Rear side fixed window trim:
10-01-2016, 02:43 PM
#3
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
10-01-2016, 03:34 PM
#4
AudiWorld Super User
Wow, did somebody paint it or something? It's real aluminium, unless I'm mistaken, so polishing will most definitely work. You could hardly make it look worse, anyway. What I don't recall is if there is a clearcoat on there as well.
10-01-2016, 03:50 PM
#5
Club AutoUnion
This same thing happened on my 1998 A6. It looked awful and whatever I had used to polish it didn't work, although that was likely my own fault. Still, it's a strange thing and I have noticed it on other Audis.
10-01-2016, 03:57 PM
#6
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Yeah...it's definitely not going to be chrome like the other trim.
And $2k to replace it isn't happening.
I'm thinking of hitting it with chrome spray paint.
And $2k to replace it isn't happening.
I'm thinking of hitting it with chrome spray paint.
10-01-2016, 04:27 PM
#7
AudiWorld Super User
There is a laminated plastic layer on top of the aluminum. Looks like that gave out/something got in between that layer and the base aluminum. It's all over as far as that piece goes AFAIK. Short of replacement about all you could do realistically is spray it or try to get it wrapped w/ some cosmetically similar looking material.
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10-01-2016, 04:28 PM
#8
AudiWorld Wiseguy
Well it worked for me. Although mine was only slightly tarnished. Yours looks like it's been painted white or it's got the plastic protection wrap still on it or something. Not sure how it could ever end up looking like that under normal circumstances unless it's been incorrectly treated with an unsuitable/harsh chemical product in the past.
10-01-2016, 04:48 PM
#9
AudiWorld Super User
This kind of thing used to happen in the C5 millennium era when the dealers never took the protective shipping film off the door sill aluminum trim and it would similarly tarnish out. The protective film was yet another layer on top of the permanent laminated layer/coating--similar to stuff you get covering new shiny plastics and such with electronics. They even did a TSB for it, saying basically no fix and IIRC they weren't going to reimburse dealers if they didn't peel the film off to begin with.