chelseaa4a

I plan to try LR's product and I'll post the results! Hope it works...my trim suffers from some serious oxidation/stains...and I have yet to find something that works! cheers

LivinAstro

sweet! thanks for this, i gotta do this for my trim.

LR Audi

I have the chrome trim on both my A4 and A6, although my A6 requires more maintenance. It may be due to a different material used in later models or simply because my A6 is starting to show it's age. Anyhow, in Vancouver weather I usually treat my trim four times a year, during season changes. It's always looking spiffy and takes me about 30 minutes for the trim around the windows and front grille.

gurvir44

Great thread, been meaning to ask. Thanks LR Audi, and OP, can you post your results? Thanks!

LR Audi

I haven't posted any DIY guides lately as most members here ignore my tutorials, so I'll just explain quickly. I use 3M compound followed up with CarBrite wax. After cleaning the car thoroughly and drying it off with a synthetic chamois, I use 3M compound with a fine microfibre cloth. I use circular motions by hand after the compound hazes. I follow up with CarBrite wax using the same method but with a heavier microfibre cloth. Any excess residue I clean off with a blue shop rag.

mikeh

For sure, please post up a DIY with pics if you can.

LR Audi

I probably won't be post anymore DIY guides unless there's enough demand for them. It's time consuming to do extensive write ups with detailed explainations plus pictures to go with them. The process of creating a DIY guide isn't as simply as most people make it out to be, at least not for me. I like mine to be very thorough so whomever follows the procedure can rest assured that they are doing it correctly and have the satisfaction of a job well done. I've posted several DIY guides with detailed info on pricing, availability, tool requirements and such so no one is left in the dark. My guides receive numerous views and almost zero responses. If I received a "Thanks!" every now and then I would at least know my guides are being put to use the way I wanted them to. If not then I'm sure Audi of Canada would just love to take other members money. The shop rate here in Vancouver is $120/HR at OpenRoad Audi, and most independent shops like Shift Autosport are at $90/HR.

After extensively cleaning and drying, I use 3M Metal Polish #39527. You don't need too much as it is fairly thin and is easy to work with. Wait a couple of minutes and it should haze up. Take a fine microfibre cloth and rub it all off with circular motions. Some people opt to use something like a Mother's Powerball or equivalent but I do this all by hand since the trim is so thin. Do not use side to side or up and down motions. Circular is best as you're able to fill in the pit marks and remove the oxidation better. Depending on the condition of the trim you may need to do this process twice. Just be patient and let the polish do it's job, no need for adding weight. Make sure your microfibre cloth is clean each time you do this. When you're done you need to protect the trim with a protective layer. I use CarBrite Weather Shield. It goes on using the same method, but this time I use a heavier microfibre cloth. It takes longer than the 3M product to haze over as it has a different formulation but just be patient and do it right. You can remove the excess with blue shop rags available at Canadian Tire.

Given my A6 has 280,000km and has seen Chicago, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Salmon Arm, Seattle, Vancouver and many cities inbetween you can imagine that the condition of my chrome trim isn't perfect. Using this treatment method makes it look as good as it could possibly be. As a matter of fact, the trim has very few signs of wear and zero oxidation. Only some deep scratches in some parts that won't polish off, otherwise it looks fanastic. This method is time consuming and I repeat the process every four months with both my A4 and A6. On my A4 the trim looks as good as it did when I first picked it up, and with this process it should last a very, very long time.

LivinAstro

Hey LR Audi, I really appreciate this extensive write-up you have here. thank you again! I'll let you know how my results turn out when I try it this weekend