Help Please - Audi A4 Chrome Molding Damage

Diesel1 · 07-24-08, 09:56

Hi Everyone,

Been awhile since my last post (Been crazy busy with weddings, family functions, getting engaged, wedding planning, etc...). Anyway, my fiance just bought a 2006 Audi A4 which is in great shape (Needs a little TLC from me, but we can get to that later) for the most part. Of course it is black so I need to give it a quickie (Read....a solid days work) to get the dealer halogramming and swirls out.

ISSUE: On the chrome molding around the windows, there is basically I guess acid rain damage. I haven't looked at the molding close enough to determine if it is chrome or annodize aluminum. I may be leaning towards annodized aluminum which may be clearcoated. That said, there are basically stains that look like water puddles (Possibly etched) all over the trim. Kind of gives a blotchy hazy appearance. Has anyone encountered this before and if so, how did you remove it without damaging the molding. I have pretty much every product and detailing tool at my disposal (For a weekend warrior anyway). I am willing to add to the collection if you guys know of product that will help. I did a test spot with a little polish and it didn't seem to budge it.

I saw a website somewhere of a company that sold only 2-3 products one of which was a trim restorer that said it fixed this exact issue. Not sure if there is any truth behind it or not.

Any takers?

todd@bsaw · 07-24-08, 03:34

This has just been in my experience with chrome trims, so maybe someone has more official knowledge than myself.

Many of the chrome trims that I have seen are a chrome-surfaced plastic and very seldom actual chrome. Some of the Audis have a 'brushed look' trim that is almost a lacquered metal finish.

I had an issue at a dealership I contracted at where there were many Volvos, Jaguars, and BMWs with this trim failure that ended up having to be replaced. They had found this was caused by the harsh chemicals used at the local tunnel wash (PDQ, to be exact) and could not be corrected. You can try an AIO but it isn't likely to work. We had found on the Audi brushed trim that some aggressive clay made it look a little better, but still not 100%.

Do you have a link to the website for those products? A specific cleaner may possibly be a solution for you.