Milky chrome trim

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Sat Jan 20, 2024 4:34 pm

Anyone know a way to help get this off?
The plastic chrome trims around my windows on the F31 are all milky. It looks like dried scale but it won't come off. I googled it and have tried just about everything suggested. So far tried:
Autosol polish.....nothing
Brasso polish....nothing
baking soda paste....nothing
diluted vinegar....nothing
liquid soap and fine plastic scouring pad.....nothing
superfine wirewool and metal polish.....nothing

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Sat Jan 20, 2024 4:50 pm

When I've had that on other cars it has actually been the lacquer lifting and moisture getting under it. Not sure there's much you can do?

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Sat Jan 20, 2024 5:14 pm

It doesn't look like that TBH.
It is all over all the trim and has streaks. It looks like dried dried milk residue. I am thinking the car has been cleaned with something that has reacted with the top layer and then left to dry in the sun.

I have had a bit of success now with lots of autosol and a gentle scourer. I am going to get my dremel on it tomorrow with a small polishing wheel drenched in metal polish. I might try some t-cut on the polishing wheel aswell.

Zedebee · Post by **Zedebee** » Sat Jan 20, 2024 7:44 pm

Is it the original finish do you think, or has someone “had a go at them”? What you describe sounds like when you apply lacquer in a cold, damp environment (as happened when I tried to refurb some wheels in a cold garage in the middle of winter). The only remedy is to emery them back and reapply in a warmer, drier environment.

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:56 pm

I will try and get a picture tomorrow.
They don't look like they have been 'had a go at', just a milky, streaky mess.
I know my car lived near the sea (in Somerset), so I'm wondering if it could be salty water spray which has dried really hard.

it is a bit strange, as if you get them wet they look shiny as a new pin but as soon as they dry this milky 'tarnishing' comes straight back.

It is all over them too, both sides, top and bottom of the windows so it can't be 'damage' as it's too uniform.

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Sat Jan 20, 2024 9:38 pm

Pondrew wrote: ↑Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:56 pm I will try and get a picture tomorrow.
They don't look like they have been 'had a go at', just a milky, streaky mess.
I know my car lived near the sea (in Somerset), so I'm wondering if it could be salty water spray which has dried really hard.

it is a bit strange, as if you get them wet they look shiny as a new pin but as soon as they dry this milky 'tarnishing' comes straight back.

It is all over them too, both sides, top and bottom of the windows so it can't be 'damage' as it's too uniform.

How ironic that this car looks better when it’s wet and you can’t get the other one dry

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