Chrome/Aliminium Window surrounds on Audi S8

F

Final Touch

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Hi Team, this question has probably been done to death already but I didn't find anything with a search.



Has anyone had any joy with bringing back the appearance from the milky white staining that Audi's (and most other Euro's as well for that matter) seem to get on the metal window surrounds? I've tried all sorts of things to bring it back with varying results as some seem to be coated and others bare metal.

I hate to say it but the best results we've had so far were to create the brushed steel look on a customers car with a 3M Scuff pad but I'd really like to avoid that option on this customers Audi S8 if possible.

I'd appreciate any tips if there's a sucessfull method for restoring the shine; thanks a lot
 
I recall someone posting a thread. In it it showed to tape off all painted areas and use wool at high speeds and your fav polish of course to get the shine back.



In the pictures the above method worked very well. Expect dust city, but hey...



Good luck and if you try it please post your findings.
 
Thanks TD,

We had a bit more of a play around with things and found that the wool/105 method managed to remove the staining but it took a whole lot of polishing - thankfully it's a metal strip so we couldn't really damage it unless we got it too hot. (No before and afters unfortunately but the car is still in the shop so I might be able to get some afters tomorrow)

What we were unable to achieve with the wool/105 was any removal of a couple of years worth of fine scratches in the finish. We tried 1200 dry paper followed by 3000gt and a polish and this was enough to take care of the ones that were not too deep. The rest can remain... I'm not keen to overdo it.

A final polish with Meg's Mag and Aluminium polish on the wool brought back a pretty good shine.

Thanks again for the tip.
 
Great to hear, thanks for the update. I will definitely attempt this on mine. (Plauged by the chrome clouding).



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I have a few of these bits that have compromised finish on our A8 and S8 (including one replacement piece from Audi that *came* that way..and so did the two others that they hoped might be better). I just do *very* gentle polishing and then seal 'em up so they don't get worse. No, I did not go for perfection lest I remove what was left of the oe finish (supposedly clear anodizing, though I can't get a definitive answer from Audi for some reason).



But I was lucky, I caught the damage before it got severe and it hasn't gotten any worse. I realize that many Audis have aluminum trim that's really trashed.



Some people *have* reported good results with aggressive polishing. BUT, if you do that you'd better get something really durable on those pieces lest you end up with the old "bare aluminum maintenance" issues which are likely to be a lot worse than the original problem. Something like OptiCoat oughta work great, but don't overlook this step.
 
YUP!!!!

When I restore older (50's-60's-70's) stainless and aluminum trim for the restoration guys doing classics, etc, I always tell them to go get some Mother's Mag/Aluminum Polish and be ready to hand polish these trim parts when they see a bit of the shine going away, since there is no protective film on the part once I straighten/sanded/buffed/polished the parts.

They have do keep up the maintance of the parts.

Grumpy
 
I'm hoping that this guy will become a regular and we'll be able to maintain it for him, he doesn't strike me as the sort of guy with the time or the interest in doing it himself.

His wife has a 2012 Bentley GTC Supersport in red mica - thats a car I want to look after...
 
Final Touch- I'd talk this particular aspect of his Audi detail over with him before you get all aggressive about it (thus setting the car up for the need for some seriously diligent upkeep).



The trim on my wife's A8 was *almost* to the point where I was considering really going to town on it, but in hindsight I'm sure glad I didn't do that. The minor (but still significant) improvement and the apparently complete arresting of the degradation was plenty good enough, and I'm pretty particular about such stuff. The one piece on the S8 that has this issue doesn't stand out or anything and again, I'm glad I knew when to say "good enough".
 
Ahh faded aluminum........ First you need to know is it clear coated, anodized or bare. Most of what I have dealt with is the last two. If it is clear coated, you know what to do. If it is anodized, I like Ever Bright. If it is bare, I use buffs and various compounds and then treat with Boeshield.
 
rdorman- Heh heh, getting a definitive answer about what's on the Audi exterior aluminum trim is easier said than done! Not even my Audi dealer can get a straight answer :rolleyes:



The overall consensus (at least with the limited sources I've queried) seems to be that it's "clear anodized", and it does act like anodizing IME (not the toughest/"mil-spec" anodizing though, not by a long shot). It's definitely not some "regular clearcoat" nor is it bare aluminum (at least not until somebody gets aggressive about clearing up the clouding).
 
Ron, I would personally Opti-Coat these pieces once I was happy with the shine. I would think this is a much more durable solution.



Is there any reason not to go this route or is it mainly the cost for most folks?
 
Do it, than watch what happens when the Opti-Coat, which has no pores to adhere to, goes away in a few weeks or a month.

What's wrong with at least trying it, not a thing, it's worth a shot.

I just do not see how it can really ahere/grab on to the substrate of the molding.

Grumpy
 
Ron Ketcham said:
Do it, than watch what happens when the Opti-Coat, which has no pores to adhere to, goes away in a few weeks or a month..

Grumpy
Click to expand...



I dunno....it seems to work fine on other metallic surfaces :think: I used it on *brand new* wheels that have the "machined finish" and it's still great after nearly a year..that stuff, I would think, closely approximates whatever's on the Audi trim. Works fine on (new/perfect) chrome plating (both the real stuff and "chromed plastic" too).



Some time I'll OptiCoat the Audi trim in question and quit guessing, but I'd be utterly astounded if it didn't work fine.



And wouldn't the trim have a bit of "tooth" anyhow, since we're talking about pieces with compromised OE finish?
 
Don't know for sure, which is why my post said to give it a try, just doubt it will hold for long.

Nothing better than to be pleasantly surprised when something works.

Ever just shoot some paint on a chrome piece without some agressive sanding?

How did that work out?

Wasn't there for long, was it?

Even when sanded, one needs a special primer after the sanding to get any sort of adhereing of the paint.

Grumpy
 
Accumulator said:
rdorman- Heh heh, getting a definitive answer about what's on the Audi exterior aluminum trim is easier said than done! Not even my Audi dealer can get a straight answer :rolleyes:



The overall consensus (at least with the limited sources I've queried) seems to be that it's "clear anodized", and it does act like anodizing IME (not the toughest/"mil-spec" anodizing though, not by a long shot). It's definitely not some "regular clearcoat" nor is it bare aluminum (at least not until somebody gets aggressive about clearing up the clouding).
Click to expand...



Ever bright. If you dont like it on the Audi and it is clear anodized aluminum, send what is left to me and I will pay all shipping and purchase price!
 
Accumulator said:
I dunno....it seems to work fine on other metallic surfaces :think: I used it on *brand new* wheels that have the "machined finish" and it's still great after nearly a year..that stuff, I would think, closely approximates whatever's on the Audi trim. Works fine on (new/perfect) chrome plating (both the real stuff and "chromed plastic" too).



Some time I'll OptiCoat the Audi trim in question and quit guessing, but I'd be utterly astounded if it didn't work fine.



And wouldn't the trim have a bit of "tooth" anyhow, since we're talking about pieces with compromised OE finish?
Click to expand...



Sounds like a good question for Dr. G or Chris@Optimum.



I am definitely interested in hearing about the results if anyone cares to give it a shot.
 
rdorman said:
Ever bright. If you dont like it on the Audi and it is clear anodized aluminum, send what is left to me and I will pay all shipping and purchase price!
Click to expand...



Thanks for the offer, but I'm gonna pass. Besides that none of the A8/S8 trim is remotely bad enough to bother doing *anything* special to, I think that between Ever Brite and OptiCoat I'd rather go with the latter.



How do *you* like Everbrite on vehicle trim? Is it the sort of stuff you'd use on, say....a new Rolls or Bentley?
 
Nth Degree said:
Sounds like a good question for Dr. G or Chris@Optimum.



I am definitely interested in hearing about the results if anyone cares to give it a shot.
Click to expand...





Eh, I'd just go ahead and do it. I simply can't imagine it not having sufficient "tooth" on this particular thing...I mean, the anodizing/whatever and surface of the aluminum is awfully rough (especially by the time it displays issues) compared to the surface of my Tahoe wheels, and OptiCoat adhered to those wheels just fine.
 
Accumulator said:
Thanks for the offer, but I'm gonna pass. Besides that none of the A8/S8 trim is remotely bad enough to bother doing *anything* special to, I think that between Ever Brite and OptiCoat I'd rather go with the latter.



How do *you* like Everbrite on vehicle trim? Is it the sort of stuff you'd use on, say....a new Rolls or Bentley?
Click to expand...



I would not hesitate to use it on any vehicle. But, I mainly use it for bringing back bad trim.
 
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