Chrome Trim

**Raudi 4.2** · 10-01-2008 08:53 AM

My chrome/aluminum (idk wtf it is) trim around the windows is kinda foggy and it wont come off... any products suggested to shine that shit up????

**V8S4Fun** · 10-01-2008 09:04 AM

Have you tried Never dull?

**Raudi 4.2** · 10-01-2008 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by V8S4Fun

Have you tried Never dull?

havn't tried anything yet.... i just got the car.... is never dull something thats proven to work? i mean theres really nothing that happened to the car.. its just weathered from sitting outside at the dealership... simple oxidation... i just cant rub it off...

**aaronz** · 10-01-2008 09:12 AM

Try posting in the detailing forum. You will get a better, accurate response.

**40valve** · 10-01-2008 10:32 AM

I've been using never dull for a long time on my wheels and have used it on the trim to remove the white spot it had. It can still be seen but I didn't remove it completely because it can hardly be seen the way it is now.

**b00st** · 10-01-2008 11:22 AM

thats because that trim is plastic....its not chrome or aluminium.

**Maverick** · 10-01-2008 01:44 PM

time to black out the trim?

**b00st** · 10-01-2008 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by Maverick

time to black out the trim?

thats typically my answer or order the parts from audi.

my brother has this problem on his S4...mine doesn't seem
to be affected. but i also noticed his mirror caps are chrome and
mine are more of a brushed silver. chrome at all.
at any rate...i said it was time to black them out.
the decision becomes to go flat/matte black or
shiny black to match the outside B-Pillar

**NYCS4Avant** · 10-01-2008 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by Maverick

time to black out the trim?

Asked my body shop contact how it could be done. Answer: It can't without the paint peeling. For avants, the chrome trim is sealed between the body and glass- forcing one to remove the cargo area window. Please someone prove me wrong.

**kippermoon** · 10-01-2008 02:30 PM

i had the same problem with mine.I've done the research and its caused by strong wash products that the drive in wash guys that did my car were using.the milky/cloudy effect seems to form under the lacquer on the trims.some products seem to dull the effect by enhancing the overall shine but really the only cure is replacement trims.i know one guy who wet sanded them with 3000 grit paper followed by a dremmel tool to polish them up,then dressed with a zymol wax regularly.they look good but it was a lot of work.

the Audi dealer agreed to replace the trims under warranty which he had to do twice to get right.it's a tricky job if you have never done it before but I'm sure an experienced body shop could do it with less fuss than the Audi tech guy that fitted mine.

now they are all shiny again i just wash the car every weekend with meguire's hyper wash trough a power washer and foam lance and dress the trims with Werkstatt Prime Strong.

by the way "Werkstatt Prime Strong" is very multi tasking.brilliant on every thing from exhausts too windows.

**Maverick** · 10-01-2008 03:14 PM

i did mine chrome trim and black them out with paint. it peels.

I have yet to find a good vinyl tape to solve that.

**thubleau** · 02-19-2011 11:45 PM

PROBLEM SOLVED

ok here is the solution,I am an ex mechanic and have not been near a car for 40 years except the one I drive which I sold the other day and so ended up borrowing my sons Jetta and noticed after giving it a good clean that the condition of the chrome around the windows was awful.i heard and read people mention this as fogging and that it was chrome on plastic or perhaps even aluminium.
Scrubbing and buffing with any conccoction will help a little but why?

I will tell you, this is oxidisation so the simple answer is when you appy polish etc etc. you put a film on the chrome that isolates it from air but not enough to actually prevent it from reoccurring.
The answer is simple.
AFTER WASHING AND DRYING THE VEHICLE, and at this stage have to mention all the tech numbskulls at VW world wide who do not know the answer to this which is a really scarry thing to think about.
Ok WD40 spray on cotton polishing cloth , wipe gently on chrome, problem gone.
Gauranteed!!!!
If it happens after the next wash just redo it as part of the normal detailing.
A more permanent solution is this.
(Oh boy I am a font of knowledge) having also worked as a paint and decoration specialists here is what you do.
Go and buy a small artists brush and a can(not spray) of clear water based coating, you know, the one like urethane except it's not , the one you put over timber stain.

In this case lightly coat your chrome, when it dries give it 3 coats if you like problem gone.
Now my advice to all those VW "experts is you are not worth the money they pay you, here I am retired at 56 now 62 and am giving this solution for free.
Would somebody from VW please ring , thank me, and send me a cheque for a million dollars for solving their 400 million dollar problem.
0249347312 or 61249347312

chers

eric noack

**audi49** · 02-20-2011 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by b00st

thats because that trim is plastic....its not chrome or aluminium.

Quite sure that our trim is aluminum. Not sure if it is coated with something or not however.

**Jengel451** · 02-20-2011 10:14 AM

if it's oxidized, covering it is not fixing it, you're just putting a bandaid over the top.

Here's the fix: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=aluminum+trim

**JMB331** · 02-21-2011 06:55 PM

how hard is it to take off, im getting a scratch painted on my car and want to do the trim and side mirrors all black

**dparm** · 02-21-2011 07:27 PM

It's almost impossible to remove without bending/creasing.

**jdmnomore** · 02-21-2011 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by thubleau

PROBLEM SOLVED

ok here is the solution,I am an ex mechanic and have not been near a car for 40 years except the one I drive which I sold the other day and so ended up borrowing my sons Jetta and noticed after giving it a good clean that the condition of the chrome around the windows was awful.i heard and read people mention this as fogging and that it was chrome on plastic or perhaps even aluminium.
Scrubbing and buffing with any conccoction will help a little but why?

I will tell you, this is oxidisation so the simple answer is when you appy polish etc etc. you put a film on the chrome that isolates it from air but not enough to actually prevent it from reoccurring.
The answer is simple.
AFTER WASHING AND DRYING THE VEHICLE, and at this stage have to mention all the tech numbskulls at VW world wide who do not know the answer to this which is a really scarry thing to think about.
Ok WD40 spray on cotton polishing cloth , wipe gently on chrome, problem gone.
Gauranteed!!!!
If it happens after the next wash just redo it as part of the normal detailing.
A more permanent solution is this.
(Oh boy I am a font of knowledge) having also worked as a paint and decoration specialists here is what you do.
Go and buy a small artists brush and a can(not spray) of clear water based coating, you know, the one like urethane except it's not , the one you put over timber stain.

In this case lightly coat your chrome, when it dries give it 3 coats if you like problem gone.
Now my advice to all those VW "experts is you are not worth the money they pay you, here I am retired at 56 now 62 and am giving this solution for free.
Would somebody from VW please ring , thank me, and send me a cheque for a million dollars for solving their 400 million dollar problem.
0249347312 or 61249347312

chers

eric noack

going to try this.. will post results