RickM

I should've investigated this at the dealership when I was there. Are the bumpers painted? They look like colored vinyl, but I'm wondering if the're painted and, either way, what people use on them. One Grand ERV? Wax? And more importantly, how scratch resistant is this material, especially the top of the rear bumper (horizontal surface on the top)? One of my big complaints about the A6 wagon we've had for years is that Audi provided no rubber or other scratch-resistant surface for the top of the painted rear bumper. Between our Lab getting in and out, and sliding various things into or out of the rear hatch over the years, the top of the rear bumper got scratched to hell, and there's no cure for it. One Grand Plastic Polish was the best thing I could find, and it provided only a temporary fix in minimizing the appearance of the scratches. Ordinary scratch-treatment products were useless on these scratches, I guess because it's a plastic bumper. But enough of my whining. I just want to know whether the vinyl cladding is tough and scratch resistant. Any other "issues" with it, like fading or staining? I'm gonna cross-post this to the allroad forum, but there isn't a lot of traffic over there so I figured I'd post here too.

6sidua

yes they're painted, but it's a matt finish paint and audi issued a service bulletin that said not to wax....many folks do use wax/detail spray and skip the polish.

for the scuff prevention on the standard painted bumper, i can suggest 3 things a rubber mat that pulls out to cover during usage, a towel that fits under the cargo liner many use. lastly clear guard can be purchased in 3-5 inch width and 4 feet will cover upper bummper nicely and is easy to apply for less that 50$.

cheers

Seattle Scott

just paint that area with something tough like pickup truck bedliner or the soft stuff on hand tools (know what I mean? Comes in black and red at Home Depot?)

Maybe you can get some narley black non-skid with a sticky backing you can cut out.

You could save money and glue some plywood to it. How about duct tape? Do some custom diamond plate and sell it on the Internet. Need more ideas? I got lots of them.

<img src="http://www.autoreview.ru/new_site/year2001/n13/primerka/allroad_04_.jpg">

Seattle Scott

I walked a zig zag pattern in the parking lot looking at the tops of rear bumpers on SUVs. The "cheap" Subaru Outbacks had scratched up paint, the Limited Edition Outback had a black plastic piece on there about an inch to short to cover the whole top, and the inch was all scratched up.

The older Lexus SUV had nothing there but scratches and the newer Lexus had one piece "custom cut" black tape with gnarly anti-skid coating on it.

Don't let the dog slip, go anti-skid.

<img src="http://www.baystatett.com/images/Heil/HeilDB12.gif">

KMHPaladin

Plasti-Dip... my Home Depot doesn't sell it anymore. The Lowe's down the street did.

Seattle Scott

<ul><li><a href="http://www.plastidip.com/">Plasti-Dip</a></li></ul>

RickM

If I try to apply something to the bumper I just know i'll screw it up. I'm thinking the best solution is low-tech, low-cost: like a piece of quilt or blanket, or something similarly thick for protection (but not too thick), that can easily be pulled out to cover the entire exposed width of the bumper when the dog is getting in and out. Maybe with a couple "grabby" pieces of velcro attached to it, to grab ahold of the cargo area carpeting to keep it in place but making it easy to remove for cleaning, etc. I'll probably have to dye it to make it inconspicuous. Not a whole quilt, just a piece. I can't see myself painting the bumper with truck bed liner or anything like that. Besides, if I end up leasing AFS probably won't like anything permanent, even though it would constitute a design improvement. Griot's sells rolls of stuff that looks like clear bra material but it's just 2" or 3" wide, like tape, but the product description says, "not for use on plastic bumpers". I guess someone else already tried it.

dolphizzle gray

My friend's dad bought their yellow lab some hunting "boots" for dogs. Mainly so she doesn't cut up her paws when running through woods and rocks. They work good, only if you don't mind your dog looking like an idiot.

KMHPaladin

That's the stuff. Used the spray can to put about five thick layers on my RS4-style lower grills

RickM

He's saying, "no frigging way."

<img src="http://pow-wowcentral.com/aw/scout04.jpg">