Pretty sure this has been a Topic before but the "Chrome" trim around windows on 2006 XJ8 has discoloured. Any tips to restore. Have tried Autosol, WD40 to no avail.

 

It's anodized Aluminum. Several people have improved it lot but it will require some work. They polish the trim with a power polisher. If it's real bad you might need to start with a very fine grade of sandpaper. Maybe 1500 or so but try it with just the rubbing compound then polishing compound before getting rough with it.

Tape off the trim first to protect the paint.
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The reason it discolors is that it is coated. This is the same reason it is difficult to restore easily. If you polish it intensely or sand it you will absolutely get through the coating. I can't say specifically if that's a great idea since it will then weather easily unless you keep it waxed, hit it with a ceramic coating, clear coat it or at least use a sealer like Meguiar's Fast Finish - its a synthetic polymer sealer that goes on and off in seconds, literally. My first X350 had trim that was pretty poor, and sure, I can advise against removing the coating, but basically it won't look any better unless you do - there are a few thread where people tried everything under the sun without success. I think one really expensive metal polish worked for one guy, but he probably just polished off the coating. For folks that the trim still looks good for whatever reason, just keep a coat of wax on there and DON'T compound or over polish it. My current car has much better trim, and I have managed to keep it that way for 2+ years without a garage to keep it out of the elements and sunlight.

 

Thanx for that

 

Ok, since the car in new to me and I am having it professionally valeted, I will discuss with detailer

 

The coating has failed that's why it's discolored.
You can't fix it until your remove the failed coating.

Same exact problem with fixing cloudy headlights. You take off the outer coating get it polished up but now it has no UV protection and will yellow/discolor after time again.
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Not what I wanted to hear but thanks for that. So, what is your recommendation e.eg. live with it, get it re-coated, replace with new?

 

Just a bit of history : my previous X350 was a Jap import which had been stood for a long time before coming and had the same chrome problem, Tried the polish, WD40 etc. to no avail. My theory is that the sun causes the problem and unless you garage the car, you're stuck with it as a recurring problem unless you repair/replace and ceramic coat.

 

Try aluminum polish, and use a buffing pad on a small polisher, or drill. Make sure you tape around the molding. You need the heat from the friction from the polisher to remove the oxidation. By hand it is just not easy. Good Luck

 

Have you used this method with the required result? Did you "seal" (ceramic, for example) afterwards?

 

I got a very good results, and I never had to seal, because the car then lived in the garage, so no more oxidation. You could clear coat, or make sure what ever protection you put on has a good UV coating. If the car is outside a lot no coating will prevent it from oxidizing again, but if you keep the UV coating up to date, then it may not get so bad, and maybe you could just need to polish by hand.

 

thanks