chrome trim has gone milky?

Lee S · #1 5th September 2015, 09:06 PM

Yeah... mine are the same.. some joker with heavy duty TFR sprayed on in the sun and left to bubble and stain... clowns.

I often wonder if the cheapest and easiest option is some kind of ally or chrome vinyl wrap over just those parts? Would it look OK? Would it stay on? Would it look OEM?

Borys · #2 6th September 2015, 10:04 AM

I'll just get mine wrapped
Would be nice if trim could be removed easily....will go for hydro dipping
Did my ML grill looked amazing

Norretal · #3 6th September 2015, 07:24 PM

Just wondering, what is the cost of replacements from Audi?

Lee S · #4 9th September 2015, 07:12 PM

Someone said they were about £600+ for the set... dunno how true that is... plus they will be NOS so will go milky again anyway....

moltuae · #5 9th September 2015, 07:55 PM

I've been gradually buying various bits of used chrome/aluminium trim for my car which I'm planning to have restored to replace any tarnished bits.

I've been looking at the restoration options. Since the parts are solid aluminium they can of course be re-polished, but I'm considering chrome-plating instead (on the assumption that chrome plating will be longer lasting). So I'm presently in the process of looking for a good local chrome-plating company who can plate aluminium (not all of them are able to). Failing that, I may post the parts off to this place:

http://www.ashfordchroming.com/chrom...sked-questions

Quote:

Q. Do you offer chroming, chrome plating or rechroming on Aluminum?
A. Yes we can. The results can sometimes be hard to achieve due to the nature and purity of its composition, but we will always advise customers if we think there may be a problem. Aluminum can be highly polished to a mirror like finish and using compounds and mops stunning results can be achieved which is a good alternative to chrome plating and chroming.

moltuae · #6 21st September 2015, 11:57 AM

After researching this further, and contacting various metal polishing and chroming companies, it seems that the best way to restore the aluminium trim, so that the result is both durable and original, is to have it re-anodised. Has anyone tried this route?

The problem, as I understand it, is that it's the anodisation layer that has failed/oxidised when the trim turns milky. So the only way you're going to completely polish the oxidisation away is to polish away the anodisation, which would leave bare, unprotected aluminium.

Goran · #7 21st September 2015, 02:10 PM

Good info!
Sounds like anodising is the way to go, if its reasonably priced.

I thought chrome electroplating was tough, but maybe not? According to these links anodising is much tougher.

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/791...aluminum-sheet
http://www.finishing.com/145/50.shtml

47p2 · #8 23rd September 2015, 01:49 PM

If you remove the anodised coating and polish the aluminium it's then open to the elements of the weather and will quickly turn dull and black. Not a problem if you like to keep it polished every week or two. The other option is to have them polished and lacquered which will give you a couple of years before the lacquer starts to fail and then it's back to the beginning again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee S

Someone said they were about £600+ for the set... dunno how true that is... plus they will be NOS so will go milky again anyway....

I've seen quotes of almost £800 for the set