastic, and is the texture likely to be left?

I would guess that yes you would damage the plastic. pait stripper tends to melt plastic.

Not sure how you can get it off to be honest.

[nige_s]

They're ABS so might be resistant to some paint strippers.  Not sure which though, might be worth trying a hobby/model shop as I know from when I was a teen you could buy a particular paint stripper that shifted cellulose and enamel from plastic model kit parts, that could be suitable.

I'd be tempted to try a bit of nitromors on a small area as a test, don't leave it on for too long though.  Problem is that possibly the person who painted them sanded/keyed the plastic surface prior to painting so once/if you are successful at removing the paint the surface below might not be that presentable.

[twistedblack69]

This is true...

[SoundillusioN]

Dot 3 brake fluid. Just paint it on and leave for a bit. Then clean it off. Test first if possible, worked for me. 

Clean it very well if you intent to repaint.

[twistedblack69]

No I wanted to put it on as normal textured plastic, but as above, under the paint could be a horror story.

[nige_s]

Brake fluid is a good idea

[rubjonny]

does dot 3 have a better paint removal spec than 4 or 5? 
you can get good plastic textured paint, which could sort you out if under the paint your arches are pap. alternatively theres a chap sellin a pair of front g60 arches on cgti

[Thom89]

Blast it off with a steam cleaner, turned up tp max heat and pressure... never fails, and zero damage

Thom

[Sam]

Tried the brake fluid technique on mine and it does nothing, left it on for half an hour with a radiator next to it