Need rec for chrome roof rails on Audi

tom p.

tom p.

Active member
This is the latest edition to the fleet. It's an '06 Audi A6 Avant with less than 20k miles. I'm wondering if anyone has found a product that would work well on these integrated chrome roof rails. They show quite a bit of acid rain staining. So far I've tried some Deep Chrome and also FK215 followed by 1000P (which is now covering the entire car). I had limited success, certainly not a complete solution.



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I'm concerned about any aggressive polish that may permanently damage the finish. Does anyone have experience with something like this?



Thanks.



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Tom P.- Looking at the pics, that sure looks like the fragile finish Audi uses on so many things. Go through it and you'll be treating it like bare aluminum from then on.



On our A8 (and the deer-incident-replaced trim on the S8 too), I've been satisfied with keeping things about the way yours are now.



I woulda even chickened out on the Deep Chrome!



Wonder how big a PIA those'd be to replace...the window surrounds (which appear to be in similar condition) are supposedly a real PIA...expoxied-in or somesuch, not really intended to be R&Red.



But I guess it doesn't matter as all the nos pieces I've received from Audi were prone to *very* rapid finish failure anyhow.



OK, OK, you've had enough of my gloom-and-doom comments :o



Man-oh-man I like that car...even given the post-facelift grilled!
 
Ugghhh, that worries me. And yes, the trim around the windows shows the same condition but not as severe.



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The wife is enjoying the car so far. It's loaded with techno-gadgetry and is a thoroughly modern machine. The BT-linked, hands-free phone thing is a grand slam for her.



Fuel economy has been somewhat better than I would have expected :) That's always a pleasant surprise. This seems like a very nice machine.
 
If that's the kind of part that Accumulator talks about being anodized (which it looks like to me rather than chrome), that's probably Ty. II and really thin and not very hard (tying in with Accumulator's comments.



As far as your other question, Accumulator is always telling us that the Meg's glazes are "functionally non-abrasive".



I'll be here all week quoting Accumulator, make sure to tip your waiters and waitresses...
 
I'm not sure what it is, Setec. Someone else is saying it's like a silver mylar with some sort of clear coating on top it.



I'm apprehensive about doing anything; he's warned me off-line about damaging the finish.
 
Well, Audi is the king of white-metal cars, so if anybody would use a lot of aluminum trim, it would be them. It's just tough, even with 1100, to keep somthing that's externally exposed, especially to road salt, shiny like an Autopian would like it.



Doesn't the Audi dealer know anything about it?



EDIT: Man, that looks like a great garage.
 
last time i came across this audi satin aluminum i used KAIO and meguiars medallion paint cleaner with pretty good results. sorry no pics.



but as mentioned dont use abrasive or metal polishes cause that finish is thin and delicate! damn porsche and audi..
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Well, Audi is the king of white-metal cars, so if anybody would use a lot of aluminum trim, it would be them. It's just tough, even with 1100, to keep somthing that's externally exposed, especially to road salt, shiny like an Autopian would like it.



Doesn't the Audi dealer know anything about it?
Click to expand...



Man, asking the dealer about something at that level :soscared: C'mon...what's come over you :grinno:



It's really acid rain staining that I'm dealing with. It's not a big deal (to me) if they're "shiny" or otherwise. I'm just concerned that they'll continue to deteriorate as time passes. I see Danase has a product that's abrasive-free. I think one of the Poorboys is supposed to be in the same category. I tried that one already but it didn't appear to have any serious impact.
 
The A6 wagon ('99) that I just finished had anodized rails that were a bit discolored....I used Neverdull which is nonabrasive. Didn't help much. Gave them a coat of wax and called it good.
 
Late response, been out of town.



I get conflicting answers from Audi reps regarding what finish is used on the aluminum trim, but whatever it is the stuff is fragile and taking off more of it (in the course of making it look better) isn't something I'd advise. Well, not unless you want to do the upkeep-of-bare-aluminum thing forever.



I use KAIO to clean it and do a little something for the oxidation and then seal it in but good with KSG or at least some Collinite or FK1000P.



The KAIO is close enough to nonabrasive that I've never noticed it accelerating the problem (once the protection goes away). I wouldn't even want the level of abrasion that Zaino's AIO has.



This is *NOT* a good application for the Meg's Pure Polishes IMO, they don't bring anything useful to the table.



IMO there's simply nothing you can do to *really* effect the kind of fix we'd like so it's best to merely retard the inevitable degradation as best one can. Audi dropped the ball when they decided to go with this finish (whatever it is) and it's too bad they've stuck with it for so long.
 
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