Does anyone else have an issue with "tarnish" on the pseudo-metal of the MINI wing logos? I can't seem to find a way to get this off...rubbing, buffing, fingernail, anything. It's very noticeable around the MINI circle, and in the recesses of the wings. Does anyone have an answer?

If not, is there somewhere you can purchase higher quality badges?

 

All of them (bonnet, boot, steering wheel)? Maybe you have psuedo-badges . Weird - what about the other chrome?

 

It's just the bonnet and the boot. The other chrome - beltline, headlights, etc. all looks great. It's just the MINI logos. The chrome ring around the black circle, as well as the recesses in the wings are where it seems to gather.

Spoke to a machine shop yesterday. I think I'm gonna have custom polished badges made, with texture in the circle instead of a dark color with the MINI logo. At least then I know they'll hold up to the weather.

 

Odd...I've never heard of this before nor have I ever seen this happen!!

 

Here's a pic. Excuse the paint, car's dirty, and she's due for clay.

 

I can see how you wouldn't be happy with that. How old is the car? Did somebody else own it before you? I'd try Dawn wash and clay, but it looks like you (or somebody) has polished through the chrome. Anyway, before I spent a lot on custom made ones (though your idea does sound pretty cool), I would just get new ones, since most people do not have this issue.

 

Yeah, kinda funky...did you try clay?

 

I think I would take a little dab of metal polish, like Wizard or P21S, on my finger and see if I could work the stains off. It looks like water spotting on the wings and the emblem has a little edge where water could collect and spot as well.

 

It looks like you may have worn thru the plating to the plastic underneath. Further polishing may only make the problem worse.

 

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I am the only owner of the car. Was bought new, and only has 7k on it. I have not polished it at all since I bought it, and it has only ever been washed inside, with warm water once a week for her entire life. The water spots are from the rain earlier that day, it's more the nasty "grime" around the circle and in the recesses of the wings. It does not come off, and appears to be some sort of perversion of the plastic or the finish. As these are not metal, I'm not inclined to try a metal polish.

I think I'm going the custom route. It may be pricey, but I'm not going to replace badges once every six months if this is how they turn out :(

 

If you are planning on replacing them, try the metal polish first and let us know if it works.
I know they aren't metal, I've replaced mine. They do have the chrome plating and the emblem has the plastic over it, same as your belt line. Metal polish would work on the chrome plating but even if it doesn't you plan on replacing them anyway.

 

If you are do something cool!!!!

 

Yeah, I dunno what, though. Talking to a machine shop about it now. I sorta want to just to the same thing as the badges, except without the black. Maybe all chrome, including the MINI lettering, and make the "black" circle brushed? I also thought bead-blasted, as that tends to be darker. I think the brushed, or some sort of texture may be the way that I go...

Anyone have any other suggestions/ideas? Never had much fab'd by a machine shop, so I'm not sure what's possible...

 

The silver chrome plastic on one of my other vehicles had turned gray. I used Swirl on it by hand and got the silver chrome look back. Might be worth a try.