How would I get the swirls/scratches out of this? Not paint!

[RMarkJr]

Hello again!

I have a 2015 Honda accord EXL. It has this "chrome" trim on it. Which I am guessing its more plastic thats painted or something to look like chrome. However it has swirls/scratches in it and I am not sure what to use to get those out with. Here are some pictures that I have attached.

What would be the best method to get these out with? Some kind of chrome/metal polish (probably not I would think), M205 with a microfiber by hand or a foam pad?? Im not sure.

Thanks!

also ... They are damn big pictures it looks like even with the auto resize.. sorry about that .. thought they would be smaller before clicking on them!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

The answer is "you don't".


Make the paint look GREAT and the car will look great.

 

[11Silverado]

I've sadly learned that it really isn't possible. I have chrome that is swirled out from the first few years and my lack of experience. Now that I have the proper wash techniques, it is sadly too late.

Are those dealer installed or self inflicted? Just curious. I' not sure if this stuff scratches that easily with proper wash techniques or just a few improper washes from elsewhere.

 

[RMarkJr]

The answer is "you don't".


Make the paint look GREAT and the car will look great.

Well crap. I was hoping to get some of it at least out. But at least I did already do the rest of the car and it looks really good .. so I dont need to do that again yet ..so theres that at least!

 

[KirkH]

Get some black vinyl wrap and wrap it all. Cost ya , like, $15.

 

[RMarkJr]

Im Pretty sure that they were there form the last owner of the car. I just got it at the end of January this year. I havent taken it through any automatic car washes with brushes and have only used a pressure washer on it so far.

I did use some M205 with a microfiber towel last night and it seemed like it got some of the light stuff out .. but not the big scratches.

I did see some black residue on the towel ... which is kinda making me double guess it is painted plastic like I thought

 

[RMarkJr]

I ended up trying to use M205 with a microfiber towel. I think I got some or most of it out actually compared to the first pictures.

the towel had some black residue on it .. which im not sure if that means its not really painted platic like I thought.

Before polish

AFTER Polish

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I have a 2015 Honda accord EXL. It has this "chrome" trim on it.

I ended up trying to use M205 with a microfiber towel. I think I got some or most of it out actually compared to the first pictures.

Interesting... it must not be "chrome" then.

the towel had some black residue on it .. which im not sure if that means its not really painted platic like I thought.

Yep... if it's paint then you can get defects out - as long as they are not too deep.


To explain this, I wrote an article on this topic almost 10 years ago on MOL

What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...


Re-wrote it for AGO here,

What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...

 

[JKDesign]

Those particular trim pieces on the Accords are stainless steel. You can polish them out with something like McKee's 37 Fast Metal Polish.

 

[RMarkJr]

Those particular trim pieces on the Accords are stainless steel. You can polish them out with something like McKee's 37 Fast Metal Polish.

When I tap on them I thought they sounded kinda plastic ... but when I polished them there was black residue. Which I would imagine suggest that they are not plastic like you said.

 

[RMarkJr]

Interesting... it must not be "chrome" then.





Yep... if it's paint then you can get defects out - as long as they are not too deep.


To explain this, I wrote an article on this topic almost 10 years ago on MOL

What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...


Re-wrote it for AGO here,

What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...

Thanks .. I will read through that! I am not sure if they are painted .. I would imagine that if they were painted then I wouldnt have gotten that black residue?

 

[talonted]

You can actually polish them just like paint (although you'll want to be conservative with your product/pad selection). The black that you see is likely just pulling off of the rubber seals that run along either side of the trim piece. I love using Meguiar's Ultimate Compound on the little yellow 3" Meguiar's polishing pads for faux-chrome trim pieces as well as the black plastic exterior door pillar pieces. Works great on those stupid rain guard things too. One or two passes and those things clean up like brand new!