Oxidized Trim :(

[BoostJunkie]

VEHICLE: 1982 MB 300SD W126

Problem:
My chrome trim around the windows and such looks oxidized and faded. I tried using light grades of steel wool to polish it up to no avail. I also used some metal polishes with no luck. Does anyone have any ideas or tips to bring back the luster and shine short of just replacing the trim????

[TylerH860]

Join the club...

Using the search tool should give you an answer or in other forum sections. I believe there's a product called ???? Green Magic???? that people have used to improve it.

I may just be confusing simple green with something else.

[ggspeed]

Never Dull works real well.....

[vwbuge]

I have the same problem. I've used just about every miracle cure out there. My trim is still dull.

[Hatterasguy]

Its not chrome, its anodized aluminum. Replacing it is the only solution.

[mbdoc]

Depending on the color of the car....painting the trim a contrasting color can add interest to the car. Using a flat or semi-flat black color "can" look good.

At least better than dull aluminum.

[85300DT]

Autosol.

[79Mercy]

^^doesn't work.

The classic trim coat stuff doesnt either.

[85300DT]

Try jewellers rouge - amway used to sell it..Those are the only two things I used to get aluminum up to snuff. The other route: 3 n 1 oil and various grades of fine waterproof sandpaper - starting from 600 grit up...

[Biodiesel300TD]

I just polished and waxed my 240. I just used regular car polish to clean the trim up, then put a coat of wax on. Seems to be working fine.

[babymog]

The anodized aluminum trim is an alloy, not pure aluminum. First, it doesn't polish very well, it also corrodes very quickly, which is one reason it is anodized.

Next issue is that the anodized finish is about the hardness of saphire, aluminum oxide is used for sandpaper and other cutting uses because of how hard it is. The metal beneath is much softer, which is why mechanical removal of the anodized finish is difficult, it cuts quickly into the metal beneath though.

Caustic cleaners are the usual culprit of damage to the anodizing. It will stain it white.

Replacement is the fix, or removal and re-anodizing. Polishing as well as possible and clear-coating is probably the only semi-permanent alternative.

[Hatterasguy]

I'm figuring a G note on the exterior trim and gaskets when I repaint the SDL, and I doubt that will get half of it.

Just the trim around the front and rear windshields is going to be $350 or so.

This is part of the reason I'm working on getting my dads friends, father to sell his sub 20k mile, stored in climate controlled airplane hanger since new 560SEL. Cheaper to buy a good one, restoration is crazy expensive.

[wgilmore]

I agree that for a permanent fix you may have to replace or re-anodize the trim (if it is actually anodized), but I am quite thrifty and used Tripoli more than 18 months ago with a high speed hard felt wheel and got great results and still no oxidation. Looks great and I don't plan on replacing the trim unless the polishing stops working.
Seriously, for a 1 hour job, who could replace all of the trim in that time. Apparently the insidious white haze can be removed with the correct process of abrasion. It is just an oxide, perhaps fairly hard though.
The odd thing is that electrolytic aluminum oxidation is not normally a bright finish. The electrical oxidation process creates a somewhat matte - not glossy finish.
There is hard and soft anodization process, both produce aluminum oxide but with different hardness levels. I would think that the trim may have been plated with an alloy or perhaps the trim is an alloy that just oxidizes to fairly hard finish.
Electrolytic aluminum oxide - hard coat can be polished to a very high finish with quite some work, , but the base oxide is really darkish gray - not attractive. Soft electrolytic oxide is a dull light gray , abrades away quickly and is not durable. Normal plain old air non-electrolytic oxidation of pure or alloy aluminum often looks white such as what I get on my Mercedes.
Anyway , my 2 cents .

[rrgrassi]

What about chrome plating the trim?

[79Mercy]

^^that would work if you have a full wallet. If anyone does it let me know how much it costs.