I have tried removing the white thin layer from my 1985 126 with polishing compound but no luck. Any suggestions?

is it milky? if so that is severe oxidation and the only way to remove it is to strip and re anodize the trim.

Yes it is milky - stripping sounds expensive ...

well yes, there are some products out there that some have said restores it but its hit or miss.

I'd do a search on the forum for anything about the trim.

look for a product called glass wax

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Current
2006 E320 CDI, 57K bought at 67K "Liesl"
1986 190E 2.3-16, 198K bought at 56K "Brigitta"
1987 300TD (Chuggin Along), 292K "Friedrich"
1995 E320 Wagon, 200K "Louisa"

Past
1987 300SDL, (sold) 125K, bought for 1$ "Kurt"

How well would something like Mothers aluminum polish work on that? I've used that on engine parts with terrific results but never tried it on body trim work.

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OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I tried Mothers aluminum polish with a polishing pad with a drill/polisher pad. I also tried red rubbing compound using the same method No effect. This stuff is tough to remove!

Wax makes it less visible but only a little.

The trim is anodized so you're not trying to polish aluminum. I'm planning to powder coat mine black.

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

I read that a solvent is needed to remove the anodizing and then the trim has to be re-coated with lacquer or another clear coating. The post I read said soaking it in Drano (not sure of the concentration required) would work instead of buying the chemical separately.

I wouldn't powder coat the aluminum trim. The process requires heat in excess of 400*F and would surely warp or twist the trim pieces. Anodizing is a cold electrical process so a chrome shop of a good caliber should be able to strip it off. or work at it with fine sand paper and polish the aluminum.

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RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

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I have not searched. but this has been discussed often. No polish will ever do anything as it's coated. Try different search words to find the threads. "Green" something or other was one solution. Here's one thread

I got the same problem and asked a client of mine who just happens to own a plating factory. He looked at the trimmings of my car and this was his verdict:

"The trim is not chrome. It is anodized. The only way to get the white spots out is to strip and re-anodize the trims. That means removing all the trims from the car, and processes them in the anodize tanks. Job time: 3 days, cost: $1500. While this is being done, you can't drive the car as there is no trimming to hold the windows in place."

So ... right now I am driving my beauty around shining bright except for those white spots covering almost all the trimmings on my car.

Lode

PS, before I asked my client, I'd like to point out that I used every polishing product available on the market (literally) and none of them, not a single one removes the white spots. Glass wax made some spots disappear but hardly noticeable. Save your money buying over the counter chrome, aluminum, steel or metal cleaners, they don't work ... not for to remove white spots anyway.

You can strip the anodizing, then rectify the aluminum and wax it. If you wax it yearly, it will look ok, as long as whoever did the rectification knows what the hell they're doing. Tedious but better-looking than new.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

fine brushed aluminum would look alright as well, then clear coated.

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RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

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FACEBOOK: PANZER450

I know, get a drill and some steel wool and engine turn the suckers!

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-tp


1990 300SE "Corinne"- 145k daily driver - street modified differential - PARTING OUT OR SELLING SOON - PORTLAND OR. AREA - PM ME FOR DETAILS
1988 560SEL "Gunther"- 190K passes anything except a gas station
1997 S420 - 265k just bought it with a rebuilt trans. Lovely condition