BMW Running boards

C

coscooper

New member
Autopian pros, I recently did a clients brand-new BMW X5 with metal running board covers. It's only 2 months old and they looked oxidized already. The owner was wondering about a product or some way to clean them. The dealer told him, that's the way they look and they'll always look oxidized.



I don't by it, but don't know how to shine up either. It has rubber nodules that tear up a polishing ball. I tried a little with different metal polishers, but my polishing tool was getting tore up and I abandon the idea for now. Didn't want to do an acid wash on it or anything too serious.



Ideas???



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Hand rub would seem to be the only way to go on this one. Defintly not an easy task to get perfect but it is doable. you can use a terrycloth or a waxpad (not one your fond off because it will be pretty much junk by the time your done) get it a little damp and apply your choice of metal/aluminum polish about dime size and start hand rubbing. It'll take some time maybe a few go overs but it should shine up. Your pad will turn black and you will also get black residue but that should wash off with a good washing with your favorite washmit and soap.
 
That is definitely NOT the way it's supposed to look. It looks almost like it was stained by something. I would just say use a metal polish and just polish the crap out of it by hand, who knows if it will look any better after all that work though.
 
Bigpoppa3346 said:
That is definitely NOT the way it's supposed to look. It looks almost like it was stained by something. I would just say use a metal polish and just polish the crap out of it by hand, who knows if it will look any better after all that work though.
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I tried hand rubbing like crazy with both a mothers metal polisher and meguires to start and it wasn't making a dent. So, I tried the red ball polisher that goes on my drill and it was destroying it with the little rubber grips.



I'm shocked at BMW's choice of products and the owner is trying to figure out what to do. It's only 2 months old. He's not expecting me to fix it or anything, just trying to figure out options. The dealer said it'll look this way for ever, especially in winter with mag chloride here in CO on the roads.:grrr



Thanks for the ideas.
 
I know a fantastic product that will remove that. It's a metal restorer/sealant. The only thing is, don't use it on painted (i.e. clear coat) surfaces.



It's made by Bodypro (UAP NAPA's own line of detailing products) and I believe it's simply called Metal Restorer. Hopefully the local Napa's carry it.



EDIT: I had a client come in with 2004 Tiag Silver M3. The black chrome trim running along the edges of the windows was severely oxidized. It looked like crap. I bought this stuff to see if it would work and I was absolutely amazed. The trim looks black and glossy, just like it did from the factory. The sealant is just the cherry on top.
 
i know its a couple months old, but to clean my running boards, i removed all of the black naps with a screwdriver, then remove the inner plastic trim, and went to town with mothers alum polish and a microfiber. They came out looking mint, but toke a little time. This was also a fine opportunity to replace any of the rubber naps that were broken. I did it in the fall time, we'll see what it looks like come spring after the hard winter.
 
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