Q7 Newbie

Hi Guys, brand new Audi owner. I have had this Q7 for a month and I have a cloudy white water spot type substance on the window trim and metal factory roof rack rails. Its driving me crazy! Have tried mothers aluminum polish and chrome polish, nothing takes this crap off, unless I am not generating enough heat with elbow grease. I have seen a few other posts on this issue, but I am still unclear if the metal window trim on the '08 is polished Aluminum or a chrome type finish. The metal roof rails also "appear" to be a polished Aluminum, but I am not certain. Dealership doesnt seem to me much help. Loving the vehicle, hating the cloudy spots on the metal.. Has anyone tried a 0000 steel wool with a polishing compound? I'm a little concerned that will scratch and then not polish out... many thanks for any thoughts! Dan

iNfiNkC

I had a similar issue with my xc90, it had aluminum trim around the windows. I went to one of those auto washes and the chemicals ate the trim up. I tried everything to try and polish them. Landed up contacting the carwash and filing a claim, took awhile to prove but in the end they paid to have the trim replaced.

scottr13

Do you mean like water marks where the rain has dried in? I get this on my Q7 and just wipe it off with Autoglym glass polish when doing the windows but it comes back the next week after its been raining

Q7 Newbie

That's what it looks like but I can't polish it out, I will try a glass cleaner but its more than water spots with a dulling white haze. It may have been from the previous owner or the dealer using something on the car to clean/detail it but it looks like hell... Will try the glass cleaner and let you know. Thanks.

10 Bulls

i have an 08 Q7 S-line that had exact same problem on trim, roof rails & running boards... used Steel Wool 0000 with P21 Finish Restorer and everything looks brand new again. Also used this on what looked like unrepairable exhaust tips (completely black/blueish caked-on soot) which also now look brand new again!

ordered both on ebay. highly recommend it!

Q7 Newbie

10 Bulls - Thanks very much, will try this and advise - appreciate the info!

claybartel

Hi Guys,
I have the same question as Q7 Newbie, what worked? I have been considering trying the 0000 steel wool with a polish but was afraid of ruining the rails and window trim also. thanks

iconoclast

you would probably have less headaches and more success with matte black vinyl wrap around the trim... some people have used plasti-dip but i think it's kind of ghetto to start spraying your car with this nonsense.

cuatrokoop

Most of the alu trim I've seen on Audis does this, it is oxidation. If there is a clear anodizing on the trim, the steel wool and polishing agent may remove it, so you will likely be doing that job multiple times. If it wouldn't be such a problem, you could clean it and have it shot with clear coat or Nyalic. Nyalic actually now makes kits for the DIY'er. At my previous job, it was used over whole pieces of equipment, just masked off the glass and tires and literally everything else was sprayed.

cuatrokoop

Here's a link:

Nyalic® Touch-up Kit I :: AUTO/TRANSPORTATION KITS :: Nyalic® Clear Surface Prote ctant

Yes, I know I responded to an older portion of this thread.