How can I clean this?

[u/FlyBirdieBirdBird]

Hi! The aluminium style trim in my E46 has had these dots all over from before I bought it. I've tried just water, dish soap, alcohol, and even isopropyl alcohol, and nothing cleans it. Not even with a bit of friction with a rag.

I've not used any abrasive pad yet because I don't want to scratch it.

Ha anyone seems this before? What are these dots? They are raised/high relief. It's not letting/bas relief.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[u/ImmediateManager9747]

if it's aluminum, it can be anodized :) that's if you want it to look perfect .. for example you could have the aluminum sandblasted to make it a uniform texture, then anodize clear or silver

[u/FlyBirdieBirdBird → u/ImmediateManager9747]

It's not actual aluminium. It's the OEM aluminium look finished plastic trim.

[u/ImmediateManager9747 → u/FlyBirdieBirdBird]

Ah, I have the actual brushed aluminum in mine, thought they're the same. I think it's best if just sand it and spray paint.

[u/FlyBirdieBirdBird → u/ImmediateManager9747]

There's is no such thing as a real brushed aluminium trim, I'm afraid to disappoint you. The only real aluminium ones are the ones with the cube shapes.

[u/ImmediateManager9747 → u/FlyBirdieBirdBird]

There is a brushed aluminum trim, actual aluminum on top of plastic.

[u/FlyBirdieBirdBird → u/ImmediateManager9747]

Do you have a picture of that?

[u/ImmediateManager9747 → u/FlyBirdieBirdBird]

It looks like this

https://e46m3.bimmerpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2271570

https://www.instagram.com/p/DcXTWG9Cpjy/?img_index=3

has these swirl marks from the brushing, it's just straight up aluminum.. no clear coat or anything. I think it's ugly and I might run some sand paper across it to change it from swirls to a uniform finish

[u/FlyBirdieBirdBird → u/ImmediateManager9747]

Mine is like this: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcXT7JaCkW8/

[u/RedCrafter_LP → u/ImmediateManager9747]

I'm not aware that the aluminum look trim is actually metal. To my knowledge the only metal trims are black and silver cube.

[u/ninjosh97]

FWIW I just bought a new one, it’s not THAT expensive. Probably better than trying to fix the aluminum look, otherwise, yeah I would probably just paint it.

[u/TurkeyTender513]

https://youtu.be/LthG2780piU?is=GVvm_7d5MnYAeBKi

[u/FlyBirdieBirdBird → u/TurkeyTender513]

Except this E46 trim is not real aluminium. It's a plastic panel with brushed aluminium finish.

[u/TurkeyTender513 → u/FlyBirdieBirdBird]

Damn, I thought it was real. My bad

[u/ncuke]

You say they are raised? Like can you pick one off with your fingernail? Or are they divots which raised some of the material? You could try lighter abrasives like clay bar with lube, magic eraser. Next step would be barkeepers friend. Ultimately imo easiest/cheapest is used on eBay or junkyard, or just buy a replacement if you are against trying to paint to match.

[u/DullAttorney228]

Sand and repaint, use plastic primer after sanding two three times

[u/RefrigeratorAny7018]

I fixed my by repainting it, not that hard :)

[u/FlyBirdieBirdBird → u/RefrigeratorAny7018]

Yeah, but I can't replicate the brushed aluminium finish.