bringing the pillars back to black?
 

My B & C pillars (vertical dividers between the front & rear windows) are not shiny black anymore, mainly sun discolor/oxidation.
How do I bring them back to black?
also I saw on a new X5 a black painted trim piece that looks added on, it was applied onto the pillar and the rubber mouldings, it looked OEM.
Any of you have bought/installed the pillar pieces?
Thanks in advance

Bavarian Autosport (www.bavauto.com) sells something called Forever Black that restores the coloring of faded black trim pieces.. I've never used it, but it might work.

I have researched that (the forever black) and it lots of BMW fanatic like it, but it applies to rubber & vinyl as it is a dye.
The pillars are metal that look either painted or anodized black, unless Im way wrong (common !!)

I've used Mother's Back to Black on those pieces on the B & C pillars with great results. Read the directions, use the proper applicator and you'll get it lookin' nice. If your local auto parts store doesn't have it, they can order it, or you can try here:
http://www.mothers.com/products/

JV

How long did it last?

Mothers Back to Black is more for rubber trim IMO.

I treat those pillars like I treat paint - polish & wax. Strange though how they tend to discolor faster than paint though. Just thinking outloud but methinks it's possible that it's colored aluminum non CC'ed so it just oxidixes faster. Never really gave it much thought but that does make sense .......

I used it about 2 months ago, put 4 coats on, it's still looking like I just applied it.

JV

I find that Zaino Z2 works great for removing the oxidation and bringing back the shine.

How about on the black roof racks...
 

Will that stuff help there as well?

Give it a shot and see for yourself! Im sold :D

B & C Pillar Appliques
 

BMW also makes an applique for the B & C Pillars in a CARBON FIBER finish that looks pretty cool in the pics I've seen. I think it would depend on the color of the vehicle how good it looks though.........
I've seen them in the accessories catalog that BMW has for the X5. I think they retail at $129.99 for 6 pieces.
Just a thought if you can't find anything to bring them back to the original shine.........

:dunno:

don't use back to black on your b & c pillars, they're painted metal not rubber/vinyl. I just wash and wax them like any other painted surface, they just need some heavy waxing to come up looking new. for some reason they deteriorate fast.

Not certain about that BMW product, but the Mother's Back to Black product is not a dye. A dye will be the same color as the intended result, Back to Black is an opaque white.

What you're trying to do on your B&C pillars is stop and hopefully reverse oxidation. That's what Back to Black does. It's best on plastic, rubber or vinyl, and I can only confirm my good results using it on the exterior B&C pillars.

I agree with others here that a real good wash and wax is the first thing to try.

JV

I didn't think that the Back-to-Black did that great of a job.

put a heavy coat of wax on there and buff them out with a soft towel, trust me :)

BMW sells a carbon fiber replacement kit that changes out those pillor with carbon look alikes..looks good...might be what you saw.

My pillars were ridden with oxidation and water marks. I used 3M Foam Polishing Pad Glaze with the closed-cell foam pad on my buffer and it did a excellent job. Got rid of every spec of oxidation and water marks. The pillar looks brand new. The difference is that this product removes those imperfections rather than covering them up. :thumbup:

Pillars are black anodized aluminum - not painted - should be polished rather than painted

I, too, am looking for polishing suggestions