Do you ever approach your car on a sunny day and notice that the B-Pillar panelling between the front and back windows seems badly swirled?
It’s a common scratch hotspot, and in this article, we’ll discuss how to correct and restore car B-pillars. We will talk about what is possible polishing by hand, and the advantages of having a machine to assist with the job. We’ll also look at plastic B-pillars and how to restore them.
Table of Contents
- What are B-Pillars?
- What are B Pillars Made of?
- How Do B Pillars Get Damaged?
- How To Restore B-Pillars
- Products Needed to Correct B-Pillars
- Correction
- Protection
- Products Needed to Correct B-Pillars
- How To Restore Piano Black B-pillars
- How to Correct and Restore Car B-Pillars By Hand
- How to Correct and Restore Car B-Pillars By Machine
- How To Restore Plastic B-Pillar Trim
- How to Correct and Restore Car B-Pillars – FAQ
What are B-Pillars?
Your car has vertical struts that connect the chassis to the roof and provide crash protection during a rollover. They are designated A-C, with A starting at the front of the vehicle (larger cars will have D-pillars at the back).
With most cars, the B-Pillar is located in the middle. The front door latches to the B-Pillar, while the rear door hinges off the B-Pillar. While the term ‘B-pillar’ technically refers to the structural member, in this article, we will refer to the panel on the door between the front and the back windows, the back panel of the front door and the front panel of the rear door, which meet when closed.
What are B Pillars Made of?
B-Pillars are generally made from a black plastic trim that covers the structural steel underneath. They are generally a scratch-resistant matte black finish or a piano black gloss finish.
The good news is that restoring faded Matt black B-Pillars is simple. Piano black B-Pillars can be restored by polishing them, much like when correcting paint. This often-overlooked improvement is an easy way to enhance the look and value of your car.
How Do B Pillars Get Damaged?
The B-Pillars of your car suffer regular wear and tear. Many close the front door using them, often leading to considerable scratching. Improper wash techniques can also cause scratching. Oils from your hands, as well as sun exposure, can cause staining.
Matte black plastic trim also tends to fade and discolour from sun exposure. It is important to take care of this trim as replacement parts can be expensive or hard to come by in older cars.
How To Restore B-Pillars
Removing scratches from your B Pillars and restoring them is easier than you think. We apply polishing compounds to correct the surface and then protective coatings to restore B pillars.
Products Needed to Correct B-Pillars
Correction
A versatile product that can be used by a machine or hand is Meguiars’ Ultimate Compound. It’s effective and cost-efficient. If you choose to apply it by hand, foam applicators are great for use with this product.
Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound Colour & Clarity Restorer 450ml for hand or machine polisher
- Corrects minor defects by hand
- Corrects major defects by machine
- Low dust qualities
Sometimes, a complete correction won’t be possible, so a glaze is a good option to improve the appearance of your B-pillars. For this, we recommend Poor Boys’ Black Hole or Chemical Guys Black Light if you are in the USA.
Protection
For added protection, after you’ve corrected your B-pillars, it’s best to add wax or sealant. One of our favourites for a great price is Bilt Hamber Double Speed Wax.
How To Restore Piano Black B-pillars
Car manufacturers have increasingly chosen to add plastic piano black trim to their cars. While it contrasts the car, the black plastic trim is a notorious scratch magnet. The soft, clear plastic surface becomes swirled very easily, causing them to look rather unsightly.
While easily scratched, they can also be relatively easily restored. A car machine polisher will yield the best results. However, very satisfactory results can also be achieved by hand.
This is also the process you should follow to correct and restore car B-Pillars.
How to Correct and Restore Car B-Pillars By Hand
Start by taping off any areas you do not want to get polish on. Any polish residue on rubber seals can be hard to remove, so it is best to cover these up with masking tape now.
Next, apply a small amount of compound to the foam applicator and work into the trim; We find it best to use circular motions.
Once the product begins to go clear, stop and buff the residue off with a microfibre cloth.
You should see a considerable improvement; this photo shows the level of correction possible just polishing by hand.
After removing the polish residue, apply a small amount of black hole to a clean applicator and work into the surface. Leave this a few minutes to haze and buff off to reveal a deep black shine. Poor Boys’ Black Hole also works on coloured paint surfaces (they make a separate glaze for white vehicles.)
After removing any glaze residue, it’s time to apply a layer of protective wax. Lightly dampen a separate foam applicator and apply a very thin layer of your wax. Wait 5-10 minutes for the wax to haze and buff off any residue.
How to Correct and Restore Car B-Pillars By Machine
You can achieve better results with access to a small machine polisher. I have used a ShineMate EP803 Rotary Polisher for over two years and found it a dependable machine. The ShineMaster M550 is also a great option for these delicate jobs. We like to use a soft two-inch finishing pad for B-pillars with a fine finishing polish.
Shinemate EP803 Rotary Polisher Machine
- Backing plates included
- Lightweight
- 700 – 2,500 OPM
- Pads included
As before, tape off any areas you do not want to get polish on. Apply a small amount of polish to the polishing pad and spread it on the surface at the machine’s lowest speed.
Increase machine speed slightly, but do not use more than half the maximum available speed. Slowly move across the surface, maintaining a uniform speed, applying constant light pressure, and letting the machine do the work.
After several passes, the polish will start to turn clear. This is a good pointer for stopping, wiping away any residue, and inspecting the results.
If some swirls remain, you can move up to a firmer pad and heavier compound following the same procedure, however, you may want to repeat with the fine finishing polish to remove any holograms that may appear.
After polishing, follow the same procedure mentioned above to apply a layer of wax protection.
How To Restore Plastic B-Pillar Trim
Plastic trim with a matte finish is also frequently found on cars. These are much more scratch-resistant than piano black or paint but can fade and discolour over time. There are several ways to treat this.
The first step is to ensure the surface is clean. Using a good car shampoo with no added waxes will do the job. Then, as before, tape off the area you’ll be working on.
The first product we recommend is CarPro Pearl. This water-based silicone dressing can be used for multiple jobs, such as tyre, interior and trim. Pearl also provides UV protection and improves the appearance of surfaces. It also has a rather pleasant aroma.
CarPRo Perl
- Silicone-based dressing
- Great on interiors and plastics
- Can be used on tyres, engines and trims
You can apply a small amount of product to a foam applicator and work into the plastic surface. Leave it to soak in for a few minutes before removing any residue.
If you are after a product with longer durability, you might want to choose a ceramic coating for the trim. Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer lasts for up to two years. It is easy to apply using the provided applicator. Apply a small amount of product to the applicator and work into the surface, then buff with a microfibre towel.
Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer for Car and Vehicle Trim
- Restores trim like new
- Chemically bonds to plastics
- Easy to apply and great value
We hope this has been a useful guide to restoring the B-Pillar panels on your car. Once you’ve spent time correcting it, removing the source of the scratching is essential. You can do this by only using the door handle to shut the door and using safe car wash procedures.
How to Correct and Restore Car B-Pillars – FAQ
How do you polish car door pillars?
Painted or piano black door pillars can be restored to their original shine. You can use normal car polishes and a foam applicator.Meguiars’ Ultimate Compoundworks well for polishing by hand. Apply some to a foam applicator and rub the panel in circular motions. Wipe away any residue with a microfibre cloth to reveal a deep shine.
How do you restore plastic door panels?
Plastic door trim fades over time. To restore it, first use some pure car shampoo to clean the car. When dry, apply some CarPro Pearl to the door panels to restore the original colour while providing UV protection.
How do you clean car pillars?
It’s best to use a car shampoo that does not contain any additives. You can also use an all-purpose cleaner and a detailing brush to give plastic trim a deep clean.
