Problem after using Bilt Hamber Auto Foam

[smipx]

Hi All,

2019 Skoda Karoq with metal "Chrome Style" trim.

I popped on some Bilt Hamber Auto Foam on and must have left it too long or the sun must have shone for a bit. It dried out on some of the bright work around the windows. Washed the car and polished it as usual and all well except the metal shiny trim around the doors has "popped bubble" type marks over it on one side of the car. I wanted to get working on it. Can't afford to have the trim replaced so I will have to make do and do the best job I can. I have done some research and it seems the trim could be one of:

Plastic with Chrome and then clear Coated
Actual Chrome plated metal (v v unlikely)
Polished Aluminium with some sort of Clear coat
Polished Aluminium bare
Something else.

Does anyone know, for this car what this trim is actually make from?

I have already tried:
A hard rub with some regular polish
Manual cleaning with t-cut and a teatowel
A dremmel (on slow-ish) with buffing pad and some lapping paste (W10/1000 grit for about 10 minutes on medium speed along an 18 inch section).


How it is in the affected area after my efforts:


This has improved it a little but not really enough.

Can anyone definitively let me know what the actual material is and what my best course of action might be (other than replacing the trim obviously).

Thanks All.

Paul

[juice]

Grab a tube of autosol

[Thats What She Said]

Unfortunately you've let it dry in the sun, and those marks are soap residue that has baked into the trim.

The good news is, it will come off. It's just going to take a bit of elbow grease. Try a bit of all purpose cleaner on a microfibre first to see if that shifts it. If not, you'll need to get a bit more aggresive and try a small amount of polish.

[cuprabob]

juice said:

Grab a tube of autosol

Not to be confused with Anusol

Edited by cuprabob on Saturday 27th August 18:17

[smipx]

Dang. I have plenty of the latter.

[smipx]

I will def try the Autosol (as it will be a low impact solution that will not cause any lasting issue) but if it is a clearcoat on top then will it actually do anything - Metal polish on Clearcoat?

That is why I'm keen to hear from anyone who has insider/expert knowlege of the exact composition of VAG group chrome trim from cars circa 2019. Some people say that its polished aluminium and I should use 1000 then 2000 wet/dry and then apply a protectant coat but... If its plastic with a chrome coating then doing that will totally fubar it. Some say its aluminium with a clearcoat and the clearcost needs just a simple clean and polish with a polish designed for clearcoats.

I will wait a little to see if anyone has tried on this particular marque and knows for sure. I do know that the different manufaturers may use different "fake metal" compositions so just because a Bimmer's is, say, Plastic with Chrome coating it doesn't necessarily follow that all are the same.

Nightmare!!

[Chris32345]

Allmost certainly chromed plastic id have thought

[somouk]

If you're lucky it is the soaping agent and not a burn from the alkali/acidic chemical that they use to help clean. A polish should fix either but the latter may take more effort.

You have to be really careful with TFRs and pre-wash's not to leave them too long and definitnely don't let them dry.

[smipx]

Lesson Learned on that one. What has annoyed me is that Bilt Hamber is meant to be gentle, effective and non staining. It's supposed to be one of the best. It's blimmin expensive too.

"Auto-Foam is made with biodegradable compounds, is extraordinarily tough on soil and grime, yet harmless to paint. The non-caustic formulation ensures that even regular use will not attack paint binders. Our hard-working surfactants will attack and penetrate the hardest of road dirt and grime, without the need for manual intervention."

[Dolf Stoppard]

I’d get in touch with BH and see what they say. Out of interest, have you tried a glass cleaner? Tends to work well on fake chrome.