Cleaning Avant Aluminum Roof Rails - Need Help

[SilverThing]

Over the last few weeks, I have been trying to clean up the alum roof rails on my '01 S4 avant - they've got that milky/cloudy/hazy/water spotty, etc. look to them. I have tried the following products/stuff with absolutely no success at all:

- Einzett Metal & Chrome Polish
- Nev'r Dull wadding
- Solution of 50% white vinegar & 50% distilled water
- 100% white vinegar
- Soft Scrub (wife's suggestion)
- polishing compound (very carefully & softly)
- some other stuff I can't even remember (but did no good)

Has anyone found anything that works on the alum roof rails? If you have, please don't keep it a secret...Any and all advice/gudance from this group and/or the pro's out there would be greatly appreciated as this is starting to make me crazy. [headbang] [headbang] [headbang]

TIA

[SilverThing]

Anyone have any advice on what else I could try on the rr's??

[TrustNo1]

I used to use meguiars quick detailer that i used on the body to clean the aluminum rails on my previous FX35. Got rid of the water spots problem but I dont know about the "milky hazy" problem your having. Maybe try buffing it out??

[SilverThing]

I used to use meguiars quick detailer that i used on the body to clean the aluminum rails on my previous FX35. Got rid of the water spots problem but I dont know about the "milky hazy" problem your having. Maybe try buffing it out??

The "milky hazy" stuff appears to be largely water spots and/or some kind of oxidation (I think). I have some Meg's QD (also some Adam's QD as well) - I'll give these a try - thx for the suggestion.

If I go to buffing, what should I buff the rails with?

[littleredwagen]

when we did mine we clayed them, then used adam's revive, then waxed em

[SilverThing]

when we did mine we clayed them, then used adam's revive, then waxed em

Thx for the suggestion....I'm a little leary about claying (never done it before on any car), but if I can't find any other way to clean up these eff-ing roof rails, I just might overcome my fear and give it a go. Any specific clay bar to use? Did you do the "revive" thing and waxing by hand?

[Pete4 1.8t]

The clay might work. don't be afraid just follow the directions and use plenty of lubricant and most importantly don't drop it because that's really annoying!

[roccodan]

I found a great product from www.eshine.ca:

http://www.eshine.ca/prodimages/buschpolish.jpg

http://www.eshine.ca/busch_aluminum_polish_super_shine_16oz-260.php?cat=16

It's for unprotected aluminum. It requires very little work to remove all contaminants and oxidation and leave a nice finish. You can do it by hand or with a polisher. Just did my allroad by hand and did everything easily except the lower door blades. I may need a polisher for those. Here are some crappy pics:

http://www.danielguay.com/autos/alu/01.jpg
http://www.danielguay.com/autos/alu/02.jpg
The door blades need more work but they are better than before:
http://www.danielguay.com/autos/alu/03.jpg
The antenna was in rough shape but it came out perfect. And my new/used antenna base is installed, finally!
http://www.danielguay.com/autos/alu/04.jpg

[SilverThing]

Roccodan: Looks damn good - thanks for the suggestion - as I've not achieved any kind of miracle break-through over the last few weeks, I'll give this a try.

[roccodan]

Roccodan: Looks damn good - thanks for the suggestion - as I've not achieved any kind of miracle break-through over the last few weeks, I'll give this a try.
No problem and good luck.

[Who Needs 8]

When I bought my car, I was checking something in the owners manual and found a small little blurb on the bottom of the page that said "Use PH balanced wheel cleaner to clean aluminum trim. Do not use metal polish."

After wondering what wheel cleaner is PH-balanced, I actually saw a commercial on TV for Black Magic Titanium Wheel Cleaner and the commercial said it was PH-balanced. Went to the store and got some. Worked Great.

http://www.blackmagicshine.com/products.aspx/43/black-magic-titanium-wheel-cleaner

Just my 2¢

[SilverThing]

When I bought my car, I was checking something in the owners manual and found a small little blurb on the bottom of the page that said "Use PH balanced wheel cleaner to clean aluminum trim. Do not use metal polish."

After wondering what wheel cleaner is PH-balanced, I actually saw a commercial on TV for Black Magic Titanium Wheel Cleaner and the commercial said it was PH-balanced. Went to the store and got some. Worked Great.

http://www.blackmagicshine.com/products.aspx/43/black-magic-titanium-wheel-cleaner

Just my 2¢

Thx for the suggestion (and seems inexpensive to boot) - BTW what alum trim did you use this on? roof rails by chance? Anyone know if PS21 wheel gel is PH balanced? (got plenty of this stuff lying araound - guess I could also read the label...)

What a PITA this has become...(woe is me and all that shite..), but seriously, thx again to all for the suggestions - greatly appreciated. If/when I achieve any good results, I will post here.

[SilverThing]

Just a quick update - we have a breakthrough!! Just finished a second application (all by hand) of the Busch Super Shine Aluminum Polish on my rails and this stuff DOES WORK!! Still not perfect by any means (not gonna clear up 7 yrs of neglect overnite), but major noticeable improvement - much less cloudy haze, much more alum shine w/ just the 2 apps - will prob take another 1-2 apps to get the rails where I'd like 'em, then reg maintenance should do it (I hope). WOOOOOT!! Finally found something that works on these buggers (it damn well should as it sure as hell cost enuff incl shipping - but seems to be worth it).

But anyway, for those of you w/ the cloudy/hazy/milky alum roof rails, I highly recommend this stuff - it really does work. That is all. G/L!

[Mike @ einszett]

Great news! [race] Glad you finally were able to resolve it.

As far as using a pH balanced wheel cleaner, using a quality carwash shampoo would better meet that need. I'm not sure why they mentioned wheel cleaners when a quality carwash shampoo will be "pH Balanced" - this usually means it's between pH 6 and pH 8.

[SilverThing]

[QUOTE=Mike @ einszett;2784189]Great news! [race] Glad you finally were able to resolve it.

Mike,
Can I apply Glanz wax to better protect the roof rails after using this Busch polish? If not, anything else you might suggest to protect 'em better from the elements

Thanks,
Mike (yes, another Mike)