Forever Black / Kiwi shoe polish

[deepgreen]

I just got done putting Forever Black on half my '95 E36's side trim, and Kiwi black shoe polish on the other half. They are the same product. They look the same, apply the same, come in an identical foam-top bottle, smell the same, suds up the same if you squeeze the sponge too much, and stain the concrete just the same.

The Forever Black costs about 3x as much, and it has a colorful label.

Both of them did a pretty good job blackening my faded trim, though. I'll post some pics and we'll see how long it lasts.

EDIT: To be clear, the shoe product I am referring to is a shoe dye called Kiwi Scuff Cover. (http://www.kiwishoeproducts.com/product_p/220.htm) The bottle I have is old, it is called Kiwi Scuff Magic. I guess they changed the name.

[E36HB]

Wow good to know


Good Job OP

[trig]

Did you have issues with streaking and different shades of the Forever Black on your trim? I wasn't happy with the trim that I did. I'm not sure if I should do a couple more coats of it or something, but I didn't like it.

[zaxjax]

The missing ingredient in shoe polish is the UV inhibitors found in Forever Black. Shoe polish is essentially a dye and wax that protects and provides shine, same as Forever Black but doesn't have any UV protection.

[wheresmym3]

Add some SPF :)

[deepgreen]

The missing ingredient in shoe polish is the UV inhibitors found in Forever Black. Shoe polish is essentially a dye and wax that protects and provides shine, same as Forever Black but doesn't have any UV protection.

This is an interesting claim. The bottle of Forever Black makes no such claim about UV protection, so I would not expect it to be true.

I was not referring to shoe polish, I was referring to a particular product called Kiwi Scuff Magic. That product is a dye, but not a wax.

[deepgreen]

Did you have issues with streaking and different shades of the Forever Black on your trim? I wasn't happy with the trim that I did. I'm not sure if I should do a couple more coats of it or something, but I didn't like it.

I have been using this stuff on my shoes for years so I am familiar with it. The most important thing is not to let bubbles of it remain on the surface. The next most important thing is to do long, even smooth strokes, covering each part once, and let it dry before applying a second coat. If you are not careful about this it can look a little streaky and uneven. Overall I am happy with it because it is better than it was (light grey fading on most parts of the trim), but no one would ever mistake it for brand new. Same goes for using it on shoes, btw.

[zaxjax]

Forever Black products are superior in every way. The high quality dye includes UV protectants that will reverse the appearance of sun damage. Dirt and grime are eliminated from the surface of the vehicle through a unique preventative guard within the formula. Forever Black works great on trim, rubber, plastic or vinyl. All shades of color will benefit from these products.

You can read the rest : http://www.autogeek.net/foreverblack.html


If this is what you bought. It's shoe polish

http://www.shoestuff.com/Kiwi_Select_Products-Kiwi_Scuff_Magic.html

[deepgreen]

Autogeek is the retailer, not the manufacturer. I see that the foreverblack.com website claims that Forever Black "helps protect" against UV rays, but they make no such claim on the bottle.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that if Forever Black does something related to UV rays, that Kiwi Scuff Magic does it too. They're identical in every way. I even put some Forever Black on an old pair of shoes today, just to see; it behaved just like the Kiwi does. I wonder how many rebranded products like this there are out there?

I've read elsewhere on this site that there's only one kind of polymer clay available in the USA and that the different brands just add different colorant to it.

[lottathought]

I am reviving this thread as I am very interested to know how the Kiwi did over time against Forever Black.

[joshe36316i]

i bought a kiwi scuff cover i'm not sure if this is the right one because in the bottle it states instant wax shine.

[98DakarM3]

This is interesting.

Any new information?

[Dexm]

I just bought some a few weeks ago from BavAuto, and was going to ask how people like it. Glad someone revived this thread.:D I'm going to try it out on an old junker and if I like the results, try it on the skirts on my 535i.

Any other options besides forever black? I wouldn't mind something that looked better even if it wasn't as permanent. I tried a rubber conditioner once, I don't remember the name. And it looked pretty good for a while. Doesn't hold up, naturally, but, still for a few days, looked damn good.

[joshe36316i]

i;ve tried the kiwi. i tried 2 coats for the bumper mouldings and it was ok ( i didn't buff it though) then on the side mouldings i tried putting the kiwi and just buff it off with a towel.i just noticed that some parts of the bumper mouldings have "like" darker than others and its like some portion peeled off so i just retouch it while i was putting it back. then after an hour or 2 i washed my car and it was great hehe:) i'll try to take a picture tomorrow. hehe though i don't have a picture before hehehe...

[jagass]

I will wait for your pics to be post...

[zaxjax]

I put on Forever Black on my exterior trim back in November. It still looks good. I will say that I did another section with Black Wow on my F-150 and that's looks even better.

[TheJakeR]

This could be a killer combo with the kiwi under some 303 aerospace protectant to accommodate for the last in UV protection.

VERY anxiously awaiting pics :]

[joshe36316i]

ok guys sorry it took me so long:) sorry for the crappy pics i'm not yet familiar with my camera and the settings and all hehehe:) here are the pics i didn't posted here because its quite a lot of pictures. I'll just post the link and just change the last 2 digits
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f328/joshgeri/DSC_0619.jpg
dsc_0619 to dsc_0631.jpg

[TheJakeR]

wow. I am picking up a bottle!!

[joshe36316i]

i already washed my car twice and when i'm wiping the mouldings the "kiwi" is not leaving any mark on my shamois or cloth. you can see in the picture that some peeled off (but it happened before i washed it. i'm not sure because when i put the kiwi it was humid so even after an hour the kiwi is sticky) so now i'm happy with kiwi:) i'll try to put in the side mouldings. i just put some kiwi and buff it off using a cloth not like the mouldings in my bumper i let it dry.

[98DakarM3]

Keep us updated! Thanks

[TheJakeR]

where should I look to buy kiwi polish in the US? any big chains that you guys know of carry it?

[kevintb7]

Autogeek is the retailer, not the manufacturer. I see that the foreverblack.com website claims that Forever Black "helps protect" against UV rays, but they make no such claim on the bottle.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that if Forever Black does something related to UV rays, that Kiwi Scuff Magic does it too. They're identical in every way. I even put some Forever Black on an old pair of shoes today, just to see; it behaved just like the Kiwi does. I wonder how many rebranded products like this there are out there?

I've read elsewhere on this site that there's only one kind of polymer clay available in the USA and that the different brands just add different colorant to it.


I have heard the same thing about clay, and believe it.

[FiveSouth]

where should I look to buy kiwi polish in the US? any big chains that you guys know of carry it?

Target

[nathancarter]

ok guys sorry it took me so long:) sorry for the crappy pics i'm not yet familiar with my camera and the settings and all hehehe:) here are the pics i didn't posted here because its quite a lot of pictures. I'll just post the link and just change the last 2 digits
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f328/joshgeri/DSC_0619.jpg
dsc_0619 to dsc_0631.jpg

Thanks for the update.

I used Forever Black back in October and it still looks great - except for where I let the product bubble up, as deepgreen mentioned, big mistake.

If you don't mind up looking at the rest of your Photobucket album, you can just link us there:
http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f328/joshgeri/

[joshe36316i]

Thanks for the update.

I used Forever Black back in October and it still looks great - except for where I let the product bubble up, as deepgreen mentioned, big mistake.

If you don't mind up looking at the rest of your Photobucket album, you can just link us there:
http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f328/joshgeri/

hehe thanks:) i really didn't know that heheh:eyecrazy

[lottathought]

Just to add to this.
I bought a bottle of Kiwi Scuff Magic at Wally World.
It has only been in a little over a week since I applied it but it has rained here almost every day.
I have not had a single streak or problem with it.
I have run my hands along the trim and nothing is coming up.
I stop and stare at the car each day when getting out and going into the house.
This stuff really works.

[keithshoe]

Looks like might have to try it on mine....another pic from his page.


http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f328/joshgeri/?action=view&current=DSC_0628.jpg

http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f328/joshgeri/?action=view&current=DSC_0628.jpg

http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f328/joshgeri/?action=view&current=DSC_0628.jpg

[purduinaM3]

I found this same thing out about 3 years ago. 3 years later, my moldings still look great after applying shoe polish!

[Yarberrymt]

It's probably NEARLY the same. I went with forever black only because my wal-mart was out of KIWI.

Application tips:

Apply many coats

-maybe pour a bunch out on a saucer then use a wider sponge to apply to mouldings.

at first, my 2 coats were very streaky. The included apllicator is very difficult/inconsistent to work with.