I tried T-Cut, plus a few other things on the window surrounds and roof rails a few years ago. No joy at all. Going to get the window surrounds wrapped at some point as they look pretty shabby now
I'll see how long it takes for it to go back to looking bad... I'll report back on it but mine weren't that bad to begin with plus the chrome window surrounds on mine are wrapped to such a close match to the car paint at first thought they were painted... but they are wrapped. I found a corner where the wrap wasn't stretched down good enough... some heat and me pushing it on sorted thay out.I tried T-Cut, plus a few other things on the window surrounds and roof rails a few years ago. No joy at all. Going to get the window surrounds wrapped at some point as they look pretty shabby now
Are the window surrounds actually proper chrome, I think they are?I tried T-Cut, plus a few other things on the window surrounds and roof rails a few years ago. No joy at all. Going to get the window surrounds wrapped at some point as they look pretty shabby now
I think they are chrome plated or a similar alloy. If they were actual chrome then normal chrome polish/cleaner would bring them up but I think they "look" like chrome but may be a different finish hence why most of the cleaning products dont seem to do diddly squat. The ones on the RS are different again as they seem to be a silver finish ( flat ) almost satin ..Are the window surrounds actually proper chrome, I think they are?
Pretty sure they are chrome plated at best. They look too milky and don’t clean up with Autosol eitherAre the window surrounds actually proper chrome, I think they are?
I tried some Rupes DA coarse yesterday on a microfibre cloth, it did "help" for sure, but the results weren't overly fantastic. Just did a small area under the driver wingmirror.Pretty sure they are chrome plated at best. They look too milky and don’t clean up with Autosol either
OOOO need to know more, I was under the impression that I’d have to remove the bumper to get at the sensor. Mine is under there too. So are you saying that you can get to it without removing the headlight? I take it you go in from the top?Removed the boost pressure sensor for a quick clean. 170 BRD.
Nice and easy under the passenger headlight and 2 torx. Quick blast with electrical cleaner, tiny bit of grease on the O ring and back in. Went back in nicely, no boost leaks. The O ring was in perfect condition, took a little wiggle to get the sensor out, first time out since 2006 I suspect so fair play.
Didn't look like much on the sensor, but only took 5 mins anyway.
I do the same sensor on my 1.9 AWX B5.5 Passat once a year just because - and on that car it's even easier...2 mins lol.
the amount of aluminium bits that are everywhere.... I would've taken it off , closed the bonnet and do it well away from the car... the aluminium particals you've found are just the bigger ones you can see with your eyes... there is bound to be a ton more that aren't visible... so might i suggest you do an engine flush and clear the oil pickup mesh filter just to make sure the engine is free from any of the aluminium shavings you've missed.I've been opening up the throttle body and have stopped now as I don't think there is anymore to be gained taking of any more material.
It does appear to rev more freely and the economy has improved slightly.
I want to port the inlet side of the turbo next still using the power drill and flap wheels, although I won't remove the turbo I'll ensure nothing gets in there by stuffing it with some microfibre cloths and covering up the MAF on the air filter.View attachment 275613View attachment 275614
Sorry about the second image being out of focus as I was rushing to get in and see the Liverpool game, wishing I hadn't bothered now...
And I did give it very good clean inside the throttle body and outside to get rid of all the metal dust before refitting and doing the manual TBA without VCDS
The third image is some of the material removed from both sides.
Lol my wife didn't care don't have one now as we downsized a few times and in the end there was no space for it anywhere...A bit misleading those photos as I did it in the garage, I only put it on there air intake for the photos before cleaning up in the garage and refitting.
You're right about those aluminium particles, they got everywhere.
And yep, if I had a dishwasher and used it for engine parts I'd be living out of the garage once my good lady found out...
I did my inlet manifold once in the dishwasher... because I am well hardA bit misleading those photos as I did it in the garage, I only put it on there air intake for the photos before cleaning up in the garage and refitting.
You're right about those aluminium particles, they got everywhere.
And yep, if I had a dishwasher and used it for engine parts I'd be living out of the garage once my good lady found out...
They are anodised aluminium; including the roof rails on the Avant. The reason they become shabby after all the years, is because of chemicals, often used in automatic car washes that eat the surface protection away; the white blotches you then see are electrolytical corrosion of the underlying bare aluminium. There is no long term solution; other than the very expensive one of having the brightwork re-anodized or plated. All things like T-Cut mentioned, or whatever are just temporary; in fact WD40 is quite and as instantly effective after a valet; and will last a few days; it's also the easiest to apply - one quick wipe. But it's temporary like everything else and I've tried them all. If your brightwork is still reasonable do not expose it to any automatic car washes and give it a light waxing after careful wash; but I haven't seen many if any B7s with perfect bright trim now.Are the window surrounds actually proper chrome, I think they are?
Not on my car, Rob and from all the others I've seen neither; since the larger surface are stands out more on closer inspection. They would be easier to powder coat or plate though; as taking off the window trim is a real bind. I doubt there is any new brightwork still available, at any price; unless you're lucky enough to come across some new old stock. It was pretty poor anodising from the get go too, so even that wouldn't last forever. I'm not into black wrapping; I think they look more elegant with brightwork. The best is as you say live with it. WD40 works for me between valets and only takes seconds too.Roof rails tend to stay in better shape than door window trims.
I’m going with the just live with it option for now. No more cosmetic work, saving for injectors instead.No easy fix to aged bright work.
Options are replacing it, not practical.
Wrap it, does not allways last as long as one would like.
Get it professionally painted and sealed , a good option but costly
Or
Just live with it .
Nice and shiny, will really refresh the back endBirthday gift to myself. Two new OEM rear lights as the current ones are cracked and crazed.
I think I may remove mine and seal the holes.My roof rails are very good but sadly door trims are poor , was going to get them wrapped a while back but decided it was only a short term fix.
I will most likely get them repainted professionally at some point as I thinks it probably the best compromise between longevity and finish.
mine are wrapped and somehow they found the same colour wrap as my car, thought at first that they were painted... but nope wrapped i found a corner where the wrap was lifting (ns front in the corner where the mirror is) just warmed it up and pushed it down and it was sorted. but judging by how it is done it must've been a proffesional job.I think I may remove mine and seal the holes.
Jup and to think I washed and polished the car several times before I spotted it... and on that note going back to what I did today... washed and polished it... looking all nice like a black mirror... will have to repaint the calipers soon as they are not red enough after a clean.That's a nice find.
red for the win, I forgot how good they look. I need the same on my A4 as the stock ones are a bit pants.Red is a great colour.
I did my 18z's red and they looked great on a black bus, a few years on they started to look a bit grubby so they went bronze, in hindsight, I should have stayed with red.
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Hi Rob. Can the public order from TPS again now as a few months ago was able to go in and buy over the counter than a few weeks ago phoned up 2 different TPS for parts and they both said it trade only again?Today was a good day… Finally ordered injectors and RS4 fuel return valve from TPS