Painting The Xterra Plastics Part 1

This video demonstrates how to paint the front end of the Xterra, this includes the bumper and the grille. Stay tuned for part two where I paint the rear bumper fascia and the side plastic strips down the side.
The paint colors I used are:
Krylon Matte Deep Gray
Krylon Matter Glacier Gray
Rustoleum Satin Black
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#howto #diy #auto

[@slydnhayn]

i liked the honesty here haha. "in fact its kinda ugly" - Ry the honest car guy.

[@stevepodraza6363]

Great vid. I did my rear bumper and rear quarters with bedliner on my 2010 off road model. Turned out mint! Now the front end today.

[@Justins1877]

Black it out, Ry, you know you want to!

[@311mdub]

I’m going to paint my trim and bumper today! Excited and have to say thanks for the Inspiration! I will post the results afterwards!

[@xc_4x4]

Your videos are awesome! I painted all my front and rear fascia using your video as a “how to”. Still got the sides to go 🤙🏽

[@leomorales6080]

Ry, I painted my grill and lower part with plastidip. I’ve had it on for about 3 years . It last and it’s heavy duty. Looks sharp too. My X is black so it was a good match. I haven’t got to the bumpers yet but that will be for another day. Paint job did come out good. Maybe is the X was white , it would of match. Good luck and keep them videos coming!

[@LuisGarcia-gc5sg]

I’ve learned a lot, Your videos are very helpful for a new owner of an X (2002). Imma use your method to paint my grill. I saw an all black with a few parts red on the freeway today so I had to do research

[@fbscpop-tart7079]

I agree, to light, but it does look better!!! My Daughter's Xterra needs this done, thanks for making this video!!!! I like the idea of contrasting colors, maybe black on the outside parts and some type of gray for the honeycomb grill?

[@ernestjones5113]

Bought my X the first year they came out. Plastic still looks new using just 303 spray. The problem with spray paint is the difference in expansion ratios with the paint. Regular paint will eventually start flaking and peeling and end up looking worse than faded untreated plastic. Plasti dip type paint or the flexible liner paint or plastic dye is the only real long term alternatives. Or do like me, when it starts to look a little bad, pull out the 303 spray bottle and a rag. 1 gallon of 303 lasts a long time.

[@xocchiro]

Your videos are very helpful. Thanks for taking the time to create. I removed bumpers, painted and changed headlights after watching. I went with duplicolor flat blacks for bumpers, black gloss on grill and flat again on honey comb. Do you ever use clear coat as it says on the can? Do you think it would make the pain job last longer and does it add a gloss?

[@ramilperez]

Thanks for the video. I just did mine. Keep them coming.

[@jomeldemdayo3636]

Kabayan sir?

[@MrDan2454]

cool video. I was thinking about doing the same thing with rhino liner. Any idea if that would be too thick or if I would have issues with getting parts off with that on?

[@Dunken_Donut]

*"I hit another car...intentionally. That's another story, though."* Me: *"No, no, no, you can't leave it there."*

[@maquech738]

Me gustó tu video, muy bien explicado. Los colores que elegiste le dan un mejor aspecto, sólo me gustaría saber cuántos botes de pintura usaste para cada parte que pintaste? Saludos

[@KaiAdventure]

That video inspired me to update some of the trim on my Xterra too. 2 additional steps I took was to use a plastic adhesion promoter and a final matte clear coat. Came out perfectly.

[@Rythecarguy]

That’s awesome! I bet it looks great. Did you darken them?

[@KaiAdventure]

@@Rythecarguy Yes, I experimented with a satin black on the door moldings and it looks super cool. I'll be using the same on the bumper.

[@gasolinog2159]

Love it

[@scottharrisohn6972]

damn, alot of work I like the two tone look anyway

[@Venomenon8]

Nice vid Ry! I see a headlight restoration video in the future ;)

[@Rythecarguy]

Its so funny you say that. I actually did one a few years ago. This car just sits in the sun. Way too much. Maybe ill buy headlights and do a headlight swap video!

[@MichaelRMcCoy]

Yeah, both colors are too light, for sure. I'd guess a matte dark charcoal for the bumper and a silver/gray metallic (gloss) on the grille. I was really expecting some kind of special primer too, especially on the flexible plastic bumper. And finally, is the consumer grade Krylon going to hold up to sunlight/UV year after year?

[@tietie1424]

Keep making your videos man! I love your xterra vids. I have a few videos of my own too. Will you end up painting darker colors like you mentioned?

[@Rythecarguy]

No, it actually ended up growing on me. I think I’m going to put new headlights in and update the look even more.

[@rongilbert3067]

You should have used the original color of the bumper fascia for the year of the Xterra you own. I believe it's a darker charcoal grey, almost black. I own a 2002 Nissan Xterra, also black in color, and I am about to paint all my bumpers and plastic parts. I am going to use the darkest matt charcoal grey that I can find. I will use bright silver paint on the faux skid plate and the 'bar' across the grill. I intend to use a much better paint product than Krylon. As well, I intend to add two additional steps in your process. Before sanding, I intend to use a spray on 'plastic cleaner' product that is produced by the same paint product company. Then sand. Wipe off dust. Then spray on a 'paint adhesive'. Then 2 to 3 light coats. I think you would like either a matt 'black' or the darkest matt charcoal grey you can find. There is just something very attractive about a SUV that is all 'blacked out', or nearly all blacked out, including the wheels. I'm having an auto paint shop paint my OEM wheels a glossy black, but my nerf bars and all the plastics will be a dark matt charcoal grey. I subscribed to your channel because you showed me some time saving quick tips that I was not aware of and because of your sage advice, my paint job will go much easier. One difference is that the only parts I will remove and paint will be the grill, mud flaps, and the faux skid plate. The rest of the plastics, I will paint insitu. Great videos, very helpful, especially the painting of the 'side door guards'. Thanks a lot.

[@jordanr8476]

Thanks man I hate the faded gray color on mine Gonna black it out now

[@ryanm2084]

How did you remove the lower fake skid plate thing?

[@TmacFL-bu5ow]

Have you ever had P0420 code on your Xterra?

[@mhamatghanim5221]

great videos. can u pls do videos for the pathfinder R51

[@dupperskeez]

Pretty much the same vehicle

[@SLC801aviator]

No adhesion promoter before paint?

[@davidravo6247]

I appreciate your video, right now I’m in the period of preserving all plastic with Maguires “back to black” What’s your thoughts. Mine, I got 2 days ago, is a 2015 Pro 4X in mint condition, it’s been in Montana, no rust

[@Rythecarguy]

Good find! Here are my thoughts on the plastic restorer LOL. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zpi4ZKGkistlbbs

[@axidhaus]

Ryan i know this is a stupid question but did you addfog lights

[@KSLTech4]

I actually think that it looks nice. The lighter coloured front grill piece and the part underneath look like those found on the face lifted Xterras (2009 and newer); kind of gives the car a modern touch.

[@Rythecarguy]

Thanks! It definitely ended up growing on me. I agree that it looks like the newer models.

[@jkfeatherranch]

We painted the back bumper with bed liner. It came out really nice.

[@Rythecarguy]

Nice. I need to redo all the painting on the plastics. The colors I chose did not work out.

[@jkfeatherranch]

@@Rythecarguy hopefully it goes well the second time

[@Rythecarguy]

Thank you. 👍🏻

[@byronmillsap4982]

Love your videos. 2007 xterra here. I tooknthe rear step pad off of the rear bumper. Im having trouble getting it back on. Looks like all the clips are good. Any help?

[@Rythecarguy]

You have to be pretty rough with it. I will usually stomp it or hit it with a mallet.

[@shadowfire246]

I plan on blacking mine out most of my plastic is super faded.... and with having a black xterra the grey just looks meh and if it get scratched up on the trail well nothing a can of black spray paint wont fix :)

[@stevenkaz28]

I'm doing all my Xterra plastics with the textured spray bed liner. Depending on how it looks Ill do the top as well.

[@Rythecarguy]

Let me know how it goes. I plan to remove all the paint I did last year and do the bed liner as well.

[@a95fordprobe]

@@Rythecarguy do the bed liner. I've done my bumper and side pieces so far and it's a lovely rugged deep black

[@espynotz]

Really liking your videos. I appreciate the help! Can you do a video on bypassing the transmission cooling system on 2005 &. newer models? Thank you

[@Rythecarguy]

Thank you! It’s my pleasure. Unfortunately, I cannot do a video on that. I have a manual transmission therefore I don’t have a cooler.

[@Thundy]

Finally gonna do it to my '03. Can't decide if I should just darken the greys from stock or go all black. How's the Krylon holding up?

[@Rythecarguy]

It’s been ok it has faded a bit and became even lighter in the Florida sun. But I do not garage this X and so it get beaten on all day every day. I can tell you I wish I blacked it out and plan to redo it here soon.

[@Thundy]

@@Rythecarguy Haha, can't wait to see it. Any plans with the rims? After going without primer and a clear coat, would you do both the second time around?

[@ClarkS963]

I actually don't think the colors are that bad. But maybe it's less the colors that I think are good looking and more the fresh look. Also, hard to accurately judge colors on a video. Anyway... Great vid as usual.

[@DavidBuitrago04]

Ry did you upload part 2?

[@Rythecarguy]

Not yet. I plan on finishing the job in the next few weeks and posting it.

[@raudelcontreras2102]

Nice Work Man.. Very Informative.. How is the Paint Holding Up After All this Time?? Is the Paint Good?? OR Does it Fall Off?? Please Advise, as i am Thinking of Doing Same to My Xterra.

[@Rythecarguy]

It was fine. I ended up redoing it because I didn't like the colors. Ended up doing bed liner.

[@raudelcontreras2102]

@@Rythecarguy I Appreciate your Input and Fast Reply. How do you Compare Plastic Dip VS Bed Liner?? Does the Bed Liner Fade Away or Peel Off?? Please Advise ..

[@BlueTheJLU]

LOL. Your repainted version looks just like my stock 2011 Pro4X. I just painted the grill matte black and swapped out the headlights with some black trim ones because I hated the super light grill and skid plate pieces.

[@Rythecarguy]

Yea I didn't like it either once I finished. I ended up going black bed liner

[@BlueTheJLU]

@@Rythecarguy Can't blame you. They look so much better with the black grill instead of the light gray (mine was actually silver paint that had started to peel off).

[@dm1273]

Super 👍🏻

[@Rythecarguy]

Thank you 👍

[@DonnieDeLo4577]

I’m gonna do my grill dark grey and then my bumper black

[@Rythecarguy]

Yea, I need to repaint mine. Thinking about bedliner.

[@jesseleeiii7266]

How does the front grill come off?

[@Rythecarguy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3zOc6GMrdZmaas

[@ericdorsey7372]

Ry, how how this held up? still recommend this paint? thanks

[@Rythecarguy]

Hey Eric! I held up ok. If I were to use this paint again I would At least put a UV protective coat over it. The paint held on just fine but it faded a bit. I ended up redoing it again but with bedliner and it turned out way better. Here's a video on that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHeakImhhpl-bKc

[@Rythecarguy]

Also, I see that you emailed me. I will read through that and get back to you within the next day or two. Trying to catch up on everything. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@TmacFL-bu5ow]

Honestly, I’m a fan of matt or satin black. But great video Which grit sand paper would you recommend exactly. I have many marks on my ‘08 Xterra. She could use a face lift

[@Rythecarguy]

I would use 300+

[@TmacFL-bu5ow]

Gotcha- you mentioned in vid too. My bad

[@chloe-lg2db]

How long did this last?

[@Rythecarguy]

Still looks great.

[@sirurbanuim133]

Lots of taping, cardboard, and protection. If I were to do the bumper painting and the headlight restoration at the same time, wouldn't it be easier to just remove the front bumper altogether? How hard is that to do?

[@Rythecarguy]

its not bad, i have done it for other projects. Depends on what you are feeling like doing.

[@xx505ninjaxx]

Any orange peel?

[@Rythecarguy]

No, I was surprised at the coverage. Its look quite smooth.

[@mountainbiker44]

Great job again. Yeah go a bit darker 👍

[@Rythecarguy]

Thanks 👍 I actually ended up going black in a later video. Here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHeakImhhpl-bKc

[@MasterArmedforces]

You can find that original color in a spray can. Color code Nissan AG64.

[@Rythecarguy]

Nice thanks

[@FACR-nl2zn]

Coat the plastics with black truck bed liner paint

[@Rythecarguy]

Good thought. I will be redoing it in the near future here.

[@Emilisl]

Why dont you remove bumper to spray it. It is very easy, fast and most probably would take same amount of time as covering with tape, carton etc. Great video tho.

[@Rythecarguy]

Eh, it was only two small lines of tape and i had mountains of cardboard lying around since I had moved. Under different circumstances in probably would have. Actually I will be removing the bumper in an up coming video for the fog light install

[@mk3bora]

Should've just Plasti dipped so you can peel off later for the next owner

[@snafujag100]

Nice job. Bad colours. Black it all👍

[@MikeWazOcka]

its the three tone imo, i went silver body with flat black everything else for my Xterra

[@TRUTHISABSOLUTE777]

to each his own

[@ELP1125]

Should've done a mock up digitally before actually doing it 😂

[@Rythecarguy]

Guessing you’re not a fan?

[@Nigriff]

It looks like a grouper fish

[@Rythecarguy]

😅

[@ripd97]

New colors are horrible...looks like the sun burned off the original color to UV damaged plastic.

[@Rythecarguy]

In that case I wouldn’t recommend that you use the same colors.