Cleaning the Chromed Exhaust Trim

martieg · 11-27-2006, 06:03 AM

My 330i's chromed exhaust trim is getting a growing black stain that is hard to remove. When brand new it was easy for me to clean it, but now I cannot completely remove it. How are you guys cleaning this part of the car?

Worst case - I'm planning to buy a new pair ($32 each in the accesories catalog).

txusa03 · 11-27-2006, 08:30 AM

Why buy a new one? it gonna have the same problem. What you gonna do when you get a ding in the door? buy a new door? There is nothing you can do, just clean what you can.

btc · 11-27-2006, 08:35 AM

I give up cleaning that tail pipe, it will get dirty again.

andrew 330i · 11-27-2006, 08:42 AM

i use "nevrdull" but the stains at the bottom are very difficult to remove.

espo · 11-27-2006, 10:06 AM

I've used mothers chrome polish with some success, but have never really been able to get the ring of carbon off of the edge of the chrome. I should pull out the dremel and use the polishing wheel and some polish on it. That may just do it.

nmulax · 11-27-2006, 10:13 AM

Mr. Clean dry eraser does a pretty good job on the tailpipes as well as baked on brake dust.

CALIF65GM · 11-27-2006, 11:00 PM

I use P21S polishing soap. It works ok. I still have some minor staining, but it's not bad.

martieg · 11-28-2006, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txusa03

Why buy a new one? it gonna have the same problem. What you gonna do when you get a ding in the door? buy a new door? There is nothing you can do, just clean what you can.

I had my exhaust tips clean for almost half a year, and now is showing stains that cannot get rid of. I figure if buy one per per year ($64) they will look very nice most of the time.

No, I wouldn't buy a door ($2000+) for a ding.

txusa03 · 11-28-2006, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lecatrache

I had my exhaust tips clean for almost half a year, and now is showing stains that cannot get rid of. I figure if buy one per per year ($64) they will look very nice most of the time.

No, I wouldn't buy a door ($2000+) for a ding.

lol, good looks can be costly, even on a car. Your car and your money, just my .02c

dmboone25 · 11-28-2006, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lecatrache

I had my exhaust tips clean for almost half a year, and now is showing stains that cannot get rid of. I figure if buy one per per year ($64) they will look very nice most of the time.

No, I wouldn't buy a door ($2000+) for a ding.

I agree--it is not that big of a deal to replace these--I think, when shined, that they really improve the overall look of the car. It is just that added touch that makes the car really shine. If I have similar problems (I have had my E92 only 2 months) I would totally consider doing this as well.

mds82 · 11-28-2006, 12:00 PM

- - - Mothers Chrome Polish - - - !!!

JOYRIIDE1113 · 11-28-2006, 02:28 PM

Why would you guys give up on cleaning them? I clean mine every time I clean my wheels. Once a month I rub them down with Zephyr metal polish. Its like saying you don't clean your rims because they're just gonna get dirty again. Buy the dedicated chrome cleaner. It should last 2-3 years.

martieg · 12-04-2006, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOYRIIDE1113

Why would you guys give up on cleaning them? I clean mine every time I clean my wheels. Once a month I rub them down with Zephyr metal polish. Its like saying you don't clean your rims because they're just gonna get dirty again. Buy the dedicated chrome cleaner. It should last 2-3 years.

I will try the metal polish - good suggestion. Thanks!

txusa03 · 12-04-2006, 10:34 PM

could someone take a photo of their chrome exhaust tips after using the chrome polish so we can see that it reallys works. Lol, don't go to the dealer and snap a photo of the chrome exhaust tips on a brand new car.

mercury26 · 12-05-2006, 12:20 AM

Eagle One - Never Dull, works like a champ.

Cheers,

Chuck

BK · 12-05-2006, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txusa03

could someone take a photo of their chrome exhaust tips after using the chrome polish so we can see that it reallys works. Lol, don't go to the dealer and snap a photo of the chrome exhaust tips on a brand new car.

x2 please

Nothing I've done works all that well. I've been thinking about trying metal polish.

Asiann · 12-05-2006, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOYRIIDE1113

Why would you guys give up on cleaning them? I clean mine every time I clean my wheels. Once a month I rub them down with Zephyr metal polish. Its like saying you don't clean your rims because they're just gonna get dirty again. Buy the dedicated chrome cleaner. It should last 2-3 years.

Exactly! I just wash them evertime I wash the car and works for me!

JIMD1709 · 12-05-2006, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mercury26

Eagle One - Never Dull, works like a champ.

Cheers,

Chuck

+1 You should have a can of this stuff anyway. It really comes in handy. It's not just for chrome, but really anything metal

obLu · 12-05-2006, 04:29 PM

During the summer, when I keep on top of washing my car .... summer here equals late June, July and most of Aug ... I can get the carbon stain off and keep it off by using Mother's mag polish, or any other metal/chrome polish that I've tried.

But if I go for more than about a week, getting the build up off again is ROUGH. And yeah, I did use a dremel and a polishing wheel. Just kept the speed as low as possible.

If I keep on top of it, hand polishing takes care of it.

markis64 · 12-21-2006, 03:56 PM

Try a brillo pad!! Make surethe box says OK to use on chrome... I just had my exhaust tips caked up with carbon buildup for about 3 months and I used a brillo pad and some elbow grease and there clean, not perfect but no longer black... Next time they get real bad ill take a before and after pic

BK · 12-21-2006, 03:58 PM

I picked up Mothers Chrome Polish this week, and will give it a try the next time I wash the car.

Fester · 12-21-2006, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BK

I picked up Mothers Chrome Polish this week, and will give it a try the next time I wash the car.

Post "Before" and "After" photos please!!

I cleaned mine after about 20 days when I bought my baby -I didn't use anything on it and the carbon came right off. Now I see it being deposited again. I guess, based on y'all comments, chrome polish is the way to go....!

11-27-2006, 06:03 AM	#1
martieg Texas 343 Rep 769 Posts Drives: 330i Black Sph PP/SP/NV/MTk Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Cleaning the Chromed Exhaust Trim My 330i's chromed exhaust trim is getting a growing black stain that is hard to remove. When brand new it was easy for me to clean it, but now I cannot completely remove it. How are you guys cleaning this part of the car? Worst case - I'm planning to buy a new pair ($32 each in the accesories catalog).
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11-27-2006, 08:30 AM	#2
txusa03 Major General 602 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	Why buy a new one? it gonna have the same problem. What you gonna do when you get a ding in the door? buy a new door? There is nothing you can do, just clean what you can. __________________ under construction!
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11-27-2006, 08:35 AM	#3
btc Second Lieutenant 69 Rep 279 Posts Drives: 06/330i/SB/TERA/AL Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bakersfield,CA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I give up cleaning that tail pipe, it will get dirty again.
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11-27-2006, 08:42 AM	#4
andrew 330i it can never be too clean... 166 Rep 1,100 Posts Drives: 2014 F31 M Sport Wagon Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: columbus, ohio iTrader: (1)	i use "nevrdull" but the stains at the bottom are very difficult to remove. __________________ '14 328xi wagon / m sport / white / red leather kw v1 coilover kit / 19" staggered 351 M double spoke wheels / upper strut bar / sport line grille & exhaust tips / 50% tint / painted reflectors / debadged / complete clear bra
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11-27-2006, 10:06 AM	#5
espo Captain 12 Rep 715 Posts Drives: 2014 M235i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sugar Land TX iTrader: (0)	I've used mothers chrome polish with some success, but have never really been able to get the ring of carbon off of the edge of the chrome. I should pull out the dremel and use the polishing wheel and some polish on it. That may just do it. __________________ E46 325xi Oxford Green/Sand Leatherette/Myrtle Wood Auto ZCW - Retired E90 330xi Mystic Blue/Black Leather/Aluminum 6sp Manual ZSP/ZPP/ZCW/CA - Retired F22 M235i Mineral Gray/Red Leather/Aluminum 6sp Manual ZPP/ZTP
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11-27-2006, 10:13 AM	#6
nmulax Brigadier General 407 Rep 4,320 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: May 2006 Location: Metro-Detroit iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 Z4M Coupé [7.66]	Mr. Clean dry eraser does a pretty good job on the tailpipes as well as baked on brake dust. __________________
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11-27-2006, 11:00 PM	#7
CALIF65GM Colonel 104 Rep 2,041 Posts Drives: e93-35 May08 ED Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 06 - Oct. 05 build ... [0.00]	I use P21S polishing soap. It works ok. I still have some minor staining, but it's not bad. __________________ 5-2-08 e93-35 ED Montego w/Jade Grey, Step w/Paddles, PP, SP, CA, hot seats and iPod.Awaing re-delivery soon. Debadged 330xi ED 11/14/05 Auto/Mystic Blue/Gray leather with Alum/PP/SP/CA/Fold-down rear seats/Alarm. Sold to Carmax on 6/7/08 with 50,624 miles on clock
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11-28-2006, 12:00 PM	#11
mds82 Major General 381 Rep 5,842 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Central Connecticut iTrader: (40) Garage List 2006 325xi Snow Pics [0.00] 2006 BMW 325xi [0.00]	- - - Mothers Chrome Polish - - - !!!
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11-28-2006, 02:28 PM	#12
JOYRIIDE1113 Pirate 130 Rep 1,395 Posts Drives: Detailing Shark Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Miami-Kendall iTrader: (1)	Why would you guys give up on cleaning them? I clean mine every time I clean my wheels. Once a month I rub them down with Zephyr metal polish. Its like saying you don't clean your rims because they're just gonna get dirty again. Buy the dedicated chrome cleaner. It should last 2-3 years.
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12-04-2006, 10:34 PM	#14
txusa03 Major General 602 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	could someone take a photo of their chrome exhaust tips after using the chrome polish so we can see that it reallys works. Lol, don't go to the dealer and snap a photo of the chrome exhaust tips on a brand new car. __________________ under construction!
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12-05-2006, 12:20 AM	#15
mercury26 Lord of the Rings 86 Rep 471 Posts Drives: 20 Audi SQ5,05 BMW 330i ZHP Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Westminster, Colorado iTrader: (2) Garage List 2021 BMW M2C [0.00] 2020 Audi SQ5 [0.00] 2019 VW Golf Alltrack [0.00] 2018 Ford F150 [0.00] 1977 VW Scirocco [0.00] 2005 BMW 330i ZHP [0.00] 2007 Audi RS4 [0.00]	Eagle One - Never Dull, works like a champ. Cheers, Chuck
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12-05-2006, 04:29 PM	#19
obLu Major 57 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA, USA iTrader: (1)	During the summer, when I keep on top of washing my car .... summer here equals late June, July and most of Aug ... I can get the carbon stain off and keep it off by using Mother's mag polish, or any other metal/chrome polish that I've tried. But if I go for more than about a week, getting the build up off again is ROUGH. And yeah, I did use a dremel and a polishing wheel. Just kept the speed as low as possible. If I keep on top of it, hand polishing takes care of it.
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12-21-2006, 03:56 PM	#20
markis64 Lieutenant 67 Rep 419 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Alpine White 330xi Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (1) Garage List 3006 e90 330xi [0.00]	Try a brillo pad!! Make surethe box says OK to use on chrome... I just had my exhaust tips caked up with carbon buildup for about 3 months and I used a brillo pad and some elbow grease and there clean, not perfect but no longer black... Next time they get real bad ill take a before and after pic
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12-21-2006, 03:58 PM	#21
BK Smiling politely 179 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	I picked up Mothers Chrome Polish this week, and will give it a try the next time I wash the car. __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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