Just bought this MCS and the exterior is in almost perfect condition..except some of the chrome trim around the windows. I didn't know if this was 'real' chrome or not or what would be safe to use on it that won't discolor the black rubber around it. I did some searching but couldn't find anything about this.

 

A Dremel, one of their Poslishing Wheels, and Metal Polishing Compound? That doesn't look like it is going to be easy making it look new again.

Good Luck!!

 

Ahh, I didn't even think about using the dremel!

 

Black it out with vinyl, or replace it.

 

Cheap fix, tape it off and Plasti-Dip it Black !

 

I would actually love to black it out. It's my wife's car though so now I have to talk her into that haha! What's the going cost to have someone put vinyl over it?

 

It is easy enough to do yourself with a kit either from Vinyl Style or OutMotoring. I did a buddies MINI with the OM kit and it maybe took about 20 mins to do (was going fast). Have a kit for mine that I am waiting until spring to put on mine since it was so easy actually.

 

A roll of tape is between $10-$15 and just needs a bit of patience to apply the film that looks a lot like electrical tape. Make sure to remove the plastic film protection otherwise it will eventually disintegrate and look really bad..

Richard

 

Gotta Agree with everybody else here. Replace it or Black it out. the time you spend polishing it might not even bring it back. It's really chintsy. Good Luck.

 

Someone needs to correct me if I'm wrong (I don't have immediate access to my MINI) but I thought all the exterior chrome was just plastic. Am I right on this? You can buy chrome plastic cleaner that will clear that up. I don't think it brings it back to mint but it gets it to a point where you hardly notice it. The "chrome" at the front of my car, below the windshield, looks sort of like that (less severe) and I was planning on just buying some plastic trim cleaner.

You can also black them out, just make sure you thoroughly clean each piece before hand or it will peel.

 

I'd grab an old sock and some autosol. You may have a few pits but it will clean up all the surface rust. I like shiney though.

 

I'd try an old tooth brush and Bar Keepers Friend on a small area. Can't make it any worse than it already is.

 

I'm pretty sure it's just plastic chrome. OP needs to replace it, cover it with vinyl, or paint it.
There is a chrome paint on the market but never used it so don't know how good it is or if it really looks like chrome afterwards.

 

Just wanted to chime in - I had something similar looking, in the clubdoor area of my clubman (is this where that is?). Like near and under the washers... some kind of "gunk" and I don't think it was oxidation, but residue from washer fluid/dirt... and I was just able to slowly and over time get it off...

 

What do you do if the previous owner put the black out tape on but didn't remove the "protective film" and now it looks bad? I just bought a 2010 Clubby and I think this is what's wrong with the beltline. Any help would be great.

 

It's next to impossible to remove the deteriorated film in one piece. I would just remove the black out tape and do it again.

Richard

 

Get some bronze wool from the hardware store. Ace normally carries it. If that is not available use ordinary rubbing compound on it. Just don't use course compound like the turtle wax crap. 3m micro is great. I use it on the scooter chrome all the time. With the sand down here you need it or the chrome looks like Sh*t.