help! Stained black trim on my X5..

[MD11F]

I just ran my X5 thru a touchless carwash that has a polish cycle (some colored foam) as well as a "spotless" rinse, and all of my shadow black trim (the shiny metal stuff with the sports package) is now looking oxidized or stained and it won't clean off with simply spray wax! I contacted the wash and they've not gotten back to me.. I don't know if I should blame them? or BMW? I've only used Zaino on the car, and the same stuff is on my MB and no problems with the black on that..

Anyone have any ideas? And any recommendations on how to remove it?

[trueX5er]

Mother's Back to Black or Forever Black are two products you can try...

[MD11F]

are those for the metalic trim too? or just for the plastic body side stuff? I'll give it a shot on a small spot now tough since I have some of that laying around. Thanks.

[X5FX]

Yea, I freaked out the first time this happened. A good polish will get rid of it...no harm done. Bottom line is you cant use a high pressure was on this trim, it happens every time

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by X5FX

...Bottom line is you cant use a high pressure was on this trim, it happens every time

Our X has never been through a mechanical wash, but 30 yrs of Co. cars
have; no xpert, but I don't think it's the psi as much as the pH &
micromos/cm of the water used, along with the "special sauces" all the
car wash joints pitch.

Zaino stuff, esp Z6/Z8 cures a multitude of sins, in my experience, esp.
on the black plastic trim.
GL, mD

[Denalio]

I used meguiares paint cleaner/pre-cleaner.

[MD11F]

Ok, great! I thought I was the only one!

I usually wash my own car in the drive way, or occasionally I take it to the do it yourself wand wash so I can get under the wheelwells and such, but this is the first time I've gone thru a tunnel (hate them for the paint), but since it was "touchless" I trusted it and the car had had a dozen bird tirds on it that I didn't want to bake in.. Anyway, it seems like the PH makes sense, so this was is now off my list. I used a combination of the mothers, then Mothers spray wax detailer, and lastly clay bar .. now I'll re-apply Z2 and see what happens. It's gotten VERY faint now, but I can still see it.. sux!

[Thunder22]

Originally Posted by trueX5er

Mother's Back to Black or Forever Black are two products you can try...

dont use that stuff on the trim, it's painted and clear coated.


Just wax it.

Trust me.

[R8DX5]

Originally Posted by gresch

dont use that stuff on the trim, it's painted and clear coated.


Just wax it.

Trust me.

[X5FX]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Our X has never been through a mechanical wash, but 30 yrs of Co. cars
have; no xpert, but I don't think it's the psi as much as the pH &
micromos/cm of the water used, along with the "special sauces" all the
car wash joints pitch.

Zaino stuff, esp Z6/Z8 cures a multitude of sins, in my experience, esp.
on the black plastic trim.
GL, mD

You might be right about the chemicals (i didnt mean specifically the psi), the times it has happened to me the dealer serviced the car and decided to wash it for me afterward...both times the trim was messed up and I had to polish it out. I now leave a big sign inside when I bring it in for service. I always hand wash mine and use only Zaino products and never have an issue when I wash.