Hi all, I have an 07 MC, this car comes with the black plastic around the bottom of the car, well it seems that in some places the black has been "stained" for lack of a better word with what I assume is salt spray from winter, I just washed the car as it is 60 degrees out and when the plastic dried it still showed some light streaks of salt spray, any advice on cleaning this stuff and returning it to black color, the car's only 1 month old.
Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

There is a product called Wizards Black Renew that is made for black trim on cars to make it black again, and help to protect it, and keep it black. OctaneGuy is working on a Gel that does this also, but he isn't planning release until the end of April. Prima has a product called Nero, although it is an interior/exterior product, it is more known as an interior cleaner. Wizards Black Renew and Nero seem to be two of the favorite in the MINI community for our black trim pieces.

 

You can wax with Turtle Wax Ice....it goes right on all the black bits and every other surface, except the glass. Does a nice job of keeping it dark.

 

Wait a couple of weeks for OctaneGuy's stuff to come out. Trust me, it's worth it.

 

Chances are it's not stained by salt but instead dried wax, perhaps from when they first delivered the car to you.

There is a thread above discussing the many solutions to remove wax from wheel molding.

After a few years, it does get more stained or lose it's color, then it may be necessary to dye it. I did a very extensive trim product test here:
http://www.jwardell.com/mini/2006/09...have-a-winner/

 

Would any of the aforementioned products take care of the discoloring that occured due to a gas spill? I spilled a small amount when filling the Cooper S and it dribbled onto the black trim under the gas cap.

 

The gas should just clean off with any grease-removing soap (simplegreen, dish soap, etc). Just remember that will also remove any wax it touches.

 

Right on... I'm usually pretty careful at the pump but yesterday, well you know how it goes sometimes.

 

yes most certainly all your wax was removed in that little spill.

second to restore Trim, meguiars #39 and #40 are good products to keep that natural look. i enjoy them using them.

Octane Guy's product should be out hopefully a month or so. that's a good product as well.

 

Peanut oil

 

Thanks for the quick response, i do beleive now it is wax residue, I'll follow the wax removal tips

 

i used M40 to get my wax off the trim that the dealer put on there.

works really well.