Water Spots Brushed Aluminum

[gatoman39]

Seems like most of the aluminum products available are designed for polished aluminum, not the brushed finish on this convertible 3 series.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Product recommendations are much appreciated.
tried this, but didn't work:
1) Meg's 205
2) Klasse AIO
3) Brasso
4) White Vinegar


These are hard water stains:

 

[Vegas Transplant]

If it is brushed aluminum, then it must be coated. Otherwise it would be tarnished...so I'm thinking brushed SS.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Are you this is uncoated aluminum?

If it is you will see a gray/black residue coming off of it after applying any type of light polish or even a cleaner/wax like Klasse AIO.


Old School Aluminum Slotted Mag Wheels - Extreme Makeover


Oxidized Aluminum Turns Black
If you’ve ever polished uncoated aluminum then you’ve seen this grayish black color coming off the aluminum and onto your polishing cloth as you work a metal polish over it.


Polishing Uncoated Aluminum

Oxidized Aluminum Comes Off Black

Wolfgang MetallWerk™ Aluminum Polishing System

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

That almost looks like it's anodized?

If it's anodized, there's nothing practical you can do.

If it's clear coated, treat it like clear coat paint. If you want to be very careful apply a fine cut paint polish using a soft foam applicator pad.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Seems like most of the aluminum products available are designed for polished aluminum, not the brushed finish on this convertible 3 series.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Product recommendations are much appreciated.
tried this, but didn't work:
1) Meg's 205
2) Klasse AIO
3) Brasso
4) White Vinegar

If the M205 didn't do anything, then it's likely nothing will help and it's also likely these trim pieces are anodized, not clear coated.


You can try calling a BMW dealerships, probably be hard to find someone that actually knows this kind of detail about their cars.

You could also try asking on a BMW forum for the reasons I list in this article on my article list,



Engine Detailing

How to use a Discussion Forum to Detail an Engine

 

[gatoman39]

I'm not 100% sure what type of metal it is. I tried 205 and no dice.

Thanks for tips Mike and Vegas.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Anodized aluminum or SS?

SS can be anodized, however, it has limited durability w/o a protective coating.

I mis-typed, I meant to type in a way that meant anodized aluminum "OR" stainless steel, not anodized aluminum or anodized stainless steel.

If that makes sense...


I can't count how many times someone on the forum has asked for helping restoring anodized aluminum only to find out it's a complicated repair as you have to undo the anodizing first and at that point you might as well learn to live with the cruddy looking trim or purchase factory new replacements or have the trim painted.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I tried 205 and no dice.

Do you remember if your polishing cloth was turning black?


If not, you're back to coated or anodized, neither mean undoing the damage will be easy or uncomplicated.

 

[Vegas Transplant]

Sorry for the deletion hand, after I thought about it - it was a mute point as you already stated nothing will help.:xyxthumbs:

Happy detailing...:autowash:

 

[jpegs13]

That looks like the clearcoat is starting to peel. I've had wheels with a clear coat and that seems to be the place they always start to peel

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

That looks like the clearcoat is starting to peel. I've had wheels with a clear coat and that seems to be the place they always start to peel

I think it's where the edge between paint is and paint isn't and sometimes liquids get under the coating on the edge. Once this happens undoing the damage becomes complicated.


One of the reasons I like classics, they came with either stainless steel or chrome trim and as long as you keep both clean they will look great for a long time. If they become stained or tarnish you can fix them with a little elbow grease and the right polish.

As soon as you are dealing with a coating it becomes complicated because most of us don't have the ability to remove and then replace whatever the coating it.

Of course, there's also nothing you can do about when buying new cars.


:dunno:

 

[gatoman39]

Do you remember if your polishing cloth was turning black?If not, you're back to coated or anodized, neither mean undoing the damage will be easy or uncomplicated.

Polished cloth didn't turn black. The replacement part catalog indicates the material is aluminum, I jusut don't know if it's painted clear coat or aluminum. If it was clear coat you would think a paint cleaner would wipe that off.

Here's an update of what didn't work:
So here is the list of what doesn't work:

1) Vinegar
2) Megs 205 Polish
3) Klasse AIO
4) Brasso
5) Claying
6) WD-40
7) Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish
8) Griots Wax remover
9) Wurth's Clean-Solv
10) Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
11) "Brite-Trim" polish

To characterize these defects a little better, when you run your fingers across them there is a little bit of drag or resistance compared to the unaffected metal. The only saving grace about this is that when the top is up you can't see it and when it is down, you have to be at the right angle and know where to look. My biggest concern is that like a virus, it will spread if it is corrosion and gets a foothold.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Polished cloth didn't turn black.

That indicates it's coated or changed via anodizing.

The replacement part catalog indicates the material is aluminum, I just don't know if it's painted clear coat or aluminum.

Actually, three options,

1. Bare Aluminum
2. Clear Coated Aluminum
3. Anodized Aluminum

If it was clear coat you would think a paint cleaner would wipe that off.

If it's a topical defect and not under a clear coating then I agree, a light paint cleaner or fine cut polish should be able to remove the very top layer of affected paint to uncover, fresh unaffected paint.

My guess is you're dealing with anodized aluminum trim.

Look through your local yellow pages and see if there is a nearby anodizing shop, swing by and ask one of the Techs that work there to "look" at it and my guess is they'll be able to tell if it's anodized or clear coated.