Cleaning/Dressing Aluminum Trim

AbeFroman · 07-13-2009, 01:10 PM

What do you use to clean and dress the Aluminum trim?

bc1144 · 07-13-2009, 10:34 PM

it's aluminum so nothing special. a wet towel? a semi soapy towel and a wet one and a dry one. dont need anything fancy.

chickdr · 07-13-2009, 11:54 PM

I use diluted woolite to clean it and other trim. No dressing- I think that would mess the finish up.

ElRedOne · 07-14-2009, 11:40 AM

Cleaned it with clear water and a chamois. Used 303 Aerospace to provide a smooth feel. The 303 worked especially well on the painted steering wheel spokes.

scottyD · 07-20-2009, 02:31 PM

slightly damp microfiber does fine for me...

Excitmnt94 · 07-20-2009, 02:59 PM

yeah...just damp micro towel...

SSG S · 11-08-2009, 12:49 PM

i have what looks to be the outline of some sort of sticker that was on the old owners aluminum dash and now the mark wont go away...any idea how i can make it blend in with the rest of the piece? I scrubbed it with soap n water but no luck there. Thanks guys.

SSG S

ElRedOne · 11-08-2009, 07:57 PM

Try rubbing WD-40 with the grain of the metal. It gets into the pores and should displace any leftover adhesive or dirt. You might also try Barkeeper's Friend or Zud, both extra-fine cleansers for glass and stainless steel, but try on an inconspicuous spot first to see what effect they have before using on the problem area.

judal98 · 11-08-2009, 08:26 PM

A while back someone mentioned using Gel Gloss (available at Home Depot)...they reported excellent results.

TopDown · 11-08-2009, 11:16 PM

Yes, Gel Gloss is great for cleaning the aluminum trim - the wife suggested it.

Also, Pledge is pretty good for dressing the aluminum trim. When we had a stainless steel refrigerator delivered, the installer recommended using Pledge instead of stainless cleaner. The directions on the Pledge can say you can use it on stainless, so I tried it on the refrigerator and it does a nice job. So I tried it on my Z4MR aluminum - pretty nice.

rc'Z · 11-09-2009, 05:24 AM

Any abrasive cleaner, Zud, stands a chance of putting scratch marks in the metal. Go careful if at all....

SSG S · 11-10-2009, 12:30 PM

Thanks guys

07-13-2009, 01:10 PM	#1
AbeFroman Private First Class 13 Rep 140 Posts Drives: Z4 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Cleaning/Dressing Aluminum Trim What do you use to clean and dress the Aluminum trim?
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07-13-2009, 10:34 PM	#2
bc1144 New Member 0 Rep 18 Posts Drives: '06 Z4 3.0si Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (0)	it's aluminum so nothing special. a wet towel? a semi soapy towel and a wet one and a dry one. dont need anything fancy.
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07-13-2009, 11:54 PM	#3
chickdr Lieutenant Colonel 140 Rep 1,990 Posts Drives: 2006 M Roadster Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buford, GA iTrader: (0)	I use diluted woolite to clean it and other trim. No dressing- I think that would mess the finish up.
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07-14-2009, 11:40 AM	#4
ElRedOne First Lieutenant 3 Rep 303 Posts Drives: '06 330xi, '06 Z4M Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	Cleaned it with clear water and a chamois. Used 303 Aerospace to provide a smooth feel. The 303 worked especially well on the painted steering wheel spokes. __________________ ElRedOne 330 xi Electric Red/Beige Step-Premium-Sport-CW-CA-PDC-Shade Z4MR Interlagos/Black
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07-20-2009, 02:31 PM	#5
scottyD Private First Class 2 Rep 136 Posts Drives: 07 3.0si Coupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: DC/Baltimore area iTrader: (0)	slightly damp microfiber does fine for me...
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07-20-2009, 02:59 PM	#6
Excitmnt94 Detailer & Fitness Freak 23 Rep 514 Posts Drives: '09 135i ///M Sport Coupe Join Date: May 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0)	yeah...just damp micro towel... __________________ 135i coupe...Alpine White // Glacier Silver Aluminum Trim // Heated Coral Red Leather Seats // M-Sport Package // I-pod // PDC // 6-Speed Manual
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11-08-2009, 12:49 PM	#7
SSG S Private First Class 8 Rep 199 Posts Drives: DINAN Z4 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: 626 iTrader: (5)	i have what looks to be the outline of some sort of sticker that was on the old owners aluminum dash and now the mark wont go away...any idea how i can make it blend in with the rest of the piece? I scrubbed it with soap n water but no luck there. Thanks guys. SSG S
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11-08-2009, 07:57 PM	#8
ElRedOne First Lieutenant 3 Rep 303 Posts Drives: '06 330xi, '06 Z4M Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	Try rubbing WD-40 with the grain of the metal. It gets into the pores and should displace any leftover adhesive or dirt. You might also try Barkeeper's Friend or Zud, both extra-fine cleansers for glass and stainless steel, but try on an inconspicuous spot first to see what effect they have before using on the problem area. __________________ ElRedOne 330 xi Electric Red/Beige Step-Premium-Sport-CW-CA-PDC-Shade Z4MR Interlagos/Black
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11-08-2009, 08:26 PM	#9
judal98 New Member 0 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 07 Z4 Coupe 3.0si Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dallas iTrader: (0)	A while back someone mentioned using Gel Gloss (available at Home Depot)...they reported excellent results.
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11-08-2009, 11:16 PM	#10
TopDown Captain 90 Rep 615 Posts Drives: 2017 G30 540i M Sport Join Date: May 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2002 BMW Z3 Roadster [0.00] 2007 BMW 335i Coupe [0.00] 2012 BMW 335i Sedan [0.00] 2006 BMW M Roadster [0.00] 2017 BMW 540i [0.00] 2015 BMW 428 Gran C ... [0.00]	Yes, Gel Gloss is great for cleaning the aluminum trim - the wife suggested it. Also, Pledge is pretty good for dressing the aluminum trim. When we had a stainless steel refrigerator delivered, the installer recommended using Pledge instead of stainless cleaner. The directions on the Pledge can say you can use it on stainless, so I tried it on the refrigerator and it does a nice job. So I tried it on my Z4MR aluminum - pretty nice. __________________ Mine G30 540i M Sport Hers F36 440i Gran Coupe
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11-09-2009, 05:24 AM	#11
rc'Z Captain 13 Rep 821 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Convertible Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Any abrasive cleaner, Zud, stands a chance of putting scratch marks in the metal. Go careful if at all....
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11-10-2009, 12:30 PM	#12
SSG S Private First Class 8 Rep 199 Posts Drives: DINAN Z4 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: 626 iTrader: (5)	Thanks guys
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